The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-23


laid about thirty out upon the counter. he
looked them over bastily-took one in his fin.
gers-read it with trembling lips-grew alarm
ingiy pale, and, putting. his hand to his fore
head, leaned heavily against the desk. l thought
he was about TO faint, and asked him if be
would have glass of water.
"No, no nothing but passing sickness.
am better now. Here, read me the numbers on
that ticket" cried he, very quickly.
Seventeen, nineteen, sixty three"
Seventeen, nineteen, sixty three Strange
now = strange = seventeen, nineteen, sixty
three"
"What is strange, sir2" asked I, thinking
his conduct particularly so. Indeed, was in
clined to believe him insane.
"Nothiug-nothing; l was absent. ONLY ]
dreamed --; do you ever dream, young
MANI"
told him that did occasionally.
"Do you believe in dreams?"
81 have not a great deal of faith in them .
Bot when the same dream comes M ever
before your mind in the same manner, duripp
long years, could you help believing ir it, could
You help thinking that it meant something }"
confessed that such singular circumstance
would be likely to influence me somewhat
swell, then, i buy this ticket-this seventeen
nineteen. sixty.three-I buy it in compliance
with the promptings of dream which has for
many years haunted me, and this is the rat time
have seen ticket containing that com bination
Now, mark my words, this is the last time shall
ever buy tcket-the last time. Here are
your twenty dollars. ought to have hung nv.
self before bought the first ticket" and, thus
saying, he hurried out of the fice
His manner was very impressive, and dis
tinctiy remembered the numbers. | was in 8
degree prepared to see the ticket draw priz /,
There are presentiments which uiH gain ere
dence, in spite of every argument our sober
reason may adduce against them. Nor dc
such presentiments always prove fallacious.
Hence, without being able to explain WHY. ]
was not at all surprised to find these numbe
credited with the second capital prize of thirty
thousand dollars when the drawing came out
The train of circumstances attending the pur
chase OF the ticket was so unusual, that would
have been disappointed, had the result been
otherwise. Ny readers may think this part OF
my narrative the fiction of clumsy brain, bu,
l assure them it is the strict truth. There are
many stranger things happening daily, which
are unthought OF, because unobserved.
confess waited for the old mans appear.
ance with much anxiety, and was very desirous
to be present when he came, that / might OBJ.
serve what effect his success would have upon
him. Several times caught sight of him rush.
ing past the door, but could not stop him. He
was evidently much excited about q thing
which had such fast hold upon his mind, and
seemed to be desirous to put off as long as DOS.
sible what was apparently q crisis in his fate.
At last he came. he was dressed with more
care aad in better clothes than usual His
rough beard had been removed, and his I'M.
kempt locks brushed into some comeliness OF
appearance. He was pale, very pale and bag.
gard, as if he knew not what sleep was. AZ
he entered, he made convulsive effort to con.
troll his nerves, and appeared calm, save that
his hand trembled, and his lip twitched pain.
fully. l asked him, would he see the drawing
he stammered: "No, no not yet" and leaned
heavily upon his cane. "Give it to me now. ~
/ put the paper in his hands, and he read
alq :! x >, so, :, :, -.
three-seventeen "-he looked at me with a
stupid stare, murmuring:
"Why, that-why, that is-is"-
"Yes," said I, bnt he did not hear me. He
was reading "the fourth, fifth, and sixth drawn
numbers entitle the holder to the sum of
$4,000, payable in 40 days, subject to the usual
deduction of fifteen per cent.'-ifteen per cent.
Young man, do you hear that? 3O,00O-l9-
fifteen per cent.-63-l7-oh God"
And he fell heavily, sidewise, upon the floor,
q CHASTITY stare fixed on his face. thought
he had tainted, but the usual restoratives failed
of effect upon him. In this extremity ran to
the door, and hurried a drayman, standing near,
after physician. When the latter came, q
brief examination and few questions satisfi ed
him that he had to deal with a serious case of
paralysis. He told me that he must be imme.
diately put in charge of his friends, or conveyed
to the nearest hospital. examined his pock.
cts, and found a few well-worn letters directed
to Henry Oxford Esq.," with the residence
The physician procured hack, and went home
with him, he being still insensible.
After closing the Office that evening, going
to the post Office, and leaving for publication
in the different papers sundry Mandatory adver.
tisements in regard to this brilliant capital"
sold BY Morgiston & Co at their "Ever-lucky
Office" sought Orford's residence, for was
anxious to know how he was, and curious to
learn somewhat more concerning him. He
lived in wretched frame building on the out
skirts of the city, solitary, gloomy, tumble
down-looking place, that struck me as a very
appropriate home for person of his looks.
confess l was not prepared for the one who re.
spouded to my knock. expected to see some
poor old wife, or other fit companion for
Oxford, but instead, the door was opened by q
beautiful girl of about eighteen years, who, de.
spite the tokens of poverty and care which sh-
wore, was just such a creature as one likes to
dream of. | bowed, and explained to her who
/ was, and why / came.
Oh, sir" said she-her face Frightening mp
with pleasant smile-"yo are very kind in
deed. My poor father is q little better now.
and the doctor says he will soon be up again.
Oh, he has suffered No wonder he was par
alyzed."
Has he said anything to you about the dis.
position of the money which he drew2"
"Not q word-not a word"
"Well, you had better put the ticket away in
some safe place until he is able to attend to it."
"Thank you, will do so Immediately. am
grateful to you for your kindness, sir-it is
something we see so seldom, we poor people.
Good night, sir" and bowed my adieu.
Some three or four days afterwards l re.
ceived the following note, written in a delicate
female hand:
"Father is better, but still unable to get
about. If it be not asking too much, he would
like to see you this evening about the money,
as he is anxious to leave a city which brings
come early, and oblige MARY OXFORD"
could not finish my cup of tea in too great
haste that evening. l hurried away, and was
soon at the house, and in it-received with a
pretty smile BY Miss Mary. She took me into
her fathers room Immediately. He was sitting
languidly in an arm chair, carefully supported
BY pillows. Though his illness was visible in
its effects upon his countenance, he yet seemed
on the whole to look better than I had ever
seen him. he was less haggard and careworn,
and already faint ray of hopefulness was be.
ginning to supersede his gaunt air of gloomiest
despair. he nodded kind welcome to me,
and held out his palsied hand. As took it,
be looked up in nay face, and something of
smile cleaned UNANIMOUSLY into his eye, while