The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-15
THAT DRUNKARD's FACE WAS WHAT I
HAD COME TO SEEK

THAT DRUNKARD'S FACE WAS WHAT l
HAD COME TO SEEK.
None ever knew of nv misery for had inherited my
fathers obstnacy For week battled with physical
depression, then l reused and faced the situation l
must money for had spent freely, and there was
no home with Ned for But had read heaps
OF novels in which girls made fortunes and thought
money getting an easy task soon discovered my
mistake. GoYernesses not IN request newspapers
preferred my advertisements to my contributions
watercolor sketches did not provoke enthusiasm:
Even domestic service was closed girl who could
scarcely make cake and had never cut out a chids
garment. Other empoyments offered in abundance
for winsOme who not too particular could
command any salary IN those wild days. But vowed
would never bring sur on my father name;
might starve, but l would not follow Ned downhill.
Yet climbed down my, own fashion; from the
Union Hotel to cheap and nasty North Beach board
ng-house; then one day. passing along saw this
place with its little cottage and ancied the attic.
The good German landlady shook her head and said
it would not suit me- but | declared that | wanted
sketchng opportunities and that the of Acatraz
and Marin County delightful. So here l settled,
the old home. Not stick of furniture did possess;
slept boxes turned dresses into draperes. drank
toast water out OF Sevres cups and had one companion
cheer the slip of English holly had struck from
our old hedge and which fourshed in its pot through
my wanderngs. / found occupation, too the place
was only untidy waste ground where they hung out
washing and spread lshing-nets but when they knew
that / loved gardening d fence up for me and
sowed the seeds which were to have gaddened Neds
eyes. They blossomed things do in California, their
sweet faces laughed comfort into mine and one day
they saved my life.
had sold Jewelry, Sevres cups, pretty dresses; had
reduced my food to a minimum and was facing slow
starvation, when 1 suddenly remembered my great
great-grandmother the Italian fower-gir. Why not
turn my floral instincts to as she did hers?
Down slipped my little garden, pucked some dainty
posies and laid them beside the holly; then shame
facedness overlook mellow could l sell flowers on
the street? If only had some disguise
Suddenly my head buried in trunk and
I dragged the old womans costume in which
once acted cbarades and had brought for Ned to laugh
at Gray front and velvet headband gray shawl blue
spectaces poke bonnet and darned gloves-they were
all there Positively it joke I donned
the front, painted in some crowsfeet tied the
band so as to produce wrinkles and BACKED
front teeth with all the glee of actor When
| went downstairs my landady stopped know
what doing her premises, the best compliment
my disguise could have had. Poor soul, she laughed
and cried and scolded fer concealing my straits all
in a breath: but she promised to keep my secret
Well it meant daily bread, for l eked out my own
flowers with wild blossoms. | wandered over the bar
ren-looking country protected by my old womans at
tire and the eschscholtzas and other California treas
ures | brought back novelty in those days so
my punches fetched good price, for money was freely
spent then | knew once more the taste of good food
and though it sounds prosac tell you that whole
some food honestly earned helps keep good heart
in your body / needed the good heart too l re-
member times when have stood outside the American
Theater down on Sansome holding out my poses to
some pretty girl danty dressed, guarded from breath
OF rough air and the would gather under my
blue spectaces; fol Ned too, should still be