The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-23
IN HIS OLD ARK.
The First Big Dinner of Old Man
rlOwrv,


Even old Mowry is going to keep Thanks
giving day.
Everybody don't know old Mowry. in
fact, very few people know Of his existence.
But he don't care, and would rather have IL
so.
He lives In Contra Costa County, down 10
the tules below Crockett Station. Nobody
lives with him, EXCEPT you count his old
gray cat that Is fast nearing the day when
she will enter the happy bunting ground.
of her tribe. But il you don't count the cat
old Mowry will. for she is the only living
thing he cares for.
The fact OF the matter Is old Mowry is a
hermit. That is. he tries to be as much of
one as he can with the noisy railroad a few
hundred feet behind his humble habitaton
and the steam and sailing vessels ON the
bay in constant view.
Still, nobody ever goes to see him and lie
is lett to himself for months at time.
He bought his house over twenty wears
ago, at which time it was considered one of
the finest arks on the bay. and many are
the voyages the old man took in 1t to differ
| ent points on the rivers.
He was an old man then and getting older
fast, but the ark got old faster and one day
began to leak. 1t was soon mended but
| other bad spois soon showed themselves
| that he could rot repair, and as he had no
money to pay anybo dy else for the work he
| put in his time bailing. But one day this
method failed TO keep his home high oct of
water, so he hoisted his sail for the last
time and slowly drifted ashore into the mud
ana tules. whe re ii has remained ever
since.
Then his lonely life commenced in reality.
| Not soul did lie see from one weeks end
| 10 the other. The sands had drifted aroma
his house so that the tides did not come
within long distance of IL and IL was prac-
ticaliy on land, and In few seasons lost its
last nautical accessory, when the mast fell
| down.
| After that he lived by himself for de-
| cade until one day he saw gray cat swim
| ming ashore that had evidently fallen or
| been thrown on some ship.
| Old Mowry took her in and divided h is
| portion OF dried fish with her. Pussy liked
| the monotonous life after her travel over
| the world, and between the two there was
| sympathy which neither could express
The years dragged slowly by and the
man, house and cat remained in the same
| place. All had reached that period where
they seemed to stop growing Older.
The house has always locked dismal aud
| melancholy, but this week presents quite
| holiday appearance and the owner seems to
have suddenly become ten years younger.
| All because be very Unexpectedly became
the possesser OF dollar and hsd decided
! to celebrate THANKSGIVING day In n proper
1
| boat which drifted ashore near his ARK. The
owner OF the boat thought lie got of very
! cheap.
| To old MowrY the dollar was gndsend,
ana the first he has had in twenty years, and so
he is going TO make the best of il. He knows
| that IL won't change his condition for any
| length OF time, SO he is going TO have feast
| and give thanks for all the blessings he has
enjoyed in life and then go back 10 his old
| diet.
The ark is now lying almost out Of sight
/ under the tules. 1t Is most melancholy
spot in the best of weather. but now by the
| welId effect of the slekly sunshine is most
1 depressing in appearance. The wind
1 whistles through the dead reeds and dried
grssses-wbiStleS mournful cadence in
harmony with the surroundings. But old
Mowry don't notice that; he is goiug TO
! celebrate Thanksgiving.
| For years lie has been living on fish both
fresh and dried, which lie was fortunate
enough TO catch on his haIf-rotten lines.
At certain times of the year he would
wander UP the slough and get a little water
| cress. with an occasional handful of wild
| leeks. Pussy, OF course, ate nothing but
| the fish, except she happened to catch a
| mouse by careful watching in the tules.
But the days OF fasting are 10 be broken
by "ne of feasting. The preparations for
| this event are now going on. Tine old man
works steadily STRENGTHENING his kitchen
ana resurrecting culinary utensils which
have been out OF sight Tor years. PuSs sits
| IN TIE open window watching the proceed
| ings in a wondering manner.
| On. his repast is going to be n sumptuOus
| one. and he really feels thankful for it,
be Is going 10 have coffee with milk and
! sugar, fine piece of beef, and bread and
! butter. There viii be enough milk for
| Pussy and she can also have a large piece
| OF the beef. The coffee pot, which has not
! been used for years. has been most carefully
cleaned. while the frying-pan Is bright
| enough TO see your face IN.
The old man is as excited as a little girl
| that hangs up her stocking for the first
| time. For n week he has been afraid the
| dav would never come.
He says he has a great deal to be thank.
| full for, even though he has barely existed
| for quarter OF a century. He has had
over eighty years Of life and health, and
| has always had a comfortable place 10 sleep
| There is the beautiful world that he can
| feast his eyes on. and nobody disputes with
/ him the ownership Of his home. But best
| Of all, there is his beloved cat that zane to
brighten his days. And now he has the op-
| portunity of giving thanks for the great
| blessings he has enjoyed for four-score
| years. and be Is perfectly happy.
| There will be many sumpluous feasts
spread on Thursday 10 which all the coun-
| tries in the world viii contribute but nops
| will be eaten with greater relish or more
| thankful hearts than old Mowry's humble
| feast in the Iule swamp on the bank OF San
Pablo Bay. WILL SPARKS.
L