The San Francisco call., 1896-03-16

young mans name is +. 5. Meggltt, ana MS
home is at Mansfield, in the north of Eng
land. Meggitt's father died some years
ago, leaving comfortable estate to be en-
joyed by his wife during her lifetime,
while his two sons have been supplied
with modest annuities.
The hero of this sketch was ambitious
to become master sailor, but after three
years of service. upon attempting to pass
the regular. examination, he found that
his defective eyesight was bar to sue
cess in that noble calling. But during
this three years on the seas he had visited
the Pacific Coast, and after the disappoint-
ment of his failure at the examination had
worn off somewhat, Meggitt concluded
that ihe could not make his mark in the
maritime service he would do the next
best thing and become fruit farmer in
Southern California.
His mother assented readily to the
proposition, and so it was concluded that
young Meggitt should go to California and
learn the fruit-growing business, when,
becoming proficient in that industry, his
mother would also embark for the land of
the setting sun, buy fruit ranch, and all
would be exceedingly well.
About the time these conclusions were
reached the following advertisement in the
London Telegraph caught the eye of
young Meggitt:
SITUATIONS FURNIsHED-On fruit farms in
Southern California. Best OF references fur
nished. Correspondence solicited.
G. H. WILLMAN,
Alb Cockspur street.
Willman's ad was hailed with delight
by the prospective fruit-grower. A brisk
correspondence was established, which re-
suited in f10 being shifted from Meggitt
to Whitman, in consideration of guaran-
teed situation with T. P. Thompson,
prominent fruit-grower of Alhambra, Los
Angeles County, Southern California.
This situation was not represented to
be lucrative one; Meggitt had not asked
for such. He was merely to work year
for his board and what stray bits of infor-
nation he could pick up about the fruit
business. Still he was satisfied and paid
his f10 without murmur.
Not long ago Meggitt arrived in Alham-
bra armed with his letter of introduction
10 7. T. Thompson, fruit-grower, and
filled with consuming passion to work
twenty-four hours day at the fruit busi-
ness. pausing only long enough to receive
his salary-the aforesaid board.
To his chagrin and alarm, Mr.. Thomp-
son was unknown at Alhambra. Among
the names of the fruit-growers of that Sec
ton that of T. P. Thompson was and al
ways had been missing. 1t therefore
dawned upon Meggitt that he had fallen
the victim of new-style shell game, and
with dropping spirits, but vearning still to
learn the fruit business, he finally came to
Santa Ana. He wrote to his mother and
brother of the dismal denouement of his
long journey, and the latter promptly en-
deavored to find the willy Whitman, but
Cockspur street knew him no more.
Whether this is to become an esiab-
lished business in London will, of course.
remain to be seen, although number of
instances of the same character have been
reported from different sections of the
United States and Canada. Meggitt
doesn't mind the loss of his $50 so much as
the fact that he has not yet found a job for
his board. He will remain in California
at any rate until the good ship Drumcliffs
arrives from Liverpool, some six months
hence, when he expects to embark with
Captain Davis, an old friend of his, in a
voyage home He says the next man who
collects fee from him for a situation on a
Southern California fruit ranch will have
to show some exceptional references in
deed