American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-03-10
From Moore's Rural New Yorker.
JOHN EASTMAN'S LUCK.
BY EMILY G. HUNr1NGroN.

"Thars just my luck angrily exclAim
ed young mechanic, dashing down
note that informed him that, during his
absence from his place Of business, gen
lenian had called to complete partial
contract with him for heavyjob Of work
and not being able to wait, had taken it TO
another workman.
Il was born TO i'll luck, he continued,
and there is no uss in trying to contend
against fate.
'How long were you absent from the
shop. JohnT inquired quiet looking OLD
man who was sitting by.
Not over an hour or soj perhaps two
hours
Had you not'an engagement to meet
this gentleman to.day?'
why yes, and started for my shop for
that purpose, but thought l would just
drop into Smiths TO see that western land
investment was likely to turn out, and in
the excitement. forgot the hour till it
was to late so here is good two humid
red dollars worth of work gone, all for
wreohed luck
The old man smiled family, but went
on questioning. And how about your
land Investments itlikely to prove as
as profita le as you antisipated?'
my cards turn up. Itseems the man Of
whomI bonghthad legal claim to it, and
so my title is not worth cent
How much money did you invest
there? ,.sl
'Thrse hundred dollars-money that l
had been laying by ever since my mari
age 10 help purchase house and lot
but 1t is gone now, and am not likely to
get anything beforehand again, very soon
Their is Jones he bought land at the same
aud it is worth ten times the money he
paid for it--he always lucky
L believe he employed an agent to ex.
anime all the deeds and titles carefully be-
fore be purchased, did he not, John?'
Yes, and paid him an exhorbitant price
too; / never would encourage sncE cxtor>
ton. Besides. Edwards, who sold me my
claim, assured me thath lie knew it to be
perfectly good. and could never have
had the face TO question the honesty Of an
old friend and neighbor.
1T seems he had the face to cheat you
out OF your money said the old gentle.
man, smiling again, but more family than
before. is there no chance 10 recover
anything of him?
None at all. Jones told me, confden-
italy, a couple of weeks ago, that he sus'
pected all was not right, and advised me
to keep an eye on Edward, but thought
there was no hurry, and yesterday learn.
ed that he had sailed from New York. nc
one knows where. So have to make the
best Of my luck
You use that word LUCK pretty freely,
John-may ask you what you mean by
it. and on what ground you charge al
misfortunes to it?'
'Why. yorf Cannot deny Uncle William
that some men are constitutionally unlucky
while Others, with no greater advantages
and seemingly in the very same circum
stances, will prosper in every undertaking
Lcould. give you plenty of instances her'
under our own observation goa
Suppose pou give ONE; that win do verl
well.' 'sia,.
well, then, can mention none bette
tlan Jones and myself. We began life to
gether as mechanics. with nearly equa
/ advantages in every respect except that
had little the better Of him. in inheritint
that small farm of my fathers, We wer
married at the same time, and our wiye
were both prudent, careful housekeepers--
models in every respect. Ny family ]
no larger than bis, but look at the contras
now. His businrss has gone steadily up
ward, until he has all he can attend to