| 159 beauty, a joy-but not forever, for man passes away and his habitation is left to strangers.
Here, a half mile from the shore of the ocean, we hear again the pounding of the surf, mellowed by distance into a thunderous roar, grand, but solemn.
We visited with Bro. Meeder and family one day, then recrossed the mountains, "climbing up another way" than we went down, through Scott Valley, and by Mountain Charley's. The scenery of this ascent is beautiful, some parts of it very beautiful; but when part way up the fog shut in, and the rain descended, and the top, and valley, hill and plain were all obscured.
We reached our home at the Mission on the third day, tired but gratified for what our eyes had seen and ears heard of the beauties and wonders of California.
After returning from Santa Cruz, on the 26th of October, we made immediate preparations to leave California; and on the 29th for the last time spoke to the congregation of Saints and friends in the hall of the Grand Army of the Republic, on New Montgomery Street, where the Saints at present hold their Sunday services. There was a good audience present, and we enjoyed a fair degree of liberty.
On the 30th we visited a few of the brethren in Oakland, among them Bro. Thomas Dungan, who is sorely afflicted with a disease in one of his legs, which has baffled all efforts to stay its ravages, and is slowly sapping away the old soldier's life. He is some seventy-seven years old, and it was a sad sight to see him so tormented.
On the 31st we officiated in the renewal of the covenant of a good sister at Oakland, Bro. Russell Huntley assisting us, and blessed a number of children, at the house of Bro. John Roberts, whose guest we were, and for whose kindness we feel grateful. We also visited a number of the Saints in San Francisco, all of whom expressed regret at our departure, and gave tokens of their friendship for the cause; for which may the blessings rest with them that they so well merit.
On the first of November we bade Sr. Lincoln and her family, Brn. William Anderson, Job Hall, Thomas J. Andrews, Peter Canavan, A. C. Bryan, and others farewell, and left the city of San Francisco, in company of Bro. Daniel S. Mills, who accompanied us as far as Sacramento, where we bade him good-bye, he bound for Salmon Falls on an errand of mercy; and we en route for Reno and Carson City. We reached the latter place early Thursday morning; and in the afternoon reported to Bro. A. B. Johns, president of the district, and spent a night and a day in Jack's Valley. On Saturday we returned to Carson, and on Sunday morning and evening we addressed those of the citizens of the city who chose to gather at the court-house to hear us; the attendance was good, on both occasions, and the Saints seemed to be pleased with the effort made.
On Monday, by the kindness of Bro. Thomas Milliard's son, Harry, we
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