The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1883-09-22


and ! can't make use Of you. Besides
you have no hat" THAT makes no diff
ference" replied. Il see shoemakers'
wages are IS day (it was the flush times
Of California then, give me So and feed
me, and only let me stay until the man
you hired turns up, for | am indeed
shoemaker The boss gave kind Of
grudging consent. Then set to work,
and slept that night in the shop. When
the master came to the place in the
morning he found everything in elegant
order, and had made S. before break
fast by mending a boot. ! suited him
exactly-for am good shoemaker. |
lived with that man for year, and saved
all my money. sent the dear old fell
low at home SIoo. If you could only
have seen the letter that came back
The blessed old daddy wanted to know
if thought he was spenjthrift? That
sioo he was going to make do for the
next three years? There was chance |
heard OF in Sacramento. I went there,
my master giving me some of his shop
worn stock. did splendid business.
In six months had made for my share
S. 1000. My fortune was before me.
Poor old daddy was not forgotten. got
a cross letter from him this time. The
poor simple soul wanted to know whether
! thought he was going to the dogs. Did |
want to make him drunkard, a gour-
mand, and put all kinds of temptation in
his way? Too much money was the
source Of all evil. was robbing myself
to pamper him-but for all that there
was lot of sweetness in the letter.
Well, | thought that fortune was now
mine. But one night bad fire broke
out and was burned out. Fires &C.
cured in Sacramento every night and
we're the work OF thieves. gathered to-
gether the few pairs of boots could put
my hands on, and placed them with my
money, all in gold, in trunk, and car
red it out Of the wooden shanty Just as
the roof fell in. For better security sat
on my trunk, and gazed bewildered-lik
at the flames. 81 have something left, !"
| said, latter all, to begin the world
with" ust then was struck heavy
blow over the head with club, and lost
all consciousness. When came to
found myself on the ground and my
trunk gone. The thieves had done the
business for me. An then gave my
self up, just for moment, to utter de-
spair. Il am ruined-ruined forever.
Poor old daddy" thought. But was
no, ruined, for that crack on the head
was the means of my making fortune.
didn't cry over things much, for am
good shoemaker, and that is always
solid capital. had little money in my
pocket, and went to San Francisco. |
knew my old master would take me back,
and he did so. resumed my old place.
There Was an auc,ioneer among his Gus
TONERS with the ,enderest feet ever saw
and as am shoemaker that explains
all my good lnck. This auctioneer had
been grumbling ever since left San
Francisco. When he saw me he was
delighted. AT least now" he said. :"
am out of my great misery, shall limp
no longer A, once made him a pair
of shoes, and he was delighted.
One day he said to me: u had an
auction yesterday, and put up without
getting a single bidder 10, of very fine
French boots. They won't sell because
there is glut Of boots on the market,
They were imported year ago, but the
shape is GU: of fashion now. II was a
square one then, now it is round one.
DO you buy them r "How much p
asked. Make your own price" But
have no money That makes no
difference; you may have them on credit:
pay me when you can. went to look
at those cases Of boots. They were Of
the finest quality, and excellent as to
make. Some of them were cavalry boots,
but such as only dandy horsemen or
general officers wear. Remember, | am
good shoemaker and know my trade.
! bought those boots At 81 pair. The
leather alone was worth twice thai. At
night used to work on them. made
the square toes pointed-for am a good
shoemaker. Some Of them cut down
into bootees. Oh! worked night after
night on them after hours. Then hired
small shop and hung up few pairs in
the window.
A Mexican came first. How much p
Ten dollars" He took the boots.
Then a miner passed. How much Z"
Fifteen dollars" Then gentleman on
fine horse came by and looked from
his horse at the boots, and he tied up
his horse and asked, "How much p
Twenty dollars" He put double
eagle down. must have made $500
clear on those boots, and ! put in my
pocket $1,000 in three weeks. worked
on for year and made money in my
trade steadily, for am good shoe
maker. Then | got married in San
Francisco to a woman loved, and my
married life has been a very happy one.
1t was pang when said to my wife, -
must leave you, my love, for a short
time-only long enough to pay my dear
old daddy visit" left my business in
her charge. It was voyage of business
and pleasure, for went to Paris to buy
goods.
Poor old daddy! There was the same
magpie in the wicker-work basket, and
he saluted me, for he remembered me.
When was httle boy stuck tail OF
false feathers on him with some cobbler's
wax. He never forgot me, and RULED
his feathers at me as soon as he saw me,
as il my insult to him had been Of recent
date. There was hardly change in the