Journal entry #1The start of the gold rush: It was the start of a fine day. I was at home doing all the chores. I noticed my husband got home, when he came bursting through the door. He seemed so surprised then he whispered " they found gold!" Out of breath. He said it again with a rejoiced voice, " they found gold!" He came at me picked me up and spun me around.

Journal entry #2 Packing for the long trip: I was so surprised that they actually found gold I asked him, " where did they find it?" He said, " some guy found a gold nugget in the American river, word will soon get out to the whole world, we have to go and try our luck!" I said " but how will we get there? Even if we were to how long would we stay?" He said back to me " I've been saving up."

Journal entry #3 Heading off to San Francisco: We set off to the mines of San Francisco to find gold. Luckily we saved up our money. Half of the equipment we needed was at our home. So we took our wagon, our four oxen, two horses and our two dogs Rags and Pippy. We saved up enough food and money to last a month. My husband figured that we didn't need to stay very long.

JOURNAL ENTRIES FROM BEING A MINER

Journal entry #4 Mining for gold:

When we finally made it there it was not that filled with people. We had gotten there early, but we knew it wasn't going to be like that forever. I set up where we would be staying while my husband went to mine. It was getting dark, I was worried about him being in there for so long. I thought to myself " what if something happened?"

Journal entry #5 Striking gold!:

He finally came out of the mines all dirty and tired. He was carrying a brown worn sack. When he got to me he took my hand and poured the contents out. To my eyes I never thought I would see the beautiful glistening gold nuggets. I couldn't believe that his first try he struck gold!

Journal entry #6 The long Road home: We thought that we wold be staying for a whole month but we didn't have to. We've found enough gold to make up a months stay! Also my husband thought that they were paying us too little. Less than $6 was not going to sustain us so what was the point in staying? We came we found gold and we left for home I said "what future awaits us now?"