Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-07-24
FIRE AND FORTUNE.
strange NicIssitudcs Of Denver
Family.

Family
Denver News.
We had new boarder coming and
our best room had been busted and
swept and the furniture rubbed until
it shone again. The house had been
ransacktd for nick hacks and little
ornaments to brighten up the pleasant
room assigned for the use of the new
cOnlcr which looked out upon our
pretty little garden through two low
windows with their snow white cur
tains, and the climbing roses outside
pceping in at either corner. Mother
seemed To have lost the haggard, care
worn leok which she had worn ever
since the death of father a year be
fore, which had added 10 her heavy
burden of grief, the additional one of
providing the means Of livelihood for
our little family, taxing her strength
Mt times almost beyond its limit. /
was but ten years Of age, and Bert,
the little angel, was in his sixth year
OF course | did what | could to held
make both ends meets, but am afraid
that was very little.
WE HAD COMETO DENVER IiREE YEARS
BEFORE
fathers health being poor, and his
business in the Eastern city where |
was born having fallen oil in the hard
times, everything was sold of, and as
he and mother SAID we would make a
new start in II new country. We set
tied in comfortable little house on
thampa street, but for several moNthS
M employment offered and our little
store was gradually beng wasted
away. One day there was an adver-
tSCment for man to take charge of
the accounts of "A naming company ut
Il mountain camp some distance away.
Father, being good book keeper, an
swered it and secured the situation.
With theexCcption Of the drawback of
his long absence from home, things
were more pleasant with us, fathers
salary keeping us in comparative
comfort. BY strict attention to the
interests of his employers, he gradu
ally won their entire confidence, and
during the absences of the superin>
tendent in New York, where he was
frequently called to meet the directors,
father was III charge of the mine. 1t
was upon ono of these occasions,
while considerable stopping was being
done III a new level which was being
run To strike
A RECENTLY DISCOVERED VEIN,
it became necessary for him to go in
to the mine To direct some of the oper
atoms. WhIlo at the farther end of
the drift, the roof Of the tunnel sud
denly gave way, crushing HIM and
several of the miners to the tlCor.
They were eXtricated rs soon as possi~
bile, but the father only lived an hour.
Obi the agony Of that time. Borne
down by the weight of the terrible |
blow, mother lay for weeks lowering
between life and death, with only |
poor little M" to wait upon her and |
take care OF Bert, not that this was
So hard, for tho little fellow seemed |
to know something Of the great troub-
lie, aud was as good as he could be. |
Finally mother arose from her bed |
and assumed the burdens of life now |
largely increased by the awful loss |
we had sustained. For months we
struggled along, mother trying TO exc
out ths small sum she had saved |
while fSther was employed, by needle |
work and sewing, which she laanag- |
ed To obtain. Finally things got SO
bad that it seemed to be necessary |
that we should
MOVE INTO \ STILL SMALLER HOUSE.
One day, while looking over the |
advertisements in the Rocky Noun
tam News, of houses to rent, her eve |
caught in another column the follow !
ing;
WANTED ny \ SINGLE GENTLEMAN |
a furnished room with board in a
quiet ncighborhood; private family |
preferred. Address, NY Il. News |
office
Now rs our little parlor had never
been used since fathers death, and |
was one of the most pleasant rooms in |
ths house, the alternative presented |
itself to ker Of furnishing it as sleep |
ing chamber and thus avoid moving !
Ia 4 smaller residence. Acting upon |
the idea, the advertisement was ans |
wered and the new boardCr was cons |
ing that afternoon.
Everything was in readiness and, |
think, coSier or more comfortable |
quarters were never enjoyed by man |
seeking quiet and rest.
Toward the middle of the afternoon |
he came, liked the accommodations
provided, and the bargain was quickly
made. Mother was all in a tiutter,
and really seemed to be more excited
than the simple fact of taking new
boarder would warrant l noticed
her