Opening material

Gold Hunting in Alaska

_AS TOLD BY_

[Illustration]

Joseph Grinnell

[Illustration]

Edited by Elizabeth Grinnell

Author of "How John and I Brought Up the Child," "John and I and the Church," "Our Feathered Friends," "For the Sake of a Name," etc.

Dedicated to Disappointed gold=hunters the world over

ALASKA.

The New World brings her daughter out With fuss and bluster now; Adorers seek her snow-white hand, And at her beauty bow. Each strives her favor first to gain, And rudely steps upon her train.

They court her while they call her "cold" And "distant" to her face; The heiress smiles, while quick breaths lift Her frills of ancient lace-- The eyes of all her suitors rest On glint of gold upon her breast.--E. G.

PREFACE.

The following story was originally written in pencil on any sort of paper at hand, and intended merely for "the folks at home." It is only by a prior claim to the manuscript that the young gold-hunter's mother has obtained his consent to publish it. The diary has been changed but little, nor has much been added to make it as it stands. The narrative is true from beginning to end, including the proper names of persons and vessels and mining companies. It is offered to the David C. Cook Publishing Company with no further apologies for its sometimes boyish style of construction. It will give the reader, be he man or boy, a hint as to how a young fellow may spend his time in the long Arctic winter, or in the whole year, even though he be a disappointed gold-hunter. It may afford suggestion to mining companies continually going to Alaska as to their responsibility to each other and to the natives of the "frozen North." It may give "the folks at home" some intimation as to possible "good times" under trying circumstances. Blue fingers may not necessarily denote a blue heart.

ELIZABETH GRINNELL.

Pasadena, Cal., Jan. 15, 1901.