The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-11-07
PETER FLIsN'S LUCK.
BY FALcoSRIDG E.

/
In that beautiful, quiet city Of parallel
streets, sweet butter md sweet woman
Philade phia-there once lived certain
native Of the Emerald Isle, called Peter
Finn. His vocation was that Of The most
honorable world--driving dray. Peter
owned an ancient and nowise spry horse,
and an equally uns, able dray, by means
whereof essaved, and by dint of great phys
icaI cxerticn, he succeeded in obtaining for
bis large and growing family, tolerable
living.
Stephen Girard lived and carried on his
immense mercantile transactions at the
time Of which write, and was principal
performer in my little story. The one-eyed
little Frenchman, the great pet Of dame for
tune, was not man Of very wonderful de-
velopment Of heart and soul, or sympathy
in the misfortunes, crosses or losses Of his
fellow being; but now and then ho was
known moro through ccccntrici.y than
aught else, to perform some very crcdtable
and really magnificent acts Of kindness and
generosity towards thnse falling in bis way.
One day said be to Peter Finn, whom lie
had oft, and for long time, employed up
on the wharves, in hauling goods from bis
largo ships to his warehouse.
ssPe-tar, believe you have worked val
~ hard"
eyes, sir, and by my soul, ! have,n re-
sponded Peter.
"Very long time; yon nosavc anythDg?"
said the merchant prince. The millionaire!
"Be me conscience. Misthus Ge-rad it's
not ha-puth save at all; the devil him
self might dance his hornpipe in my pock-
els of Monday morning without disturb
ing the toc-naiI OF his fat again the silver
that's there"
"rwo, three. five, seven of dc children
home, ch?n
"Faix. and i,s yersef that's guessed il
exactly, Msillur Ge-rad; have seven as
brave poys and gals as ivcr ye clapped an
eve upon, SIR"
Sab, YES, see, see, VARY well, Petair,
sou shall have one chance presently, BY
and by, directly, to do something better
than drive de old horse and dray."
.sFaix, Misthur Ge-rad, it's meself that's
a saving it rs should moi be saving il,
p'haps, but its few men labor harder and
longer for the maie, bread. prales and hay
that we ale, than meself and Barney, and
the ould boss there; and be me conscience
It would be gcd send that would pn, us
both. mesc.t and The poor ould baste there,
over ali our ills and miseries,'' said the
drayman.
.sAh. alb! VARY well, Petair, YOU come
in to my counting house by and by" and
HE little old Frcnchman, with his hands
locked behind him stalked off 10 his coun-
.,ing-ho leaving the poor dras man con-
sidcrably mys,ified as 30 what the resul. OF
the confidence was ta be-
s.Bedad," says Peter to himself, "may be
it's tho ouid feler's whim to set mo up 10
shop! or, be sorry, to buy me new dray
aud horse. O, be me conscience, therey
no telling wha, the oul;l gintienian will do
when he takes turn," and thus soli!oqni-
sing, after respectable delay, Peter. pre-
seated himself nj the door of tho million.
aires counting room, and io.fug his hat,
III he walked
"Potaire,'' said the merchant prince, "ze
.hig Canton packet ship Mozart, lay down
nj my wharf"
ssYis sir"
"sho have one grand cargo Of tea," con
linued tho banker.
"Faiy, she havc,o said Potter.
$40 morrow, Petar, 2e whole cargo pc
pa, under do hamnaITe, TO be sold 10 ze
highest bidder"
"Yis," Peter replies, still deeper 10 mys-
terry as 10 what or how ihat could concern
Him.
"vary well, petair, continued The bank
cr, "to-morrow morning when de 1ile be
gin, be you dar; re tea he pm, up two or
three lots; one Of ze merchants begin to
bid, den YOU bidze next"
"Mc! Q be gorra, save your pris'nce,
Mis,hur Gerad, would il he for the likes OF
fPe,er Finn 10 be amen. the merchants,
aud bidding for cargo "f lea. It's mad
entirely they'd say was"
| "Nevaire mind; You bid on ze teal when
ze tea knocked dawn You take ~ whole,
zen come to me, fix 'cm. Good morning
Pe,air.n Add stumbling and awkward with
astonishment, Peter got out, aud the resi-
OF the dav he went about mnliefihg over
IL btmself the entire strange aud bc"'lder
IN, part which he had to enact on tho NOR
row. at tho grand tea sale,
Next day the merchants OF the Quaker
tcltv assembled on one Of Girard's qnats
ready for the alct,oneec's hammer ana lbs