Year: 1869




i ROMANTIC HTSTORY OF ONE
/ OF TOM. BENTON's


/ DAUGHTERS.


Let me tell you something about one of


the school teachers Of San Francisco, by


way Of illustrating the manner in which


fortune frolics with human nature and


makes shuttIecocks Of poor humanity


Among the teachers is an elderly lady
the mother Of five interesting children
IShe was born in one Of the Western
States, and was the first born Of one of
the most distinguished Senators who ever
sat in the legislative halls Of the United
States--one who for more than twenty
years represented one of the great States
Of the mighty West, and who was the
peer of Clay, Calhoun and Webster. In
her young days she was the belle of Wash
lington City, carrying away the palm from
the dark-eyed daughters of the South,
and the rosy-cheeked damsels Of the
North. All were anxious TO receive a
smile from the fair lily Of the West. No
blemen, representing their country at
Washington, laid their coronets at her
feet in vain. She was true Republican,
and gave her Lore to young gentleman
then . clerk in one Of the Offices at
Washington. Her father knew the youth
and recognized his great abilities, and
when he solicited the daughters hand it
was cheerfully given. The wedding was
a brilliant one, many of the great men Of
the country being present to wish them
Joy and cheer them at the commencement
Of their domestic voyage. The young
husband was shortly afterward admitted
TO the bar Of the United States Supreme
Court, and soon recognized as one of the
most promising members. For number
of years he practiced his profession with
great success, and was on the high road
to wealth and fame Then came an event
in the history of our country which al
tered the courses Of many. | refer to
the discovery of gold in California, and
the consequent rush of emigrants to the
new Eldorado. Among those who deter
mined upon going to California was the
husband. He consulted with his wife, and
she, like true woman declared her in
tention of accompanying him. He show
ed her the hardships which she must
necessarily endure, and urged upon her
10 remain with her parents until he had
made home for her, but she, in the LAM
guage Of Ruth. said: "Eutreat me not to
leave thee, or to return from following
after thee, for whittier thou goest | will
go. and where thou lodgest will lodge;
thy people shall be my people, and thy
God my God; where thou diest will / die,
and there will | be buried" He urged
her once more TO stay, but together they
came to California, where the husband
soon took leading position at the bar,
and amassed fortune.


The people he associated with were
from the South, and, like many others,
he began to drink TO excess When the
rebellion broke out he cast his sympathies
with the South. His brother-in-law went
with the North and became Major Gen
eral. lie had to give up the practice of
his profession because he could not take
the oath required by our legislature
Out of business, he drank heavily and
soon began TO mortgage his property. Six
years passed away, and he died, leaving
his widow with one child, without dol
lar, for his creditors had foreclosed, even
to the homestead. The noble woman i'm
mediately took in sewing to earn her liV-
ing, but found that she could hardly keep
soul and body together by that means
Some friends of her father and husband
offered TO aid and assist her, but she would
receive nothing 30 long as she could help
herself She. however, would be thank
ful for assistance in procuring her posi-
tion as teacher in one of the public schools.
was made, and-would you
believe it?-some of the "Republican"
directors opposed her appointment be-
cause her dead husband was q secession
ist They cared not that her father was
the peer of Clay and Webster; that her
brother-in-la law wore the shoulder straps
of Major General. They knew her
husband in his life time, and had felt the
lash of his bitter tongue, and therefore
desired to harm his widow. Their efforts,
however, were unavailing. She was ap-
pointed, and is now engaged in the pub
lie school department of this city, teach
ing primary class. A sad change in
the fortunes of one who started in life
with such brilliant prospects. She is
true aud noble woman, however, aud
every one who reads this paragraph will
praise her heroism and devotion.