Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-04
AbANDONS Thirteen
To gain Eight

Visitors at the state house during
the past week must have noticed a
little old German with grizzled hair
and beard sitting at the door of At
torney General Miller. On the ap-
proach of anyone the humble little
man of queer raiment and unobtrusive
manner would arise quickly, remove
his frayed cap and stand uncovered
while inquiring for. the legal repre-
sentative of. the state. On being in
formed that Miller was somewhere
up state looking after his legal duties
the roughly clad watcher would num-
BILE his thanks in his quaint broken
English, and resume his seat and
vigil
Many people passed the little SEN
tinel, cast an inquiring glance in his
direction and passed on to their az
fairs.
FINALLY one person who had noted
the logged persistency of the lone
watcher stopped and had speech with
him. at first the man spoke guardedly
and seemed disinclined to tell his
story, but show of sympathy and an
apparent inclination to listen to his
story soon set his hating tongue awag
ging. After offering the information
that he had been directed to Attorney
General Miller whom he imagined
could give him relief, he told his
troubles and they were many.
Peter Fouchs is the name he gave
and if one may judge from appear
ncs his age must be sixty, but he in.
sists that he was born across the sea
in 1859.
1t seems that Peter came to this
country twenty years ago to seek his
fortune and seven years. later he
gained wife.
Peter was poor in worldly goods
but rich in hope and aspirations. Az
ter spending five years as a truck
farmer near the city of Milwaukee
he heard of the wonderful advantages
in owning the ground he was called
upon to till. so with his family. con-
sisting of his wife and five children, he
aggregated his little savings and came
to North Dakota. After several un-
profitable ventures at farming and
family of children increased to seven
he settled on a claim ten miles north
of Bismarck.
1t was not more than a year when
Peter had troubles other than those of
gaining sustenance for his big FAM
lily. On an adjoining claim lived Hans
Nelson. Hans had a wife and twelve
children, being true apostle of the
Rooseveltian creed. Now it so hap
pened that the mother. of seven met
the father of twelve and an admiration
sprang up which Peter was unable
to fight down. The family being on
friendly terms there was much visit
ing, the result being that Hans and
his neighbor's wife were much to-
gether-too much, Peter thinks-and
the result was as might have been ex-
pected. Hans found a shack over
in the bottoms and with Mrs. Fouchs
and her five children took up his abode
there, deserving his own wife and IL
offspring.
Peter said he did not complain but
his home life was lonesome and DESC
late and became unbearable., so at the
advice of neighbor he came to lay
his cause before the man of law. And
for seven consecutive days he kept
his vigil at the state house until Mr.
Miller returned, only to inform the
troubled little Teuton that he was
powerless to aid him. His remedy
lies with the states attorney, if he
has any.
II came not so much for the frau" !
said Peter, ''but wants my childers."
When questioned Peter admitted
that he had no means to care For his
seven children and had no thought,
how it was to be done. All he knew
and seemed clear on is that in Ger
many the law gives the children tol
the father in such cases.
Peter also admitted that if his wife,