Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-01-09
The way 1 made my Fortune.
From Dickens Household Words

George; were to hit upon speculation tina
would have done honor to Rothschild. COMING
from pauper like myself, no one would thinl
it worth attending to-.
81 said Albert, have actually finished a
work which would establish my reputation AZ
an author, if could only find bookseller tc
buy it,
i have petitioned my employer for an in
crease of salary exclaimed, anxious to con
tribute to the chorus of lamentation; 'and h,
told me that for forty louis year he could ge
more clerks than he wanted
1T would not SO much matter said George
thoughfully, if besides being poor, we die
not seem poor. Could one of us only be tho'
rich
'What is the use of the shadow without the
substance" asked.
'Of every use,' said Albert. 4 agree with
George-the shadow sometimes makes the
substance. The next best thing to capital is
credit
Especially returned George Hhe credit Of
having good fortune. Have none of us u
rich uncle in India"
a cousin of mine went to Jamacin or Mar
nique, forget which, said, innoccntly, and
he never came back
Capital that is all one requires exclaimed
George we will conure up Tins cousin OF
yours-or could we not kill him? Yes. James
Meran, of Martinique, deceased, leaving "A
sugar plantation, hundred negroes, and for
tune of a hundred thousand louis to his we'll
beloved cousin, Louis Meran.
We laughed at the joke, and | thought 10
more Of 1t; but George and Albert-sghtly
excited by the fumes of bowl Of punch which
had sent for to do honor to the testator d. lost
no time in concoctug and afterwards publish
ing full account in a local newspaper, Of the
fortune that had been left me.
The next day, sundry friends dropped in to
compliment me. Of course, ! endelvored to
undeceive them, but they would not take de-
NAL, lnvain assured them it was a hoax it
was of no use. Several people remembered
my cousin James very well. ana had seen him
at NantoS before he embarked in l7S9. Among
others came my tailor to whom | owed a small
sum which it was not quite convenient for me
to pay at that moment. No doubt the ruinoi
of my cousins decease had sharpened his mem
ory. | wished my two friends at u place that
shall be nameess.
Good morning, Mr. Mayer; | suppose you
arc come for those fifty truncs?'
i hope, sir, YOU don't think came for such
a trlte as that. No, sir; | came to take your
orders for suit of mournlng.'
A suit of mourning:
Yes, sir; cousins mourning. Dark bronze:
fiock for morning wear, black trousers and
waistcoat.'
At the present moment. Mr.. Mayer
j hope sir, have done nothing to forfeit
your patronage"
But. repeat, have received no money AZ
all
i hope, sir, you won't mention such thing .
there is no sort of hurry exclaimed the tailor;
who busiIy employed himself in taking my
measure with slips of paper
After all, my wardrobe did want some adIi-
tion9, and said nothing more
My dear SIR said TIE next visitor, Il have
very great favor 70 request of you. Buy my
house. You are very rich; you must be on
the lookout for safe ana lucrative Investments
Sixty thousand francs are nothing for vou-u
mere fraction OF your income. With me the
case is different. | thought Mr. Felix had
made up his mind to purchase the premises. and
now ! hear he has changed his Intention WHAT
is to become Of me: have heavy demands
to meet, and don't know where the money Is
to come from
i buy ycur house? Why. it would be mad
ness to think Of such a thing
Madness: no such thing: YOU could not
ind better Investment anywhere. In two
years. with trlhlng repairs, it will be worth
double its present vlue; you will never 500
sucn Il good opportunity again Say done
ana I'm OIL
And he was off without leaving me time to
put in a word.
Two hours after, in walked Mr.. Felix, evi-
dcnty not in the hest of temper
- - ho b,,r.,, .,,.,,, I,,o 49,.
quite by surprise That house is indispensable
to me ! reckoned Oh it as If it were mine, and
only offered fifty thousand francs because the
owner is embaras5ed and felt sure that he
would be obliged to take them. With you, sir,
the case is different 50 come to ask YOU if
You will let me have it toI seyenty-iiye thou-
sand francs
Fifteen thousand rancs, dropping all at once
into the lap of poor fellow who had to work
hard to gam eight hundred francs in a year!
could hardly be ieYe my ears
q cannot give you an answer lust now, sir
said; but if you will take the trouble to call
again at five, I'll see what can do
At "A quarter to ) Mr.. Felix made his appear
ance. spoke to him with candour:-
i should tell you, sir that | had no thoughts
of buying the house, the owner prevailed on
me to do 50. You say You want the house :
any other Will suit me equally as well, so | ac =
ccdc to your terms
you shall have a draft on Paris for the n.
mount III fortnight replied Mr. Felix. who
bowed and withdrew, apparently enchanted
with my way OF doing business.
A draft upon par, The circumstance,
appeared so unusual to me that thought |
ought to send it to Paris to get it cashed.
WrDtp accOrllnpIy ia Na.srs L-l,n,ro, AMI D..