St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-08
ST. cSumsburp Galrdonian.
st. .Iohn.bury. VT. Friday, Aug. 3. 1873.
Singular Family Meeting.
A SAN FRANCISCO STORY.

The old government buildings on
Washington street are making way for
the Appraisers stores. and with them
will disappear the mouldy book ven
ders, the candy merchants, the marking
ink eulogists. and all those traders who
have so long made this place their rem
dezVous. There Is a little story in
connection with these buildings which
the writer learned from "a gentleman
who knew the parties concerned. Like
many of the incidents which occur
daily in this country of change and
excitement. it has a strong piece of
romance. and would not furnish Il bad
plot for the sensational weeklies. Every
day for five wears. no matter how heav
lily the winter rain came down, or the
gusty summer wind swept from the hill
tops, all old man took up his position
near the postOfiice. and sat until dusk
behind his tray of assorted candies.
Children on their way to mail or de
mand letters, patrouized the old candy
merchant. He appeared to shun ac
mountaineering with his professional
brethren. and no matter what novelties
they introduced in their business, he
kept aloof from competition, and ad
lltltt SllI'NlN w NlIC SWIFT
Among the customers came one day a
bright eyed. neatly dressed urchin,
who put down his five cents and boldly
demanded its equivalent i'll molasses
candy. While the old fellow wrapped
it up in the scanty piece of brown pa
per, he looked wistfully into the ur
chin's eyes. The boy took his candy
and went off with his mouth full. The
next day the little chap turned up
again, and again purchased his five
cents worth of candy. One morning
the candy merchant while wrapping up
his Young customers purchase, asked
the name of his patron. The candy
man Immediately removed his tray to
the care of a fellow merchant, and told
the boy he would accompany him to
his mothers house. The boy conduc-
ted him to pleasant residence on Bry-
ant street. His mother opened the door.
and the moment her eyes fell on the
candy merchant she threw her arms
around him, and sohhing violently.
called him Father" 1t appears that
at one time the candy man was a we'll
to-do merchant in Portland. Me. His
eldest daughter cloped with gambler,
a man who had very hard reputation
in that town. On coming to California,
however, he gave up his regular en-
counters with the tiger, and devoted
himself to specializing III mining stock.
He was fortunate, grew wealthy, bought
real estate, and won the name of being
an honorable and generous man. His
wife wrote back to Portland. but her
letters were returned, tOI her father
had failed in business. her mother was
dead. and the other members of the
family settled in New York. The old
man then came to California, and not
knowing his daughters whereabouts.
and after many unsuccessful efforts.
finally went to selling candy. Some
thing in the little boys face reminded
him of his daughter, and when he heard
the name he remembered the handsome
gambler against whom he had SO often
warned his willful child. The reunion
was n happy one. and the candy pro
fession has lost one of its members.
San Francisco Post