Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-15
By w. D. WALLACE.
THE GIFT ENTERPRISE;
Or, Drawing n Wife i'm q Lottery.
BY CARL CANT


the counter OF my employers, Messrs. Haber-
ds.her Co., who for five years past have been
selling their goods at an aiarmiUg Sacri fee, as
the columns of the daily papers and large pla-
cards in front Of the store have constantly made
known to an interested public. As the unini-
tated might find it difficult matter to under
stand how such way Of doing business could
be profitable TO the firm will just whisper in
confidence that the alarming sacrifice alluded
70 is always on the part OF their customers
This, hewever, has no direct bearing upon my
story. Let me only say in addition. while upon
this point, that my salary, though large enough
fOrmy own maintenance, precluded all thoughts
of matrimony In the present expensive style Of
living; therefore it may easily be inferred that
I must either resign myself not to marry or find
some one who to q heart supsradds a fortune.
The reader understands my position sufi-
cisntly to understand the feeling with which L
read an advertisement of the following purport
in the papers some time since. ..
The advertisement in question set forth the
advantages Of certain gift enterprise in a
neighboring city, enumeratIng brilliant list
Of prizes closing with--what do you think? No
less than the hand of a young lady, together
with twenty thousand dollars? The conditions
were, that if, upon acquaintance, either the
young lady or the winning party should see fit
to decline the matrimonial alliance intended.
the rejecting party should forfeit all claim to
the twenty thousand dollars, which should 90
to the rejected. ...
The price of tickets in this tempting Lottery
was only two dollars; Boston agents, Messrs.
Shave 4 Co., State street. Having fully made
up my mind to invest, called there ON my
way from dinner.
:, Have you any tickets left 7' inquired,
with some anxiety.
A few" was the prompt reply. viii
you have one" -.-... ..
Yes, believe So"
accordingly passed two dollar bill to the
clerk, and received ticket marked IL 569
Rather high figure remarked, care
lessly.
Yes" said the clerk, g the tickets are go
ing of like hot cakes. They are in great de-
mand among young men" he said, smiling
" Some take as many as fifteen or twenty to
make their chance surer"
WAS about, upon this hint, to follow their
example, and purchase few more, when i
luckily reflected that boarding bill due the
next day would take up all my remaining
available funds, and prudently denied myself
Dear reader, did you ever have a ticket in
lottery or gift enterprise If so, you can un-
derstsnd my state Of mind for the month which
must intervene before the declaration of the
prizes. / was continually speculating upon
my chances Of success, and what L should do
If, on being declared the lucky winner of the
first prize, L should fnd the lady whom had
won intolersble ugly and unprepossessing. In
such case would the sum of twenty thousand
dollars be sufficient to sugar the pill | could
not tell, but wisely concluded to wait until the
alternative was really presented. In the mean
time was particularly observant of the pretty
faces whom the placard-An Alarming Sacri-
fee-drsw TO our store. l amused myself by
picking out particular young ladies, and rep
resenting to myself the possibility that some
OF them might be the lady who was to bring
her intended twenty thousand dollars.
Without dwelling upon this will only say
that saw several who L should have been
perfectly willing to marry at less high figure.
L am aware that some of my romantic young
lady readers will shake their heads at this ad-
mission and brand me a mercenary fellow,
with q heart not large enough to be worth
having. But, my dear young ladies, you must
remember that, as at that time l had no par
tieular interest in any young lady, L was
more likely to be influenced by the flscina-
tions of the sex generally, and 1 venture to
say, that if had happened to meet any of you
before / became acquainted with the present
Mrs. Bugbee, (be it known I am married at
last,) there is no knowing what might happen
L can imagine Mrs. Bugbee shaking in her
shoes at the mere supposition.
To proceed with my story. The month slip
ped slowly away, as all periods of suspense do
i should scarcely dare to say how many mis-
takes the preoccupied state Of my mind led
me 10 make, such as returning to a customer
seyenty-fve cents more in change than was
due her, on which occasion my employer the
senior Mr.. Harberdssher, severely remarked
that when / made such mistakes, should take
care to let them be the other sids-that while
giving back too much change was highly rep
rehensble, giving back too little would be a
yenisl offence which he would readily forgive.
The month at length drew to a close, and / ,
In an excited frame OF mind, walked down to
Msssrs. Shave & Co.'S ofice in State street.
The Office was already full of anxious ticket
holders, who were alternately elated or de-
pressed by their success or want of it, was
particularly amused by a scene which had
transpired just before my own turn came. The
applicant before me was tall lady of thirty
nine thereabouts, exceedingly spare, and
very prim in her ways.
Though she did hot recognize me, / rcmem
Der to have been introduced to her on one oc-
eGsion as Miss Charity Billings. She was the
very picture OF a prim, methodical old maid,
and professed 10 have a very low opinion of all
mankind, possibly because they had proved 81
blind to her varied attractions / confess
was surprised to see Miss Charity in such a
place, as had supposed that the pomp and
vsnities Of this world, including of cours filthy
fucre, were as nothing In her sight. However
appearances are deceitful.
Your number, ma am , inquired the ready
clerk.
"j675," primly pronounced Miss Charity
The clerk consulted his list. When he look ed
up, MS lace violently struggled TO retain hi,
gravity.
"YOu have drawn, ma am" said he, al
elegant rosewood cradle ~
Miss Charity face turned all colOrs, and he
embarrassment was considerably increased by
suppressed laugh, which her quick ears did
not tail 10 catch.
Where shall send it > inquired the clerk
Miss Charity looked undecided, but fertu
nateiy person with speculation in his eye
stepped up and offered to take il of her hand.
at a reasonable rate :. -
Miss Billings at once recovered her compo
sure, aud prepared herself tor making the m6s
Of her prize, which she eventually sold 10 th,
man
Number III 500 !" repeated 1, taking my
place.
The clerk, after brief examination, seized
my hand with warmth
Sir, congratulate you ~ he exclaimed
:" You are the fortunate winner Of our frs
prize - IT,. rrty
went home on my head or heels-T am no
Snr NH lah- Ia.