The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-27

lumber-mcrchant,w orkmen, &c, for the heuv
! y sums required for materials and labor
Gardeners Indignation rose high when this
fact was deicntely limited at by the individual
who Ind undertaken TO raise his house. lie
called Immediately upon Mr. Lyon, and with
much warmth of manner related the insult
ing reflection that had been cast upon his in
tegrity. This gentleman looked him in the
face for some moments before replying; he
then said coolly-
"Why didn't you knock him down."
81 was strongly tempted to do So" replied
Gardiner"
This, however, was not true
"You did not, and suppose that il is Just
as web, it wouldn't have built your house,
Butno matter, your money is not locked up
in business, and you can deposite to your
builders credit some fifty thousand dollars,
under the agreement that all his checks arc
to be drawn payable to your order. This
sum no doubt will be considered ample secu-
rity."
Mr. Lyon scanned infinitely the expression
of Gardeners face MS he said this. Its effect
was marked. He knew that Gardiner had
only received single remittance of twenty
! thousand dollars from London, and that at
least twelve thousand dollars oftIat sum had
already been expended, leaving him in pos
session of but eight thousand dollars with
which to build palace that would cost near
! ~ hundred thousand dollars.
81 will think about that" replied Gardiner,
in altered tone ofvoicc.
at will he the simplest plan, depend upon
! it. You will then feel perfectly independent
in the matter, and can insist upon everything
being done Just as your own views and tastes
may direct"
After leaving Mr. Lyon, Gardiner went
home in browuer mood than he had known
since the day his good fortune was announced
to him.
81 have been goinga litrle too ar,Tm afraid"
he said to himsolfas he sat down thoughtful
~ and glanced around upon the elegant and
costly furniture with which he had attred
his house. "Let Inc sce-my London agent
and banker has sent me only twenty thousand
dollars: ! must have heavier remittance he
fore proceed further. Strange that il does
not come to band before this. don't under
stand il. There was something in Mr. Ly-
on's look and manner that | didn't exactly
comprehend.
This first difficulty coming in to check his
upward course To distinction in society, made
him feel very unhappy. While his chnied
feelings were still in state of excitement,
communication ofu somewhat imposing APP
pearuncc was placed in his hand. He broke
the seals and read with dislnay the following
communication
"To WILLIAM GARnTNER--
"Sir-Hiram Lang, Solicitor, London, has
Informed me that you have enormously pcen
supposed to he tho legal heir to the esmtc of
Mark Herbert, deceased, and under this mis-
apprehension five thousand pounds have been
RENTED TO YOU from London. The real heir
is Henry Willing, now residing at Bath, Eng
land, whose title to the estate is undisputcd
am instructed to recover back from you the
sum advanced by mistake, and now notify you
that | am prepared to commence an action
ut law for the fnlfilmcut Of that purpose.
GAMES BATES, Attorney at Law"
4 man who grows large so rapidly gcner-
ally Crews small by collapse. The letter fell
from the hands of the contounded Gardiner,
and he was from that moment humble and
powcrlcss. lie did not dream of denying the
position of'the attorney and commencing IL
vigorous action to sustain himselfat least in
the possession Ofthe money already received: |
he gave it up ut once.
As soon as Mr. Lyon parted with Gardiner,
he went direct to the office Of Bates the law
ycr,and dictated the above letter. The read |
er may as well know, at this point of our sto-
nv, that all previous communications received
by the dupcd Gardiner had never been any
nearer London than the Office ofJames Bates
Esq, and that the money received by Mr. Ly- |
on for the property sold to Mr. Gardiner was
in fact his own money, which he had been
willing to put in jeopardy to crafty his own
strong desire he felt TO test the principles of
Gardiner, and humble him for the insoence
ofhis manner on former occasions.
Most persons will think he went too far,
and that nothing could justify so severe les
son as the one he compelled poor Gardiner
to lcarn.-Not content even with the knowl-
edge that his unfortunate dupe must be terri
bly, cast down, distressed and mortified, he adj
dcd a bitter Insult by sending him letter con-
tanning only the following line:
"Put Il beggar on horseback and he will
ride TO the" A. LYON.
Gardiner fell so heavily under this last and
unooted-for blow, that his eyes flew open u
lie saw Just where he was standing, and to
whom he was indebted for the means TO play
the fool for brief period. He was deeply
incensed on receiving this note, ana, had he
not previously given up every dollar nearly
he possessed, would have retained tight
grasp on everything, and let Lyon got it back
as best he could.
After severe fit of illness, which came
near terminating fatally, Gardiner was pre-
pared again to begin the world i'll a humble
way. This he preferred doing in a neigh
boring city, where the story of his late rise
and fall had not reached. He is again doing
n very fair BUSINESS and living as before, with
in his means. In Il few years, if he lives and
retains his health, and industrious habits, he
will be worth some thousands OF dollars,
which, from having accumulated slowly, VIII
not seriously affect his state ofmind. He WI
think more highly of himself as this worlds
Goods are added to him, as almost every one
does. hut he will play no more "tantastc
tricks" What would be the effect OF sud
denly acquired wealth we cannot say, but be-
lieve he would be better able to bear 1t than