Ben landed in the company of Miss Sinclair and Mrs.
Armstrong, and the three proceeded at once to the boarding-house,
over which the latter was in future to preside. A comfortable room
was assigned to Miss Sinclair, and a small one to Ben. They were
plainly furnished, but both enjoyed being on land once more.
Our young hero, finding that his services were not required for the
present, began to explore the city. It was composed almost wholly of
wooden houses; some but one story in height, even on the leading
streets, with here and there sand-hills, where now stand stately
piles and magnificent hotels. He ascended Telegraph Hill, which
then, as now, commanded a good view of the town and harbor; yet how
different a view from that presented now. Ben was partly pleased and
partly disappointed. Just from New York, he could not help comparing
this straggling village on the shores of the Pacific with the even
then great city on the Atlantic coast. He had heard so much of San
Francisco that he expected something more. To-day a man may journey
across the continent and find the same comfort, luxury, and
magnificence in San Francisco which he left behind him in New York.
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