The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1860-12-06

Romance Of Real Life.

4 Romance Of Real Life.
i The ST. Louis Bulletin relates the fol
lowing as the outlines of history
which IS substan tally true
! In the summer of 1853, John Hard.
wick, a poor mechanic Of Pittsbnrg,
was induced, by the gold excitement
then raging, to try his luck in the mines
Of California. He accordingly left his
| wife and two children behind, and took
passage around the Horn for the Fl
Dorado. On arriving there his money
gave out, and he was obliged to 60 to
work at a mere pittance to keep from
starving. He made his way however
as he could, and having entered into
partnership with another man, con-
menced working q claim. Hardwick
prospered, and began to think that at
the end Of the year he would be able to
go home with . large pile Of dust
Human calculations are sometimes
wrong. Hardwick's calculations were
wrong-for he was taken sick and
came near deaths door.
When he got we'll the partfer had
departed, and taken with him the earn.
ings Of both. The poor man was al
most discouraged. lie had sent moth
ing home to his family. lie wrote to
his wife, giving her = true statement Of
his condition. She never received the
letter, and consequently he never re-
ceiyed any letters from her. Hard
wick went to work again, but the times
grew hard, and he earned but little. He
frequently wrote to his wife, but she,
strange to say never received single
line from him. II is needless to 90
through through every particlar of his
history suffice it to say, that hearing
nothing from his wife, he concluded she
was glad to get rid Of him. lie there
fore determined to stas in California
till he was rich, and then return to the
Atlantic States. lie set himself to
work assiduously, and made money!
Ills business relations were sucl, after 4
few years, that he could not leave Cali
torlia, but stayed and accumulated a
handsome fortune. Ii the mean time
Mrs. Hardwlck, thinking her husband
was dead, after three years, married
another and emigratcd to St. Louis.
Her name became Mathews. Her two
children Of whom John Hardwick was
father, died, and traces Of John were
obliteratel except from very remote
corner Of her heart. Mrs; Mathews
was 4 good wife to her second husband,
so FAR lis we can leail. arid bore him
two children. Mathews WAS in the
grocery trade, and throvc well, but
about a year ago he was taken sick and
died, leaving Mrs. Mathews and the
two children without a protector, as She
thought, but / snug income.
John HardYick, tired Of California
life, and Of business also, collected to-
gether lis effects, which announced to i
nice fortune, and started for home BY
the overland foute. IL arrived in this
city two weeks ago. and remained Al
few days to rest beforc:.takiny the cars
for Pittsburg.
One morning while walking through
Broadway market, Mr.. Hardwick saw
a familiar face. It was the first f:nnliar
one lie had Seen since he had left San
Francis .o--and that face belonged to q
woman. lie qnickcned his pace, and
came up to the stall where the lady was
about to purchase beef steak. Mr..
Hardwick's heart beat wild beneath his
waistcoat. Could it be possible p
"NVhat could Jane be doing in St Lou
is?' thought he. He was about to turn
away, when the lady raised her head,
and their eyes met. ''John Hardwick
rs sure as I am living' exclaimed she.
sJane is it you?" said John. 1t proved
to be both Of them, md sitter mutual
explanations, Mr. Hardwick accompan-
led the lady home, carrying her market
basket for her. Two children met them
at the door. They were blue eyed and
rosy cheeked-.jnst like those John had
left behind, and just as largc-bnt they
did not have features like johns
"What matters h. thought our hero
s'my two children are dead, and these
are sent to take their rlaccs-I will be
father to them" Mr.. John Hardwick
was as good as his word. lie helped
Mrs. Mathcws,-formerly Mrs. Hard