The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-03-07
EENUGaETS OF GOLD.


Life had gone hard with John
Moriarty. In the year 18-he started
for the great Western gold fields. full
of faith and confidence in himself-a
steady, pure-minded, honorable man.
willing to work hard if he only could
better himself. and help his family to
higher plane.
His wife little Matty, who was
lame from her birth Gerald, boy of
ten, the baby, Louise, scarcely two
years old and Mary, the tall, capa-
ble girl of fifteen-all these, with the
wife who had patiently borne her
share of the toll and fatigue conse-
auent on poverty and peculiarly hard
times, he left behind him, and set his
face toward privations and dangers
with a resOlute will.
How hard the life was during the
first year no pen can portray. He
, lived in a miserable hut tenanted by
three or four rough men, who, having
no family ties, could not appreciate
his position. They were hardened in
dissipation, and sometimes he was
aroused from his slumbers by their
auarrels, at others called to use his
influence between man and man at
deadly feud with each other.
All these things the little family
never heard Of Once month Mary
went to the postof6ce, and found there
a letter, that seldom came without an
Observation-Disclosures a small draft,
sometimes a quantity of gold dust or
gold flakes, that were easily converted
into money. This, with work that
Mary and her mother did, kept them
from want, though they were still
very poor.
At the expiration of a year, Mary's
mother died suddenly. This was
heart-rending news to send TO Cali
fornia ; but when. a few months after
ward, Matty followed her mother,
Mary was on the verge of despair.
The baby was given to the care of
an aunt, and Gerald found place
where he was insuficiently paid, but
which he was only too glad to get
Mary went to live with her aunt, who
really could not afford to support her.
and though she was kindly received,
she knew that she was burden.
One day Gerald was busy in the
small, mean Office in which he was en-
ployed. when he was surprised by the
entrance of his sister. She looked
pale, and her eyes swollen as if she
had been weeping.
What is the matter, Mary ?" was
his first exclamation.
Il have letter here from father"
she said. "He has sent little
money, but not much. He writes
with great hopefulness, however, about
ne prospect of finding gold. He says
the country is delightful where he is
located, and only wishes we were
there; if We were he would never
come back"
Then he doesn't know ?" said Ger
aid, slowly.
No; when he wrote this, at least,
ne had not received my letter. Gerald,
have about made up my mind that
will 60 out there"
Your" and the boy turned round
IN blank establishment.
Yes; Uncle is going. and Aunt
Hannah thinks it would be a good
thing. l could keep father comfort
able, and perhaps earn something
most women do. l could wash and
iron. or cook; l am so strong. you
know"
Don't 60, Mary; 1 can't spare
you,' said the boy, and his lip quiv-
cred.
But you are to 60 and sleep at
Aunt Hannah's if l do go; that will
be nice, for you can be with little
Louise part of the time. Aunt Han
nah thinks l should do perfectly right
20 go-thinks l can be of great SER
vice 10 father; and so do l."
1t was some time before Gerald
could see the matter as she saw it.
He wanted her near him, that he
might confde to her his little trials.
He wanted her encouragement, now
that mother was gone the mother he
had loved SO dearly. But the prom.
Use of a new suit of clothes, which
Mary thong hit she could manage for
him, by buying the cloth and making
them herself; the anticipation of the
letters he would receive, and the
promise that if father and she could
make home there they would come
or send for him and the little sister,
tended to reconcile him to the pros
pect of her departure.
At last all the arrangements were
made. and Mary set sail with her