Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-04-30
miscellaneous.
THE GIFT ENTERPRISE;
Or, Drawing Wife in u Lottery.
BY CARL cANrER.

My name is Nathaniel Bugbee Per-
haps you have seen me, at some time
standing behind the counter of my en-
ployers, Messrs. Haberdasher & Co., who
for five years past have been selling their
goods at an alarming sacrifice I as the
columns of the daily papers and large
placards in front Of the store have con-
stantly made known to an interested pub
lie. AS the nninitiated might find it
difficult matter to understand how such
a way of doing business could be profita-
bic to the firm, | will just whisper in
confidence that the alarming sacrifice al
luded to is always On the part of their
customers.
This, however has no direct bearing
upon my story. Let me only BAY in ad-
dition, while upon this point, that my
salary, though large enough my for own
maintenance, precluded all thoughts Of
matrimony in the present expensive
style of living; therefore it may be east
ly inferred that ! must either resign
myself not to marry, or find some one who
to heart superadds fortune.
The reader understands my position
sufficiently to understand the feelings
with which / read an advertisement OF
the following purport in the papers some
time since.
The advertisement set forth the ad-
vantages of certain gift enterprise in a
neighboring city, enumerating a brilliant
list of prizes, closing with-what do you
think? No less than the hand Of a
young lady, together with twenty thou
sand dollars The conditions were, that
if, upon acquaintance, either the young
lady or the winning party should see fit
to decline the matrimonial alliance inten-
ded, the rejecting party should forfeit all
claim to the twenty thousand dollars,
which should go to the rejected.
The price of tickets in this tempting
lottery was only two dollars; Boston
agents, Messrs. Shave & Co., State st.
Having fully made up my mind to in
vest, | called there on my way from din
| ner.
Have you any more tickets left p
inquired with some anxiety.
"A few" was the prompt reply
"Will you have one ?"
Eyes, / believe So"
/ accordingly passed two dollar bill
to the clerk, and received ticket marked
IL, 500.
Rather high figure" I remarked
carelessly.
Eyes" said the clerk, "the tickets
are going off like hot cakes. They are
in great demand 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 a few more,
when luckily reflected that boarding
bill due the next Gay would take up all
my remaining available funds, and pru-
IDENTIFY denied myself.
Dear reader, did you ever have a
ticket in lottery or gift enterprise P
If so, you can understand my state Of
mind for the month which must inter-
vene before the declaration Of the prizes.
| was continually speculating upon my
chances Of success, and what ! should
do if, upon being declared the lucky
winner Of the first prize, should fud
the lady whom | had won intolerably
ugly and unprepossessing. In such case
would the sum of twenty thousand dol.
lars be sufficient to sugar the pill? |
could not tell. but wisely concluded to