The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-10-21
NO. 100
A CALIE0RNIA sToRY.


The old government buildings on Washing
ton street. says the San Francisco Post, arc
making way for the Appraisers stores, and
with them will disappear the moultly book
vendors, the candy merchants, tie marking
ink ealogists, and all those traders who hayc
50 long made this their renlezyorss There is
d little story III connection witt, these luild-
I ings which the writer learned from gentle-
man who knew the parties concerned Like
many Of the incidents which occur daily ii
this country II change and excitomenk, il has
strong spice of romance, and would not
furnish bad plot for the writer's III tic SEN
sational weeklies.
Every day for five years, no matter how
heavily the winter rain came down, or the
gusty summer wiud swept from the hilltops,
an old man took up his position near the
post-oillce, and sat until dusk behind his tray
Of assorted candies. Children on their way
to demand letters. patronized the old candy
merchant. He appeared to shun acqnalnt-
anceship with his professional brethren, and
no matter what novelties they introduced in
their business, he kept aloof from competition,
and adhered strictly to the legitimate sweet
stuffs.
| Among his customers came one day a
bright-eyed, neatly-dressed urchin, who put
down his five CENTS and boldly demanded its
equivalent in molasses candy. While the old
fellow wrapped it up in the scanty piece Of
brown paper, he look wistfully into the
urchin's eyes. The boy took lis 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 little fellow gave
| it.
The candy man Immediately removed his
tray to the care of q fellow merchant, and
told the boy that he would accompany him to
his mothers house. The boy conducted him
to pleasant residence on Bryant street. His
mother opened the door, and tie moment her
eyes fell on the candy merchant, ale threw
herarms around him, and, sobbipg violently,
called him q Father"
Il appears that OF one time the candy man
was q well-to-do merchant in Portland, Me.
His eldest daughter eloped with gainLler, q
man who had - very hard reputation in that
town. On coming to California, however, he
gayo up his regular encounters with the
"tiger,' and devoted himself to specializing
in mining stocks.
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 return
ed, for her father had failed in business, her
mother was dead, and the other members OF
the fainiiy settled in New York. Thes Cd
man then came to California, not knowing of
his daughters whereabouts, and, afte' many
unsuccessful efforts finally went into sellin,
candy. Something in the little boys ii,cc
reminded him of bis daughter, nd when be
heard the name he remenl cred the handsome
gambler against whom he Lad SO often warned
his willful child. The reunion was very
happy one, and the candy profession lost one
Of its members.