Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-12-11
The Poor Mans Temptation


Among the passengers aboard the: shil
Petrel, bound from New York to Sal
Francisco, were Thomas Warren; his wifi
and their six-year-old daughter, Flora
Warren had been unfortunate.
By careful saving from his income as .
clerk in s dry goods store he had built &
little house one story and half high anc
there for four years with his wife and child
he had lived, happy and contented.
Then the f1rm employing him failed, he
looked about him perseveringly for steady,
honest work Of some kind-not caring what
but could not obtain it.
One day laborer who was obliged to be
absent from hls place of toil-a bank of
earth which wss being removed permitted
him TO act as 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 wesk made him III. He 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 said his wife Mary
thOughrfully when they were within two
dars sail Of that port 1t is the place
where papa went, years ago, 20 look for
Tom MRrF1on- NY poor Druther, VINO ran
away from home. But IS YOU know, Tom
was never found VIC never could learn
WHIST became of htm.s
Al that moment terrible cry went
through the craft
Fire Fire, Fire"
The captain and crew did all in their
power 10 save the vessel, but i'm vain
Very soon the lurid flames, roaring and
Kissing enreluped nearly every part of the
ship
Down went the boats and they were
presently occupied hr c.rw and passengers
Warren had brought up from the cabin
TN box, containing Eve hundred dollars,
which remained from the sale OF his house.
With his wife and child he got into one
{ Lhe boats
The petroleum. yelled the first mate.
Pull away ivelyl-the ships going to
blcw up
The boat in which Warren sat was ten
fafhems from the ship. when with a roar
Ike bursting volcano, she few 10 pieces,
her fiery fragments shooting high i'm air.
The frightened passengers made a rush,
which capszed the boat. Waren's box OF
money sank to the bottom. he could
swim and contrived to save his wife and
child from drowning by holding them IN
a one Of the other boats came and picked
I'D AT thepersons who were fn the water
MY box" groaned Warren
<SOh mytr cried his wife turning deadly
pale and chHping her hands. S. 49,
s4It has gone 80 the bottom Of the seal hS
said wildly. his fingers twitching nervonsly
IN his agony -
IF cound swim I'd dive and get IT.
said little Flora ssNever mind, papa, We
car 6n II Wis gold when wo get to ths
gold town.
And taking a piece Of cake from he
pocket, abe commenced to eat it.
Warren bowed his head He looke'
white and limp and gsspcd for breath.
Then the true spirit showeditself on tn
part Of his wife - a ----
There is mo describing how she consoles
him. She did il with the strange Subtl
power Of her sex
He was sill grief stricken. but somehow
the horror and disnay caused by his los
were nearly gone
Before night the passengers were picke
up bya brig bound into the port OF Sa
Francisco And thns Warren and his httl
family arrived there.
de had few dollars i'm his pccket-b boob
and he hired lodgings in a small house, nes
the outskirts of the town.
Hs set about looking Tor employment
once.
TIE his surprise, il was ss diffiult here
obtain work IS in New York.
Day after day he went about on his hop
He could find nothingto do.
'9Give me piece Of bread, said Flor
one mornings piece of bread wis 50
omit"
srWhaE have we no sugar SAID are
II thought we had little
sNo, papa" said Flora, climbing on
knee. Sugars all gone and so cal
have bread wis sugar, but there's plen
of salt. and Ike .yat' On bread, she a
ded. claping her hands
A few DAYS later 1t was still worse.
The last morsel of bread had been cate
F7ora called stoutly for more, for G
child was hungry.
Her mother and father were stih hu
grier.
Thev were weak from the want of foo
Warren went his rounds an usual, :
vain. # &h
AT langth he found himself ON the OF
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