Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-02-14

Niggs TO receive his consent He sat in
an armchair reading the Price Current.
| sheepskin pocketbook, very much
worn, lay at his elbow on thin quarto
volume entitled Rowlett's tables of interest
Tom stated his business, and the old man
lifted up his spectacles but kept fast hold oil
the newspaper.
oh, | understand Are you in the groce.
ry ine?
No sir" replied Tom, in surprise
Beg pardon. thought had seen your
name in the Advertisements. Hem hem
was III Ali here il is. Thompson e.
Tipp, water street, two hundred hogsheads
Of molasses.'
Altogether mistake, assure YOU said
Tom.
In hardware trade p
Not at ALL
Perhaps dry goodsf
BY no MEANS returned Tom growing a
little uneasy.
'Crockeryr
Neither
General Commission
Cant say il is
You ant in the soap-dsaling way9'
Never was
Specializing, I'll warrant
Not exactly replied Tom. beginning TO
feel quite alarmed at the oddly OF these que.
ries, IL don't do much in the way of bus.
mess just now
'Ah understood said old Niggs, with
knowing kind Of grim and at the same time
laying down his newspaper Property oil
snug, living on your mcconnell Real estate,
hey or bank stock2'
Tom sal with his head bent considerably
forward during the awkward questions He
felt sort Of fdgetty embarrassment quite
unusual for men OF genius in the presence OF
tallow chambers. He fumbed with the
tassel Of his cane. and faultered out a reply
Neither sir, the fact is that owing to pecul-
lar circumstances, my property has very
considerably diminished OF late, or rather, |
may say, entirely Disappeared
The first movement Of old Niggs at these
words was TO throw back his head with
stare OF unutterable asionishment. The next
was to let it fall again with very forcible
sniffy expiration Of breath through the nose,
that spoke whole volume of language.
His face Instantly assumed 10 most stubborn
and stoica indifference of expression, while
he adjusted his spectacles with the greatest
calmness took up his newspaper. crossed one
leg over the other, and pretended to stu
dy the fluctuations Of Russian talow with
might and main There was no installing
this demeanor. Tom saw in an instant that
it was all over with him. He caught up his
hat and rushed out ofthe room.
Such a catastrophe as this he had never so
much as dreamed Of A man of genius to
be without cash or credit, and not able TO get
a tallow chandler's daughter for wife =
The thought was madness, To-morrowthe
whole story would be about town.
What is to become of me2 exclaimed
Tom. BY heaven won't live another
hour in this rascally world I'll shoot my
self; Til hang myself
Tom, in the confusion had Quilted the
house by the wrong door, and at these words
found himself in the back yard. A well was
before him. I'll drown nyself' said he
and jumped in.
Now drowning ones self is no joke.
although talking of il may be. Many man
thinks better ofhis determination 10 do il in
short walk TO the wharf Tom TIP did this
in short jump down the well. Before he had
fallen half way he caughtthe rope, and hung
dangling for some minutes till his strength
failed, and then he gently slipped to the bot
tom. Don't be frightened. reader, the wa
Ter was only knee deep, and our hero land
ed with no other harm than wet feet.
would advise all sentimental people moi
to jump into well till they have thought
twice oft Tom had not been in the we'll
ten minutes before he was heartily sick of
drowning. He would fain have climbed up
but be was not able. and there he was fore
ed to remain counting the minutes and the
hours till he was positive his legs had been
in the water half a century. How long il
really was never learned. but Just as he
had given himself up for lost he heard
voice above crying wildly, III drown my
self Tom was in such establishment at
these words. that he had no power 10 speak.
Presently some one approached the well. ex.
claiming. Poor Tom. dear Tom shall
never see you again. Cruel, hard hearted
father I'll drown myself and break his
heart
It's Dorothy. by Heaven said Tom to
himself She's going to drown herself for
love Of me. the dear. faithful kind-hsart
ed soul
TO lose lover so devoted so ardent so