St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-24
HE FOUND A FORTUNE.

~. W JOuilSOH
"Wake up! wake up! Mr.. Brown, and
go for the doctor; one OF the children
seems to be very ill. and needs medical
attention at once" Such were the
words of wife and mother residing in
a poor tenement house III that part OF
the city where New York stores away
the poor, the destitute and the friend
less.
A dim light from an old lamp without
chimney was just sufficient to render
darkness visible, and the air OF the
little howell was so filled with smoke
that it was wholly untitled for inhaling.
AT last Mr.. Brown was dressed, and.
descending the riclety stairway, found
7. himself in the open air. The night was
stormy, and the snow fell in binding
sheets upon his dark and gloomy path
way. AS he turned into Broadway he
was seized By four masked men,
and hurried off to the Battery,
where he was forced into a
small boat and carried out TO
large one lying at anchor in the har-
Dor. Once on board he was stored away
in the lower part of the vessel and not
permitted to see any one Tor ten days.
Al the end of that time ne was allowed
the liberty of che vessel, but was not
permitted to converse with any OF the
crew. He was out on the broad ocean,
and knew not where he was nor whittier
he was going. For three years he was
practically a prisoner, but at last was
able to escape. when he found himself
in South America without friends and
without money. He sought employment,
but those to whom he applied for work
III t.N hulr mo w
seemed so shabbly attired; but at last
he was successful in getting a very
subordinate position in large mining
company, where his fidelity was recog-
nlzed and rewarded, until at last he
became the recipient of the highest
wages paid to any employe.
At the END OF ten years lie had saved
up enough to return to his family, but
when his intention was made known,
the company, wishing to retain his
services, offered him an interest in the
business, and he became one of the CO.
partners, and as such was entrusted
with the entire management of the
affairs OF the company. This position
he held for sixteen years. when, having
amassed an immense fortune, he con-
cluded to dispose of his interest and
return to the United States. and if pos
Sible once more Join his wife and chill
dren if they were still living and could
be found.
On his arrival in New York he went to
his old home, Which he foand occupied
by another who had never heard of
Mrs. Blown. Every day for weeks he
wandered over that great city making
inquiries about his lost family without
gaining any information in regard to
them. AT last he made up his mind to
return to his hotel and give up the
search, but on his way lie met an, old
acquaintance, from whom he learned of
their trials and sutrcrngS since he had
last seen them. The child that was so
sick when be left home died on the fol-
lowing day Of malignant scarlet fever,
and three days thereafter the other
child died of the same disease.
Mrs. Brown was thus left without
husband or child and thrown entirely
upon her own resources to support her
self BY hard work over the wash tub
and by occasionally sewing for the
neghbors she managed to keep the wolf
from the door. For years every knock
at the door, or footStep. on the sidewalk,
she believed was made by her long-ab
sent husband. AT last she was forced
to believe that he was dead, and
mOurned, only as widow can mourn,
the death of her husband and protector.
At the end of ten years she married
man by the name Of French-H. ).
French-whO was himself poor in
worldly goods, but rich in energy and
industry. He was sober, reliable man
and could always find employment.
This marriage was blessed in the birth
of three bright, intelligent children.
The directory was consulted, and a
party by the name of Ii. ). French was
found to reside on an obscure street In
a secluded pant of that great metropolis,
and he FASTENED to the humble abode of
her he had promised to love and pro
tect. On entering there was mutual
recognition. -nr
Matters were fully discussed, and all
the parties recognized the fact that the
second marriage was illegal and void
What could be done in the premises?
Mr.. Brown held the key to the position,
and he proposed that his wife should
secure a divorce from him on the
ground OF abandonment aud failure to
support her, and when the decree was
obtained she and Mr.. French could be
married according to the forms of law.
Legal steps were taken at once. and i'll
due time the divorce was granted, the
day was agreed upon for the second
marriage, which was t. be witnessed by
Mr.. Brown. AS Soon as the man of
God pronounced the parties husband and
wife, Mr.. Brown advanced and pre-
scented to Mrs. Mary French deed to
a furnished house and lot in a fashion,
able portion of the city and check for
$4,000.
1t is needless to say that more
happy family was not to be found in
that great city, and probably the hap
piest one of the interested parties was
John +. Brown, the great millionaire.
Reader, do you believe this story? [