The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-11-13
z0E'S FATHER.
[From the Overland for Noyemter.1

From the overland Tor N0vemter.
CHAPTER l.
Through the piles Of Meiggs' Wharf,
North San Francisco, one night quite a
number of years ago the tide hurried in
an ill-tcmpered, fretful way. His dar.
ling L ady Moon had just hung out a
glittering signal-lamp in her window
away to the east, and our tide had
swum over the great green Hollespont
Of the Pacific like young here to keep
his old love-tryst. The white favors Of
his white lady floating grandly about his
head, got tangled in the wharf.timbers,
and torn and scattered in a provoking
way, If one but considers the elegance
and neatness SO desirable in lover.
And, most horrible!- from tbs wharf
above string of scavengers' carts shot
down into the water their filth and rub
bish, which three or four ragged, mis-
erable.looking fellows were raking over
and tossing about-some in the water,
some on Undertaking little, but that
little strongly and strangely favored
with oaths Of considerable length and
ingenuity.
With a sputter Of disgust our Tide
rolled over and aived out far and deep
leaving great wave in his wake that
rushed high on shore, and up to the
lower coat button of Hamon Crowsc,
Negro; giving to that ''colorcd'' gen.
tleman's swearing q marked tone Of i'll
dgnation and discomfort. Hamon was
one of motley group who, there in
the clean white light Of the moon. were
engaged in turning over with rakes,
hoes, and tools Of that ilk, the dirty
rubbish shot down at certain times on
SEA and shore at Meiggs' wharf: Now
and then something glitterod as the
incoming water washed over the dirt
raked down to its edge, and
the muck miner would instant
ly stoop and pick up whatever it was
spoon, knife, pair Of scissors, and, not
At all unfrequently, small or large
piece of coin or jewelry that had got
into some family dust-bin by mistake
and such mistakes occurred often
enough to make it worth the white Of
habitua]ly lazy and inopulent persons
OF lannon's character to search this
r0p0l90 as 0eScrlDeQ.
Hamon worked farthest from shore
on a big, rich, rocking heap, supported
BY an abnormal elevation Of the beach
from the too.quickly dcmolishing action
Of the waves and he seemed to sue.
essd well, Judging by the frequency
with which his hand left the handle Of
the scraper, went down into tho rub.
bish he turned over, and, coming up
again, entered tho big pocket Of his
coat or the old bag stacked on the top
Of the heap by his side. Inshore from
Hamon, in position at once less un.
comfortable and more advantageous ap.
parsntly as to results, there scraped
away among the muck, tall, lean old
man, whose from bling hands and bloat.
eu face bore witness Of a drunkard's
life and prophecy Of not far-off drunk.
ards death.
"What luck, boss 2" said the younger,
after SEINE time, and as he, apparently
routed by the rising water, came il.
land, passing the old man.
"Good enoush-good enough, you
son Of a." replied the affsctionate
older using term which, if it were
net title habitually conferred mean.
'nglsssly on each other among even the
closest friends by the more vulsarly
speaking population Of the great West,
might have been decisive in settling the
young mans descent-at least frem the
mothers side. "Good enough
'Then come along, Daddy, d-n it:
the waters risiu' too high to do anv.
thing, an I'm cold as Ill.,"
There you're wrong, Hamon; there
you're clean wrong. Hell's warm
warm as-" but here the old gentle.
man felt his favorite term Of compari.
con to Be Pathological and truism, 50
he stopped, and he went on after a
puzzled, semi.drunken pause-"as warm
- your nanny Babylonia's temper"
At mention Of this name, Hamon' s
black countenance took an uncomfort-
able expression, and he looked anxious
" into the old mans face. Daddy"
he said, Il want to tell ye somethin'
private afore We 90 home to-night-if
I was ony sure ye warn't drunk as q
owl: Let's 80, anyway
The two shouldered their wet BAGS
the Old man arumblipx and staarerino.