Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-01-15
THE FREAKS OF FORTUNE.
THE WHITE wEAsLE.

III the reign o. 1eOFEe III, tHefp INto
a boy in Lerdon, who vas born ia the
neighborhood Of ST. Psuls Cathedral, by
the name OF Curt,ss. He was an orphan
child Of :he age of Ten years--des,ituie--
not penny ir the world. The question
was with him. although young, wha, shall
dot lie resolved tina, he would run OF
errands for any one Who would employ
him. Early one morning he Sailed forth
from The huvtl where no hal slept the
night bcfire, IN serch OF employment. -
He walked but few minutes IN the
Strand, near Somerset House, when a
gentleman met hun who Accos,ed him
thus, "My lad. would you obige me by
carrying THIS note TO Chsncerv Lane -
at the same time handing him tho note,
with on EoglIsh shilling, saying, ii will
give you this shilling Tor so do n.y.
Cur,iss instantly took the money and
punc,ually delivered the note to whom he
was directed. On his return he met
poor woman near Temple Bar, who APP
psrenily was in great distress, and al.
though but boy. she solicited charity OF
him. Curt IS asked The suppllant what il
was she had under her arm 10 which she
r piled BY showing him little phite KIT
ten; he Immediately offered her Ill the
money be had Tor il, being the shilling he
had just earned, with which she was high
iy pleased. Curiiss then sci of with his
kitten for Charng Cross; on his way
thither gentleman met him near Exeter
Change, not far from the Adeiphi, who
espying the kitten, asked the lad what Il
was he had undtr his ragged blanke, =
Curtiss told him it was kitten. The
gentleman requested 10 look at it, which
he did and examined il most critically,
then said, .my lad, you are very much
mistaken, il is no kitten, but ichits ,cea-
sic will you sell il :" "Yes, SIR says
Cur,iss "what will you give for i p
"Fiye guneas." says the gentleman 'the
kitten is yours Curtiss received the
money, deliver, d over the kitten TO the
stranger, then walked of with his guness
in his pocket. The day following, Cur
tiss, who, by the by, was very hand
some little boy, FASTENED TO Cranbaufn
Ally to procure for himself proper and
respectable clothing, so that he might ap-
pear as well dressed as any Of the res2ec-
table boys 10 London, which he accom-
plished with two guineas. Being thus
genieely equipped, and hearing the bells
ring for divine service at White Hall,
where King Charl the FIRST was behea-
dpd by Oliver Cromwell, he repaired
,hither and paid strict stlention TO wha.
fell from the lips Of The Lord Bishop OF
Durham, who on that occasion delivered
an eloquent s, rmon. On leaving the
Royal Cnsprl, a lady apparently OF great
distinction. dropped her caHlbric handker-
chief, which young Curilss observed as il
fell. lie instantly picked il up and ran
to the carriage just as it was going TO
drive off, who proved 10 be her grace the
Duchess of Devonshire. The poli,fness
and galIantry Of the boy was highly plea.
sing to her grace, and she directed him to
take seat IN her carriage, that she might
inquire into his situation and circumstan-
ces. The boy most readily accepted Of
the kind offrr, and had the honor of re-
naming in her Grsce's palace until she
placed him in the Westminster school,
where by her bounty and goodness he re-.
celved and excel ent education. AS he
grew up, he was distinguished for talents
aud worth so much so as to become a
member of parliament. where he did him
self great honor, particularly 10 advance
ing the abolition trade. In the recess OF
ha atf.r.
ing place Of Margate, where by mere ac-
cldent he fell in company With most
beautiful and accomplished young lady,
about twenty years of sge-by name Dvo.
dana, who possessed every grace and
virtue that man could desire 10 make him
happy.
On declaring to the fair one his pas
sion, Deodama was equally pleased with
Cuitiss, who was OF elegant form, grace
full manners, and ofthe most manly beau.
ty. Ii was agreed between them thst the
matter shouts be made known 10 the fair
lady, which was done. The father moi
only gave his consent TO their unioo, bu:
settled upon his daughter twenty thousand
pounds sterling, and appointed Mr.. Cur.
tiss her trustee. On the day OF her mar
rage he pa, diamond ling on the finger
of his beloved daughter. OF tho value Of
two thousand guineas as token Of his
love and affection, which ring had some
time previously been presented to him by
the grea. Caiharine, Empress OF Russia.
To Mr.. Curtiss he presented bank note
Of the Bank Of England Of fifty thousand
observing at the same time, "Mr.
Curtiss, I verify believe that you have
the creates, love and esteem for my be-
loved Deodsma. my only child, and she
having signiied some attachment for you
Il give h,r to you to wife. But first !
must Tell you, Mr.. Cur,iss. that indepen.
dent Of your great worto and talents
you had strong claims on me for my be-
owed daughter than any other gentleman
. homsoeyer. The facts are these--when
Deodnma communicated to me that an
,i,achment subslsted between you and
her, | immediately applied to her grace
he Dutchess OF Devonshi:e, your friend
md patroness, to make some inquiry Of
,er grace into your history and charsc.
er. The Duchess gave me, with other
matters perfectly sa,sfactery--the most
rrefrsgable proof Of your being the den-