The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-03-17

and what his own prospects were. And
as Mark shook hands with Mr.. Came
ron at parting, he received at the same
time friendly invitation, and sugges-
ton, couched in some such language as
this -
"Young man, l owe you something
for your poltencss, and also for being
so rough to you the other afternoon on
the coach"
Don't mention it, sir" Mark began
to say.
+" Yes, bat must mention it, though !;
| was in bad humor that day. | had
lost a good bit of money, or thought l
had but that's no excuse. Well, you,
must get down at my house next time
we ride together, and take a chop with
me, eh And you can walk on to En-
field Wash afterward. What do you
say :"
Mark thanked the gentleman.
And cheer up, my lad. You don't
think your prospects very promising,
can see. All! but you don't know
Who can tell what day may bring
forth. Not you, nor L. Fifty years
ago, young man, I left Scotland on foot
with about ten shillings in my pocket,
and not friend north of the Tweed
that knew any thing of. And Lere
| am now, worth more than ten
shilings and four pence l think.
But didn't smoke cigars, young man.
And say, Mr.. Anderson, tits a thou
sand pities you smoke. I wouldn't if l
were you"
Our narrative, however, must now
take leap over long rage of years.
Twenty summers and winters have passed
since that rainy day on London bridge,
bringing with them their checkered
range of joys and sorrows, successes and
reverses. The scene Nv shifts to a
commercial room in the Eagle and
Grown, at a market town some fifty
miles frofn> the metropolis. There sat
party of commercial travellers at sup
per, discussing, while they did justice
to the good fare, as is their wont, the
credit and resources of various houses in
the different lines of business with which
they were connected.
I What a lucky fellow, by the way"
said one of the party, after the merits
of great Manchester warebouse-man
had been canvassed, "that Mark An
derson, has been all his life ~
A very lucky fellow ~ reioined
Nuothor oua third re-echoed the re-
mark.
"Do you think so, gentlemen ;" asked
a fourth-an elderly man, who had
hitherto borne no part in the rather
/" free and-casy" converse of that eve
ming.
There can't be a doubt of it, Mr.
W | should think" replied the first
speaker.
" Not doubt of it," said the second,
likewise it was all luck, depend upon
it.n
"He began with nothng-nothing to
speak Of" continued the former; " but
old Cameron took a fancy to him; and
n W, you see, the old gentleman retires
from the firm, and leaves Mark Ander-
son at the head of it."
"And," rejoined the third commercial,
1T all began, as l am told, by young
Anderson happening to have an umbrella,
and saving Mr.. Cameron from getting a
wetting one evening A lucky thing
that. 1 think that | shall take to car
rying an umbrella fine days as we'll as
wet ones"
That wasn't quite all, 1 believe"
responded number one (; he came over
the old gent by Ginning in with his
humors and finding out the length of his
foot. A clever fellow Mr.. Anderson is,
| fancy. But there was a bit of sneak
ing about him. That and gool luck did
it ALL"
"Ah! have heard chat Comeront
cottoned to the young filow at iirst, be-
cause of his name. 1t has Scotch
sort Of sound, you know; and Ander-
sons father, or grindfather,was Scotch
man. So it was. Highlanders, shoulder
to-shoulder,' you know. A lucky thing
to have fips-sounding name, sometimes.
Poor Jacl Smith might have told his
name fty times, and nobody would
have thought any thing about it,"
"A lucky thing of Mr.. Anderson to
leave off smoking as he did. He took
his cue there famously. That was what
nailed old Cameron, l suspect. A lucky
thought that |"
"Well, gentlemen said Mr.. W.,
when there was slight break in the
conversation, you have had your say