Excerpt

Young Billy Costello is now a bona fide lawyer. Although almost too young (he is barely out of his teen years), he endeavors to make his way within the legal system of the newly established state of California. He begins to establish himself in the rough-and-tumble Wild West world of the 1850’s, during the Gold Rush years.

While he has no father or brother to offer advice, fortunately he has a partner, an older lawyer, who sees to his progress and is happy to help guide him. Billy’s native intelligence comes to the fore time and time again, much to the delight of his helpful partner.

Early on, Billy has a large-scale disappointment – his wedding is postponed because of the death of the mother of his fiancé. Unwilling to allow this tragedy to deter him, he takes it in stride and continues building his local reputation, finding ways to help the community.

In an effort to be a good citizen, he develops and sponsors a program of local talent. Townspeople who are musicians, storytellers, singers, dancers, etc., all perform on a make-shift stage on a Friday evening. Everyone is delighted with this display of local talent and the participation is widespread. It turns into a regular occurrence and is called Literary Night.

When a religious Camp Revival comes to town, he and his close friends attend. After their time at the religious service, they discuss what religion means to each of them. They explore their understanding of religion and its meaning, and the behavior of people and religious leaders.

He learns about a gold-miner who goes home, dirt-poor and cheated out of his share of the gold strike that he and his partners had acquired. The broken miner creeps home with a sorrowful tale about his efforts in the Gold Country. At home, the beaten-down gold-miner finds an enterprising wife who has guided the family through hard times and succeeded where the gold-miner has failed. She has a handful of California gold. She has the gold that he had gone so far to seek, and failed to bring home.

Billy is a participant in a surprising event. A man who says he can predict earthquakes brings Billy, and other townspeople, to a sense of wonderment at his ability to foretell events. Billy finds it difficult to understand the matters that lead up to the prediction of events; they are far beyond what he can personally imagine, and he is ready to admit that. The old man making the prediction turns out to be very likeable although he cannot explain his ability to foretell events. He knows only that his gift is inherited from his father and grandparents.

Billy is brought up short when a riding accident, affecting his bride-to-be, causes great anguish to him. It makes him realize that tragedy, or potential tragedy, everyday, is just around the corner. No one is immune to tragedy; all we can do is try to foresee it and prevent it. When it happens, we have to live with it.

He visits a wonderful valley in the Sierra Mountains of central California, just east of Mariposa. This valley will later be known as Yosemite Valley. He is one of the first white men to see it. It has stunning waterfalls, cliffs, mountains, and streams full of trout. This magnificent place is unknown to most people in the 1850’s.

A flood in his hometown causes great havoc and a drastic lesson to those who are affected by the rushing waters. They all agree that they should build higher up on a slope, rather than near the streambeds. There is talk about local flood prevention measures but those plans are soon gone and forgotten.

He is surprised by the arrival of a “schoolmarm-librarian”, a lady who awakens him to a special way of learning. He hears about the importance of the ancient Greek plays, and how they apply to the world of 1850. Even though the plays were written two thousand years before his time, they illustrate the behavior of leaders. Even current leaders often stumble as the ancient ones did.

The schoolmarm has further plans. She asks him to help her establish a first-ever library in town. Billy jumps in with both feet, especially after she agrees to teach him what few local people know. He is eager to learn and makes a good student. The library gets established and it becomes a focal point for the community.

As he reflects on his recent adventures, he looks forward, with great eagerness, to what lies ahead. He may be a candidate for some political office. Should he consider that or should he avoid politics altogether? Should someone as young as he, in his early twenties, move into the political arena, and fight battles with much older and more-experienced opponents?

He is blessed with a quick ability to size up situations, and with the timely support and encouragement of friends, he may find success as a councilman, mayor, legislator or, possibly, governor.

Getting into the political arena may be the next logical step for a young man such as he. It will bring on new conflicts and adventures, situations that will add zest to his life.

And, how about his own family life? When is he going to find his bride and settle down to hearth and home?

He looks forward to whatever is just around the corner, not sure where tomorrow’s future will lead him.