The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-06

drawn into several unfortunate specuatIOns,
which had stripped him Of nearly every
thing except the house and furniture for
which this note was held.
Then you are Mr.. Pryce Benedick q"
said the present holder Of the note inquir-
ingly.
{" Exactly, = replied the vister, " though
ot'the Pryce Benedick Of other days. |
Can scarcely recognise myself. Heigho !"
And he who once looked upon the world
as having been made for his particular be-
neft, and thought not there could be sor-
row for him in life, heaved profound sigh
as he recurred to the joys and sorrows that
had apparently escaped him forever.
You were once wealthy, then, if un-
derstand you. y
was, sr--very wealthy, and like most
fools in my situation, imagined there could
be no end to my riches. How sadly have
deceived myself, the object Of my present
visit will bear witness. I"
WeIl-Mr. Pryce Benedick, = said the
other, "since that is your name-t seems
By your own account that this is our first
meeting Yet we hare met before, and un-
der circumstances far different from those
which we now see each other"
I" Indeed was not aware Of the fact.
Pray, when"
"Do you remember, Mr.. Benedick, y re-
joined his companion, with somewhat OF
sternness in his voice and manner, ga cer-
tain Christmas Eve, some five years ago
the night, if ] mistake not, was just such a
one as the present-you stopped to con-
verse with a houseless famishing wretch,
to whom, after hearing unmoyed his heart
rending story, you rendered shilling, and
advised him to 60 to the poor-house:"
Mr.. Benedick closed his eyes, and APP
peared to be taking rummage among his
mental faculties within; but it was unsuc-
cessful, for he opened his eyes again and de-
clared he had no such recollection. On being
close pressed, however, (though the truth
is he remembered the circumstance perfect
ly, all along,) he finally owned that some
thing of the kind did occur to him, and
Immediately added,
"But that has nothing to do with you,
that / can see"
Indeed it has, Mr.. Benedicl1. Look at
me steadily, and you will perceive that |
am that same half-starved wretch, whom
you left alone in the street on a winters
night, with scarce strip to cover HIM,
and worthless coin i'll his hand
"No-you are mistaken-it was genu-
ine--on my honor" put in Mr.. RenedIck,
| hurriedly.
/" That is of trivial consequence" Wy
lie retorted. g 1t was the meanness of the
motive which prompted the gift, rather
than the gift itself, that caused the alIu-
sion. You then had it in your power to
reach Of want, but you refused me Iam
now rich, and you comparatively poor, or
only wait my word TO make you So
With this little instrument, Uaking from
his pocket-book strip Of paper,) ! could
crush you in moment, as spider would
crush fly"
g For Gods sake, my dear sir, you don t
mean-you can't think of such thing -
] have large family, and am not accus-
toned to business. If you were TO fulfil
your threats should starve."
81 did not threaten, my good man."
said Wylie, with smile, dry, yet full of
meaning. - hnled that had you in my
power, and so ] have. You, when !
craved your bounty, left me to beggary and
want. You are now suppliaut on my
bounty would you learn how | would
take my revenge in such case
"I-I beg you will do nothing rash"
stammered Benedick, with the air aud as
pect of felon awaiting his doom.
ooh, have no fear for my prudence" "
said Wylie, ironically. /" must have my
revenge, however, and thus ] take i"
Saying which, he twisted the note INTO
the circumference of straw, and inserting
it into the lame Of burner, cooliy Lighted
a cigar, and threw the remainder into the
CRATE, where it was speedily consumed.
The visiter dropped back into his chair,
and for the first time in his life, sense Of
the meanness of his own conduct smote
him. He went home that night with new
determinations. Having now no incum-
brances on his shoulders, matters prosper
ed with him, and from that time forward,
Mr.. Bryce Benedick was one Of the most
liberal supporters of benevolent Institutions
in the.country.
FRANKLIN ON PRAYER.
When the American Convention were