Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-09-12

"No."
"N-ell, it is frst-rate. Some twenty
or thirty years ago, this gentleman arri'
we'd in our country with his wife, green
from Ireland. They came in company
with another young couple of the same
grade in society one believe was a
gardener, and the other had been clerk
in draper's store, and came to seek their
fortunes. A few sovereigns each were all
they possessed. Both the men and their
wives had been friends from early years,
and were attached to each other. In CO.
ming to this country, they pledged las
ting friendship, and lasting interest in
each others welfare. For time their
way in life lay side by side but there
was some things in the conduct Of the
friend Of this o. 0A-what's his name =
EO'Shane Yes, now have it. O'Shane
is his name. Mr.. Leary.''
THE merchant, who was so full of the
/ good story, did not observe the marked
t effect theannouncement OF this name had
upon hisauditor. He went on
q O'Siane noticed some things in the
condtIGt of his friend that he did not much
Hike as. for instance, when fortune smi:
led little upon him, he was distant to.
ward O'Shane, and said nothing abou!
dividing his last penny with him as be-
fore but when things looked dark with
him and bright with O'Shane, he was ex-
ceedingly glad to bask in his friends sun
shine. Still, Notwithstanding this O'Shane
was attached to him, and their wives were
like sisters. They started in the world as
peddlers, O'Shane lonning his friend, who
had spent all his money in sickness,
enough to get we'll filed pack. In Or>
der to lessen expenses, they rented Il
small house, and their wives lived togeth-
er while they were away.
" At length, the friend saved enough
to set up grog-shoP, and O'Shaneac-
cepted Q situation at the South. 7lbey
parted md never met again until six
months ago--tweuty years having elapsed
since they separated. The friend made
enough in few years, by selling grog,
to get into a more decent and resPectn-
bic business. He became n wholesome
dealer, and is now [ am told, one
OF our wealthy merchants, But he
is represented as being exceedingly proud
OF his position in society, at the same time
that he is naughty and oYer-bearing to
those in humber circumstances, With
him, l suppose, as with too many others,
money, not worth, makes the man.
O'Shane, who was far worthier
man, pushed ahead at the South not
by selling rum, however-he was above
that-but by fair and honorable trade
Two years ago, he went to New Orleans,
having amassed about fifty thousand dol.
lars in Charleston, and entered int63the
cotton brokerage business, from which he
retires with half million honestly made.
But now for the gist of the story. o.
Shane had not seen or heard direct from
! his friend for fifteen years but he un-
derstood how he was getting along, and
ascertaincd on his arrival in Baltimore
that he knew nothing of his sltcred for
tunes. So what do you think he does ?
He knew that if he came as the possessor
of half million, he would be received
with open arms, and he would never
know whether 4 spark of old and true re-
gard remained. He therefore determined
20 test his friend. In order to do this, n
few days after his arrival in the city, he
called, in company with Biddy. his wife,
both plainly but not mcanly dressed, Mt
the store of the merchant, and claimed
acquaintance. Two or three persons
happened to be present at the time, and
am told, they described the scene as
rich beyond anything they had ever seen.
| The merchant did not know them, and
| O'Shane, to refresh his memory, rcmin
dcd him in an assumed brogue, Of old
Ireland, and what they had been there,
and Of their carly tolls and struggles in
this country. 1t is said he spoke with
much feeling-but the outraged merchant
bid him begoDe in towering passion.
After that. Distances wife called TO
see the friend other early years. hoping
that she might not be SO badly changed as
her husband. She sent up her name,
and received for an answer that the lady
wasn't at home; or, as tho Servant said,
not at home to her,"
!" 1t was enough. O'Shane. saw that
his old friend. was unworthy Of disregard,
and will treat him hereafter ,as sstran-
ger"
Lcary and his communicating com pans
ion were walking along. the former with
his head bent down and his eyes upon the
! pavement, in order to conceal the express
sion Of his face. After the narrative was
closed, and while smarting comments
were being made thereon, Leary looked
up and found himself almost face to face
with O'Shane and his wife, both with the
appearance and bearing Of people who
moved in and were used to good society.
They looked at him with the look Of stran-
gers, and his eyes dropped beneath their
gaze.
"That's the very man, now, " said Lea
| rvs companion, as they passed on.
Leary knew it too well. And he also
knew soon after, that his conduct was no.
torious, and that people despised him for
his purse nroud arronance while o.