Theeditorialsanctumofthe“CalaverasClarion“openeduponthe“composing-room“ofthatpaperontheoneside，andgaveapparentlyupontherestofCalaverasCountyupontheother。For，situatedontheveryoutskirtsofthesettlementandthesummitofaverysteephill，thepinesslopedawayfromtheeditorialwindowstothelongvalleyoftheSouthForkand——infinity。ThelittlewoodenbuildinghadinvadedNaturewithoutsubduingit。Itwasfillednightanddaywiththemurmurofpinesandtheirfragrance。Squirrelsscamperedoveritsroofwhenitwasnotpreoccupiedbywoodpeckers，andaprinter\'sdevilhadonceseenanest-buildingbluejayenterthecomposingwindow，flutterbeforeoneoftheslantingtype-caseswithanairofdeliberateselection，andthenflyoffwithavowelinitsbill。
Amidstthesesylvansurroundingsthetemporaryeditorofthe“Clarion“satathissanctum，readingtheproofsofaneditorial。
Ashewasoccupyingthatpositionduringasixweeks\'absenceofthebonafideeditorandproprietor，hewasconsequentlyreadingtheproofwithsomeanxietyandresponsibility。Ithadbeensuggestedtohimbycertaincitizensthatthe“Clarion“neededafirmerandmoreaggressivepolicytowardstheBillbeforetheLegislatureforthewagonroadtotheSouthFork。SeveralAssemblymenhadbeen“gotat“bytherivalsettlementofLibertyHill，andascathingexposureanddenunciationofsuchmethodswasnecessary。
Theinterestsoftheirowntownshipwerealsotobe“whoopedup。“
Allthishadbeenvigorouslyexplainedtohim，andhehadgraspedthespirit，ifnotalwaysthefacts，ofhisinformants。Itistobefeared，therefore，thathewasperusinghisarticlemorewithreferencetoitsvigorthanhisownconvictions。Andyethewasnotsogreatlyabsorbedastobeunmindfulofthemurmurofthepineswithout，hishalf-savageenvironment，andthelazytalkofhissolecompanions，——theforemanandprinterintheadjoiningroom。