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that place, and brought her family to San Francisco, where she put her younger ones under care of the Ladies' Relief Society, and set about to earn a poor living for herself and baby, by washing for such persons as preferred helping a deserted woman, to having their work done better and cheaper by Chang Hi and Hop Lee, Chinese launderers in Jackson Street.
Mrs. Cobb, one of the relieving ladies, heard her story from the little folk, and being a tenderhearted lady, with a family of her own, she begged her husband, General Cobb, to look into the case.
Cobb thought he saw his way, but lawyers like to touch their fees, and Hannah Smythe was poor.
Having no choice of means, she made over to Cobb her bit of land in trust, understanding that he was to pay all expenses for her, and to hold the property till she had paid his bill.
Five years her suit dragged on; Mason fighting her over every point of law; until the woman's heart, made sore by long delays and hopes destroyed, conceived the notion that her advocate was betraying her to the enemy for lucre.
“ He was going to his office to sign my property ”
1875.
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