Eastern times., 1855-10-11
MisttlIanp.
How Mr.. Stubs made his fortune in
California Shipments.

desire TO lay before your readers chSpier
from my experience in California specula,ions,
hoping that the relation NAV be more profitable
TO them than the reality has 10 me. One fine
morning last June, Mrs. Stubs returned from
neghbor's with glowing account of the for
tune which Mr.. Bubble had probably made by
sending small adventure TO San Francisco
Immediately the idea struck me that, perhaps,
by some lucky investment, | too might realize
sum which would place me above the neces-
sity Of depending upon my apolhecary business
for my daily bread, and raise The social position
Of Mrs. Stubbs and myself in corresponding
degree. Mrs. S. agreed with me that there
was no earthly reason why we should not get
riches as speedily as Mr.. Bubble, who was new
gence. So, after world of painful delibera-
lion, | concluded TO divide my investments in
to three parts-certain, that il one article should
fail to realize profit, the rest would be sure 10
be in great demand. In week from that day,
the trim schooner Charming Nancy, bound for
San Francisco, contained within her wooden
walls the greater part Of my limited means in
vested in lumber, axes and saleratus the
whole fully insured, and as Mrs. Stubs and
myself fully believe d, the nucleus of a splendid
fortune. Months passed away, and the prices
current Of that delightful city OF gold. quoted
lumber at seven hundred dollars a thousand,
saleratns dollar pound, and axes at a cor
responding advance. With the arrival of each
steamer, our hopes rose and our faith grew
bright. We made elaborate and careful calcu-
latious, making due allowance for reasonable
fall in the market, and, as figures don't lie,
proved To a demonstration that our fortune was
made. The steamer. which arrived few
weeks since, brought the pleasing intelligence
that the Charming Nancy had just arrived safe
Iy in the harbor of San Francisco. That set
A new honse was bargained for, to be paid in
cash-CALIFoRNIA GoLD, sir Furniture ele-
egant and expensive, was selected by Mrs.
Stubbs, and a variety of changes determined
upon. Our four youngest children were taken
from the public schools and sent TO fashiona-
Bile academy. Mrs. Stubbs deliberately cut
three of her choicest friends, whom she had
suddenly discovered to be rather low and
must acknowledge that held my head uncom-
monty high and assumed quite patronizing air
to most Of my acquainIances. Our last baby,
for whose name we had been racking our in
vention, was christened Francisco, in honor of
the place which had proved to be the birth
place of our fortune. As the time drew near
for the arrival of the last steamer, we increas-
ed in Importance and expectation. had from
prudential motives made two consignments Of
my property on board the Charming Nancy
The lumber | had sent to the extensive house
of Chisel, Gouge & Co., emigrants from the
village of Sharpville, and the axes and salara-
tus to Mr.. Augustus Fitz Tompkins, roman
tic young gentleman, who after dandling away
the greater part of his life under the apprehen-
sion that he was a genius, had been sent TO
California by his relatives (of whom had the
misfortune to be ene.) and had set himself up
there as commission merchant He pro-
posed to make his fortune in six months, and
return to his favorite pursuit Of scribling poe
try and love stories. As he had smattering
of the hardware business, and had been for a
month in store, imagined that selling axes
and saleratus would come within the scope of
his abilities. Well, the last steamer arrived,
but brought no gold for me, though had been
consignees Peter Stubbs, $3.50 300; yet con-
cluded that my correspondents in San Francis
CO had remitted the proceeds of the sales in
drafts and felt satisfied to await the arrival oi
the mail. The mail, too, came, and brought
two letters, which opened with a trembling
aand. They were as follows;