The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-11-29

to San Francisco, were Thomas
Warren, his wife, and their six-yea
old daughter, Flora.
Warren had been unfortunate.
By careful saving from his in
come rs a clerk in 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 lived, happy and
contcntcd.
Then the firm employing him
failed. Hc looked about him per
severingly for steady, honest work
Of some kind-not caring what
but could not obtain it.
One day n laborcr who was OBJ
ligcd to be absent from his place
of toil-a bank. ofcarth which was
being removed ed-perlnitted him to
act rs his substitute for ten hours
Warren piled the pick and 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 was all spent
bv that time.
He sold his house and with some
of tho proceeds took passage fol-
San Francisco, rs stated, hoping to
there better his fortunes.
"San Francisco" said his wife
Mary, thoughtfully, when they were
within two days sail Of that port
at is the placc where papa went
years ago, to look for Tom Marston
my poor brother, who ran away
from home. But rs you know
Tom was never found. We never
could learn what became Of him.
At that moment Il terrible cry
went through tho craft.
"Firc! Fire! Fire!
The captain and crew did all in
their power to save the vessel, but
in vain.
Very soon tho lurid flames, roar,
ing and kissing, cnvelopcd nearly
every part Of the ship.
Down went the boats and they
were presently occupied by crew
and passengers.
Warren had brought up from the
cabin u tin box, containing five
hundred dollars, which remained
from the sale Of his house.
With his wifo and child ho got
into one Of the boats.
"The petroleum !" yelled the first
mate.
"Pull away lively! the ships go
ing to blow up"
The boat in which Warren sal
was ten fathoms from the ship
when, with Il roar like n 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 money sank to the
bottom. lie could swim and con,
trived 10 save his wife and child
from drowning by holding them
until one of the other boats came
and picked up all the persons who
were in the water.
"My box !" groancd Warren.
"Oh mym cried his wife, turn
deadly palo and clasping hcl
hands.
at has gone to the bottom of the
sea!' he said wildly, his fingers
twitching ncrvously in his agony,
"lf I could swim I'd dive and
get it," said little Flora. "Nevel
mind, papa, We can ill it wis gold
when we get to the gold town."
And taking piecs Of cake from
her pocket, she commenced to eat
it.
Warren bowel his head. II,
looked white and limp and gaspcc
for breath.
Then the true spirit showed it
self on the part of his wife.
There is no describing how sh'
consoled him. She did it with TIN
strange subtle power Of her sex.
He was still grief stricken, bu
somehow the horror and disma.
caused by his loss were nearl,
gone.
Before night the passengers wcr'
picked up by II brig bound into TIN
port of San Francisco. And thu
Warren and his little family ar
rived there.
lie had n few dollars in hi!
pockct.book, and he hired lodging
in n small house, near the outskirt
OF the town.
He set about at once looking 70
employment. go. ,
To his surprise, it was rs diflicul
here to obtain work MS in Ne,
York.
Day after day he went about oil
his hopeless rounds.
He could find nothing TO do.
"Givc me u piece Of bread" " sai'
Flora, one morning-"a piece q
bread wis salt on It."
"What! have we no sugar,
said Warren. al thought we had
little"
"No, papa" said Flora, climbin
on his knee. Sugars all gone an
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