West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-11-22
The Poor Mans Temptation

Among the passengers aboard the ship
Petrol, bound from New York TO San
Francisco, we're Thomas Warren; his wife
and their siX-yesr-old daughter, Flora
Warren had been unfortunate
BY careful saving from his income as a
clerk in a dry goods store he had built a
little house one story and n half high and
there for four years with his wife and child
he had liyed, happy and contented.
Then the firm employing him failed. He
looked about him perseverngly for steady,
honest work of some kind-not caring what
but could not obtain it.
One day n laborer who was Obliged to be
absent from hIs place of toil-a bank Of
earth which was being removed-permitted
him TO act as his substitute for ten hours.
Warren piled the pick aud shovel manfully
and received one dollar when his task was
done. His health not being good, such
heavy work made him i'll. lie could not
leave his bed for months. What little
money he had as all spent by that time
He sold his house and with some OF the
proceeds took passage for San Francisco,
as stated, hoping TO there better his for
tunes
San Francisco" EAid his wife Mary
thoughtfully when they were within two
days sail of that port. lit il the place
where papa went, years ago, to look for
Tom Marston, my poor brother who ran
away from home But as you know, Tom
was never found. We never could learn
what became of him.
At that moment terrible cry went
through the craft
Fire Fire! Fire."
The captain and crew did all in their
power to save the vessel, but in vain.
Very soon the lund flames, roaring and
kissing envsloped noarly every part of the
ship.
Down went the boats and they were
presently occupied by c.ew and passengers
Warren had brought up from the cabin
a tin box, containing five hundred dollars,
which remained from the sale Of his house
With his wife and child he got into one
( he boats.
The petroleum." yelled the first mate
Pull away lively!-the ships going to
blow upl''
The boat In which Warren sat was ten
fathems from the ship, when with roar
like bursting volcano, she flew TO pieces,
her fiery fragments shooting high in air.
The frightened passengers made a rush,
which capsized the boat. Warren's box OF
mOaey sank TO the bottom He could
swim and contrived to save his wife and
child from drowning by holding them un-
tn one OF the other boats came and picked
up al the persons who were in the water
My box" groaned Warren.
''Oh myl" cried his wife turning deadly
pale and cl Lsping her hands
''It has gone TO the bottom Of the sea- " he
said wildly, his fingers twitching nervously
in his agony
IF could swim I'd dive and get IT,"
said little Flora ''Never mind, papa, we
can Gil 1t wis gold when wo get to the
gold town
And taking a piece Of cake from her
pocket, she commenced to eat it.
Warren bowed his head He looked
white and limp and gaspcd for breath
Then the true spirit showed itself on the
part Of his wife.
There Is no describing how she consOlcd
him. She did II with the strange subtle
power Of her sex.
He was still grief stricken, but somehow
the horror and digmay caused by his los.
were nearly gone
Before night the passengers were picked
up by a brig bound into the port OF Sar
Francisco. And thus Warren and his littlC
family arrived there.
Ae had few dollars ia his pocket-bOok,
and he hired lodgings I'm a small house, neal
the outskirts Of the town
He set about looking for employment al
once.
To his surprise, it was as dimut here u
obtain work as in New York.
Day after day he went about ON his hope
less rounds.
He could find nothing 10 do
"Give me a piece Of bread, said Flora,
one morning "a piece Of bread wis sail
on t. "
What have VIC no sugar said Warren
j thought we had a little.
''No, papa, said Flora, climbing on hii
knee. Sugars all gone and 80 ! cam
have bread wis sugar, bat there's plenty
Of salt, and Ike 'yat' on bread, she ad
ded, olaping her hands
few days later It was still worse.
The last mOrsel Of bread had been eaten
Flora called stOutly for more, for On,
child was hungry
Her mother and father were still hun
gner.
They we're weak from the want Of food
Warren went his rounds as usual, "a
vain.
At length he found himself on the cut
skirts Of the city