Bret Harte is best known for his stories about pioneering life in California. Harte moved to California in 1853 where he worked as a miner, journalist, teacher and messenger. Stories in this collection include Mr. Jack Hamlin's mediation -- The man at the semaphore -- An Esmeralda of Rocky Canon -- Dick Spindler's family Christmas -- When the waters were up at "Jules" -- The boom in the "Calaveras Clarion" -- The secret of Sobriente's well -- Liberty Jones's discovery"