Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-25
MIsADvENTUREs OF A SHORT SIGHT
ED MAN.

alive / am ashamed Of my name, and dare not
use it. have lost my fortune. my friends, my
honour, and my wife. l am reviled as a spend.
thrift, pointed at as pick purse, and stunned
as libertine; and yet am as guiltless OF waste,
of theft, and Of prohigacy, as the babe that has
never seen this wasleful, thleving, and Prohi-
gate world.
SIGHTED. but 10 what adegree shorl-sigh'ed 1t is
difficult indeed to- express. II was most ineon'
yeuieu, in my business, and distressing upon all
occasions: but oh! how peculiarly unfortunate
in nv domestic transactions! AS child, my
nurse had to lead me longer than eve' o'ntr
child was led, lest should be drowned In tne
cutters; 10 feed me longer than ever other chi'o
was fed, lest / should poke out with my spoo"
the scanty portion Of sight had. AS ooy al
day- school, various and cruel were the trioks
nv school fellows used TO play me-. Win how
MANY pieces Of alum, carved INFO clumsy I'M
i,ation of white sugar candy, have poisoned
INV mouth! How often have presented some
forbidden and ungodly book 10 our master ("ho
was Of serious turn,) which the sly uIehihS
had substituted for my English Grammar!-
As a lover, the scrapes used 10 gel INTO may
be better conceived than described; they WIRE
endless. How often have bought for my mis-
iress some token Of true love, and presented hrr
~ mistake with sample oftea while the sym
boil of nv passion was Enclosed aud iorwarueu
20 some matronIy customer as per order. AS
man and ira desman, what / suffered from the
untoward accidents that befel me, allowing 20
the same unfortunate cause, is hardly to be
credited. was forever mistsSiDg Consou tor
Souchong, young Hyson for old, or both Tor
Gunpowder. Bal am DEPRESSING.
My Father dying succeeded to his business,
bu, the concern grew too considerable ior one
head to manage, and, was obliged 10 look a
bout for partner. My Calamity, then, was my
chief inducement in'laking this important step,
for, in so large a concern as mine was nov pc
noueh, nor a lynx more piercing ones, than
were wanted to keep all things in their proper
order. l had liule or rather no knowledge In
the science Of phrenology; but what did ihat
signify, for, had been ever so conversan' win
ali the indications which in choosing partner
one ought to desiderate or avoid how WAS
with nv calamity, 10 steal a SLY look at The
shape of a mans head, when II was as much as
I could do with double spec,acles, to see ~ ne
had a head al all? have been s.ace informed
that had not been blind as ignorant, ana is-
norant as blind, I-never could have chosen
partner with such Giabolical amount "i score
iiyeness aud arp, opriation on his shoulders,
without one Iedreming protusion, as was po'-
sessed by my confidential agent. i t"und OUT,
but too late, tha, he had every possible organ
that lac ought 10 have been without and not
single one TO compensate with ioleraole couh-
teracting propensity. All know Is, that ne
was a very tall man; that 10 mr. his mead was
alw avs in mist; and that, even had bsen a
biz to make II. ad or tail Of ,h- science, never
could have caush, sufficiently defined outline
Of form to apply i, to any practical use. But
I am becoming prolix He was rogue, he
Vormed himself into nv condolences he en-
courageG me to "rest my eyes" Gas he hypo-
critic ally PHI ased i,,) and TO give over books,
coasisnments, documents, every Thing, to his
keeping. At the end OF TWO years, was no
longer master in my own shop. Every thing
was managed withou, my direction being ask.
ed for. was cypher! Blind as | was, l
could perceive tina, my clerk and my shop ooys
laughed al me. ] demanded an explanation,
and was answered with insolence. | required
dissolution or partnership-it was agreed to;
5ut Ihad girea up all my plpers. .7nofher
bad acted for me, ,oho had risen at ing er-
pense. He refused TO account for many hum
dred, of pounds ina, had given, in the way OF
business into his power. He knew that my uu-
fortunate blindn.ss had once caused me to mis-
take one bundle Of paper for another; and that
thus had burned by accident several receipts
and SeCurltleS which Nouiu nave oouhu hih W
nav me. He took advantage OF the circum-
stance. In short had nursed . serpent In my
bosom, and now it was that he turned round &
stung me.
/ was more than half-ruined. retired from
business, or, 10 describe il more truly, was
turned out BY my wicked partner. But tried
10 make the best Of a bad job; and my wife be-
hs.ed like an angel, and we determined to 60
to America.
/ took passage secretly for her and myself
nm board sb,p Bound for Philadelphia, which
was expected 10 sail in shor, time. This ship
had air. ady dropped down the river as far as
Grayessud, and to ;ha' pleasant sea port ! went
with ny wife and our luggage. l pun her on
board. and saw every thing carefully slowed,
but having still little business 10 transact IN
the city. aud some dividends TO receive at The
Rank. / returued by myself to London, intend,
ing 10 be back long before the snip would sail.
I'm three days time had completed my hnal