Year: 1875

entertained by the naboDS OF the city.
Harry Vail was a mechanic. though
at an earlier period than when this
story opens he had been tutored and
fitted for the bar, but his fathers fail
ing in business and being bankrupt,
had been the cause of throwing Har-
ry upon bis own resources, and as he
was not successful in getting clients
in his profession he had chosen to earn
his bread by the sweat OF his brow.
The families both having been on in
innate terms with one another, it was
not to be wondered at that he should
still find hospitality under Judge Up
tons roof, and so it was that we found
him in the commencement Of this
story. But let us now take a writers
privilege, and leap the open space
of six years. The place is San Fran
cisco and to-day there is seemingly
more than the accustomed hustle and
tumult going on for the firing from
fort Alketraz the ringing Of the
bells tell Of some glad tidings, they
are hailing the approach Of a slow
moving steamer which is just entering
the Golden Gate. 1t is the Moses
Taylor, reported lost but now bearing
its load of human freight safely in to
the port where soon friends are TO
meet friends, and strangers greet stran
gers who have come to sojourn on the
soil of the land Of Gold. Hundreds
were there to see the crippled boat as
she was cast to her moorings. Cheer
after cheer rent the air as the passen-
GERS commenced to leave this floating
prison, and among the thousands who
stepped that day upon terra frma
of old Frisco, we have only two Of
themss to speak of a mother and her
child not until the decks were pretty
well cleared did the woman make her
exit from the steamer. And when she
did step ashore it was with feeble
gait as though fatigue from the voy-
age or bodily suffering arrested her
steps. She was a person who once
must have boasted Of fine form and
lovely features but the eyes that must
once have been deep and penetrating
were fast loosing their lustre. The
cheek too was Of q pallid hue Yes, it
all told but too plainly that that fell
destroyer, consumption had marked its
victim. The child was girl of per
haps four years, judging from the
looks and the tiny voice when she
spoke, for when they were safely on
the wharf and after the mother had
placed her little girl on a bale Of hay,
she looked up into her mothers face
and said


Mamma, where 70 doin now.


Oh, darling don't ask me. God on
y knows.


Oh dear, sighed the poor woman.
So many happy meetings to-day, a.
mongst friends and relatives, and /,
alas! alone in a strange land, with not
soul to greet me, and lowering her
head down, down, so that her glossy
hair mingled with the sunny curls of
her little child, she wept.


Oh, mamma, cried the little child as
she imprinted kiss on the wan cheek
of the sorrowing woman. Don't cry,
peas, for dod will tow 90 where to
do, ont he, tos 90 told me dat he would
sow us the right way.


Oh my darling, yes he will guide us
but the way looks dark and 'dreary
now to me, but come pet we must 60
some where for the people have nearly
all left us and We must not stay here
for the day is fast drawing to close.


Hack man


Free coach to the Exchange Hotel,
this way nam, here little one let me
carry you, have you any baggage
mum. and the driver lifted little An
ME up in his arms and proceeded to
carry her to his coach.


One moment, sir, please, for am
not able to seek first class acoommo-
dations


1t is all right madam, pay for what
you eat, and lodge high or low as your
purse will admit, keep on the Euro
pean plan. Step right this way, and
following the footsteps of the driver
Annie Holland left the wharf TO seek
a shelter for the night at the American
Exchange Hotel.


CHAPTER Ill.


Well, Harry, how are stocks to-day,
and how is Opus and Savage? asked
Billy Maurice brother broker, seating