St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-10-13


with one dollar exactly. On board
there was a carousing shoemaker, who
had been sent for from the East by
man who kept a shop in San Francisco.
a heard him say that he had come be-
fore his time, and that, anyhow, if he
could do better he was not going to
work at cobbling. He mentioned the
name of the man who was to hire him,
and had his consent to apply for the
place.
I went to the shoe-shop at once and
asked for the position. sit is given to
another man, who ought to be here
soon, and ] can't make use of you. Be
sides, YOU have no hat s'That makes
no difference" replied. 81 see shoe
makers wages are six dollars q day
it was the flush times of California,
then-give me three dollars and feed
me, and only let me stay until the man
you hired turns up, for [ am indeed q
shoemaker The boss gave a kind of
grudging consent. Then Iset 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 five dollars be-
fore breakfast by intending a boot. |
suited him exactly--for [ am a good
shoemaker. l lived with that man for
a year, and saved all my money. sent
the dear old father at home one hun
dred dollars. If you could only have
seen the letter that came back! The
blessed old daddy wanted to know if |
thought he was spendthrift? That one
J<>1l u To at-a
do for the next three years! There was
a chance heard of in Sacramento. |
went there, my master giving me some
Of his shop-Worn stock. did splen-
did business. In six months l had made
for my share three thousand dollars.
My fortune was before me. Poor old
daddy was not forgotten. I got cross
letter from him this time. The poor
simple soul wanted to know whether |
thought he was going to the dogs. Did
I want to make him drunkara, a
gourmand, and put all kinds Of tempta-
ton 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 let
ter.
Well, I thought that fortune was now
mine. But one night a bad fire broke
| out and / was burned out. Fires oc-
Cured in Sacramento every night and
were the work of thieves. I gathered
together the few pair OF boots | could
put my hands on, and placed them with
my money, all in gold, in trunk, and
/ carried it out of the wooden shanty
Just as the roof fell in. For better Sc
curity J sat on my trunk, and gazed be-
wildered-like at the flames. 81 have
something left,' I said, latter all, to
begin the world with. = Just then /
was struck a 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.
All! then I gave myself up, just for
moment, to despair. am ruined
ruined for ever. Poor daddyn' /
thought. But / was not ruined. for that
crack on the head was the means of my
making my fortune.
I didn't cry over things much, for I
am good shoemaker, and that is al
ways solid capital. I had little
money in my pocket, and went to San
Francisco. l knew my old master
would take me back, and he did So |
resumed my old place. There was an
auctioneer among his customers with
the tenderest feet ever saw, and, as |
am shoemaker, that explains all my
good luck. This auctionear had been
grumbling ever since [ left San Fran
cisco. When he saw me he was de-
lighted. At least now" he said, ~
am out Of my great misery. / shall
limp no longer. Al once made him
q pair OF shoes, and he was delighted.
One day he said to me: 81 had an
auction yesterday, and / put up, with
out getting single bidder, a lot of very
fine French boots. They won't sell be-
cause there's a glut of boots on the
market. They were imported year
ago, but the shape is out of fashion
now. 1t was square toe then, now tits
round one. Do you want to buy them?''
elbow much?" I asked. Make your
own price, ssBut I 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, and such as
only dandy horsemen or general officers
wear. Remember, / am a good shoemak-
er and know my trade. I bought those
boots atone dollar pair. The leather
alone was worth twice that. At night
fused to work on them I made the
square toes pointed--for I am a good
shoemaker. Some of them cut down
into bootees. Oh! / worked night after
night on them after hours. Then I
hired a small shop, and hung up a few
pairs in the window. S.
A Mexican came first. ..How much?n
"Ten dollars He took the boots.