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

Il
l laid about thirty out upon the counter. BE
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 he
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, sirP" asked |, thinking
his conduct particularly so. Indeed, 1 was in.
clined to believe him insane.
| "Ncthing-nothing; l was absent Only I
dreamed -; do you ever dream, Young
mani"
| l told him that did occasionally.
| edo you believe in dreams?"
have not great deal of faith in them ? D
| Bat when the same dream comes ND ever
before your mind in the same manner. during
long years, could you help believing ir il. could
You help thinking that it meant something ."
confessed that such singular circumstance
would be likely to influence me somewhat.
swell, then, l buy this ticket-this seventeen,
nineteen, sixtythree-I buy it in compliance
with the promptings of q dream which has for
many years haunted me, and this is the first time
have seen a ticket containing that combination.
Nov, mark my words, this ia the last time shall
ever buy ticket-the last time. Here are
your twenty dollars. / ought to have hung nv
self before l bought the first ticket" and, thus
saying, he hurried out of the flee.
His manner was very impressive, and | dis
tinctiy remembered the numbers. was in q
degree prepared to see the ticket draw priz =
There are presentiments which sciH gain ere.
dence, IN spite of every argument our sober
reason may adduce against them. Nor do
such presentiments always prove falacious.
Hence, without being able to explain why, l
was not at all surprised to find these numbers
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. My readers may think this part of
my narrative the fiction of clumsy brain, but
l assure them it is the strict truth. There are
many stranger things happening daily, which
are unthought Of, because unobserved.
I confess I 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 l 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 pos
sible what was apparently crisis in his fate.
| At last he came. he was dressed with more
care and 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 q convulsive effort to con,
troll his nerves, and appeared calm, save tina.
his hand trembled, and bis 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 y
| put the paper in his hands, and he read
aloud:
"l6, 81, So; l9, So, l7-nineteen-sixty.
three-seventeen he looked at me with Q
| stupid stare, murmuring:
"Why, that-why, that is-is"-
eyes," said l, but he did not hear me. He
was reading "'the fourth, fifth, and sixth drawn
numbers entitle the holder to the sum of
100000, payable in 40 days, subject to the usual
deduction of fifteen per cent-ffteeu per cent
Young man, do you hear that? 30,00O-l9-
fifteen per cent.-63-l7-oh God |"
And he fell heavily, sidewise, upon the floor,
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 draymsn, standing near,
after physicisn. When the latter came, a
brief examination and few questions satisf ed
him that he had to deal with serious case CT
paralysis. He told me that he must be imme.
diately put in charge of his friends, or conveyed
to the nearest hospital. examined his pocl :
ets, and found few wellworn letters directe3
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, goip z
to the post Office, and leaving for publcato9
| in the different papers sundry Mandatory adve7
tisements in regard to this brilliant capital y
sold BY Morgiston & Co, at their " Ever.lucLy'
Office" / sought Orford's residence, for wss
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 very
| appropriate home for person of his looks. l
| confess / was not prepared for the one who re
spouded to my knock. ex pected to see some
poor old wife, or other fit companion for
Oxford, but instead, the door was opened by o
beautiful girl of about eighteen years, who, &c.
spite the tokens of poverty and care which sh-
wore, was just such creature as one likes TO
dream Of | bowed, and explained to her who
l was, and why / came.
| sob, sir" said she-her face Frightening ap
with pleasant smile" you are very kind in.
deed. My poor father is a 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 lis
position of the money which he drew?"
Mot word-not q word"
swell, you had better put the ticket away in
some safe place until he is able to attend tosit'
Thank you, will do so Immediately. am
grateful to you for your kindness, sir-it ia
something we see so seldom, we poor people
Good night, cir" asd bowed my adieu
Some three or four days afterwards re-
ceived the following note, written in delicate
female hand:
Father is better, but still unable to pe,
about. If it be not asking too much. he vould
like to see you this evening about the mcney
as he is anxious to leave q city which brings
so many sad recollections to his mind. Please
come early, and oblige MARY ORFoRD."
could not finish my cup of tea in too srea,
| soon at the house, and in it-rece;ved v;th :
pretty smile by Miss Mary. She took me into
her fathers room Immediately. he was Sitting
ianguidly 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 / had ever
seen him. He was less haggard and careuorn,
and already a faint ray of hopefulness wa. be.
ginning to supersede his gaunt air of gloo.aiest
despair. He nodded kind welcome to me,
ana held out his palsied hand. AS took il,
ne looked up in nay face, and something of a
smile cleaned Unanimously into his eye, while