Gold mining was very hard work. Miners just didn't go to the hill and dig up gold. Very often they spent days or weeks with little result. They worked from dawn to dusk, six or even seven days a week.
For hours at a time, they waded in cold, snow-fed streams, or attacked the hard ground with digging tools. In heat and cold, they prospected in steep, rocky canyons and along the rugged ridges of the Sierra foothills. Sunday was the day of rest for many miners. Then they washed clothes in the river, baked bread, bought their supplies, and relaxed.
To find something good, you have to work hard and keep trying. Don't give up.