A Little Girl in Old San Francisco

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Douglas Amanda M.. A Little Girl in Old San Francisco

CHAPTER I. FROM MAINE TO CALIFORNIA

CHAPTER II. OLD SAN FRANCISCO

CHAPTER III. MAKING A NEW HOME

CHAPTER IV. A QUEER WINTER

CHAPTER V. PELAJO

CHAPTER VI. A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK

CHAPTER VII. A TASTE OF GAYETY

CHAPTER VIII. GIRLS AND GIRLS

CHAPTER IX. A PARTY AND AN ADMIRER

CHAPTER X. ETHICS AND ETIQUETTE

CHAPTER XI. IN THE SUNSHINE OF YOUTH

CHAPTER XII. NEW EXPERIENCES

CHAPTER XIII. BALDER THE BEAUTIFUL

CHAPTER XIV. A WEDDING AND A PARTING

CHAPTER XV. THE ENCHANTMENT OF YOUTH

CHAPTER XVI. IN THE BALANCE

CHAPTER XVII. THE DECISION OF FATE

CHAPTER XVIII. TO SEE YOU ONCE AGAIN

CHAPTER XIX. THE GUIDING FINGER

CHAPTER XX. AN ENCHANTED JOURNEY

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Was it any wonder the old explorers missed the narrow outlet from the great bay when the hills from the farther shore cast a great gloomy shadow, and dreary rocks flanked the shore, inhabited by cormorants and auks and gulls, screaming out their discordant music? What if the tide did run out sweeping like a torrent – were they going to breast the danger back of it? Was the great rocky point worth their consideration? In the islands off the shore seals and sea lions had it all their own way and basked and frolicked in the sunshine.

It had changed then, in the early fifties, but half a century has almost forgotten the bareness of it then. And yet it was magnificent in the October sunset as the old ship made its way, puffing from the strains of its long journey. They had nearly all huddled on deck to view their land of promise. There are few enthusiastic emigrants now, everything is viewed with commercial eyes. Afar to the westward stretched the magnificent ocean, a sheet of billowy ranges tipped with molten gold, changing to a hundred iridescent tints and throwing up the gold again in prodigal fashion, sweeping it over to foreign seas. And, on the other hand, the mile-wide gap, the gateway to the wonderful land, tranquil enough now, with frowning rocks like the cave of Scylla on the one hand, that was to be transformed into a wonderful city. They are piloted through to the great magnificent bay that seems endless at the first glance of its seventy miles. Northward long lines of rolling hills, purple and blue and black, with glints of the setting sun fighting the shadows like some strange old gods with their fire-tipped arrows. At the south it fades into misty dreamland. Red Rock stands up defiant. And so they look at their new country and then at each other. There is shipping at the rude wharves, and they find a place to anchor, but it is too late to look for a home and so they make themselves content. But if they thought they were coming to great space, and semi-loneliness they were mistaken and confused by the noise and tumult, the crowds, the bustle of business, the people of all countries it seemed.

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He had not counted on sharing her with any one, his ideas had been vague and impractical and he would have to remodel them.

"Upon my word, I never knew you to play so poorly," laughed Mrs. Dawson teasingly; "I believe you are half asleep."

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