California is no longer a new country, and the conditions of living closely approximate those in the East.

I am careful to say this because I don't wish to mislead my young readers.

Success is always attainable by pluck and persistency, but the degree is dependent on circumstances.
"How have you made out ?" asked Joe of his visitor.
"I've had hard luck," grumbled Hogan, "I went to the mines, but I wasn't lucky." "Was that the case with other miners ?" asked Joe, who had a shrewd suspicion that Hogan's ill luck was largely the result of his laziness and want of application.
"No," said Hogan.

"Other men around me were lucky, but I wasn't." "Perhaps your claim was a poor one." "It was, as long as I had anything to do with it," said Hogan.

"I sold it out for a trifle and the next day the other man found a nugget.