Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-02-12

tfhls was No. i. ssf
i any tine being my own. 1 had ven,
iured on a few timid attempts in lite,
rature. Verses naturally were among
them, an unpublished volume. and
lplay, ps Ithodght; completely unknown
But things do somehow come to light
hardly know how; aud one evening
ata party ! gave in my rooms. I wa:
asked to repeat a mere trihe-a sonnet
! At 6Fst I refused, but was oyerpersus.
ded. Ny play and thres sonneis al
passed the ordeal. --l.asl.s = s-
alt was perfect triumph! compli
ments, thanks, applausel was reti
ring to bed in ecstacy, when the inexo-
rable handbook rushed to my thoughts.
/ opened iE at the word Compliments.
at sneered, never to believe one
word Of the praises of the world. True
merit never excites anything but envy
the more you are praised. the less
you should think of yourself
(Which means clearly, l thought,
with a sigh, that l am perfect nonen-
tity. Ny poor MSS. did not take FIVE
minutes in burning.
"This was No. 2.
"I now turned my thoughts on ac-
quiring wealth. Fortunately a mer-
chant. to whom l had been introduced
as successful speculator. had conde-
scended to express great appreciation Of
plan l had conceived, and had ex-
pressed himself most kindly towards
me. Giving me his card. he added:
"Come and see me tomorrow; we
will talk over this together, and as you
appear intelligent these are his words,
q may be able to get you a share in a
most lucrative affair."
"As l was preparing the next morn
ing to keep this appointment. thought
crossed my mind-I had forgotten to
consult the handbook. l turned over
its leaves impatiently, till I came to the
word Business
Business. On this point more than
on any other, mistrust is a most neces-
sary quality. Speculations are double
Operation-cheat on one side, dupes on
the other. Rule without exception
Should any speculation be proposed TO
you deem it worthless, otherwise it
would not have been offered you, as
men prefer keeping the good things of
this life to Themselves
"On reading these lines l sincerely
blessed The uncle who had snatcned his
nephew from such imminent danger
As for the merchant, l need hardly say
that l never went to his house, but
when l met him accidentally l turned
my head away to avoid recognizing him.
A wretch who lived on dupes.
"This was No. 8. F..
''I think said I was just then
twenty-One. Who, at that age, can
help falling In love? How beautiful
Flora was! how full of candor, inno-
cence and modern graOel l thought,
too. she was not quite insensible to my
devotion. Indeed, some stolen words .
and glances had almost converted doubt
into certainty. ] was told she had but
slight expectations, but should have
been ashamed to have made that con-
sideration. | determined on making
my sentiments known to her the next
day. But first the handbook lay open
before me.
"Love-Marriage A snare to catch
fools. To dread, like the plague, the
soft glahces and modest airs of portion
less girls. This is one Of the most
common kind of trckery'
"Trickery! There was the word.-
Was l to allow myself to be tricked?
How exact the description. 'Soft
glances,' modest airs, 'portionless.'-
Very nearly so-what an escaped
my uncle's handbook, what
would have become Of me?
When 1 met her again, my wither-
ing contempt proved that her unwor-
Thy stratagems were discovered. Il
"This was No. A. /
"Yet that evening l was exasperated
without knowing why. 1 wanted to be
revenged on somebody. Itso happened
hat every one was enthusiastic in the
praises Of certain Baron, in whom /
suspected a rival. 'Baron-a BaronP
.e:I WIN succI5 SITICS SVln Vs''1'~S 40
note real than their supposed owners
liamonds.' A phrase borrowed rerba-
i'm from my uncle's wise handbook.
"As i'll luck would have 1t, the Baron
h question, coming in at that moment,
overheard me. A challenge ensued;
ball IN my shoulder was the result.
"This was No. s. so
ask whole weeks l kept my bed
During that interval there was time for
reflection, and after that came an ire
sistibIe yearniDg to confde my medita-
tions to some sympathizing ear.
found this in cousin who came to see
me. told him all.
"The history of my first friend
$50 you would not see hlm-the most
estimable fellow in the worldl His faith
er. who is one Of our first men, could
have been of the greatest service to
you.'
"The story Of my Mss
al was Intrusted with the most ad-
yantageous offers by an editor
"The story Of the merchant
"One Of the mos; honorable men in
the city. The transaction be spoke OF
will bring him thousandsp
1.-THE tale Of my love-
"An angel. my dear fellowl She
has Just come into legacy Of f45,-
|non q, - t1.o II