The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-01


were at hast returned anopeneG / was
wild, mad with my sorrow! scraped
together what little money could, and, in
a fit of desperation one morning, shipped
myself as steerage passenger on board a
vessel bound for the Antipodes. My re-
cent employment as q merchants clerk
had taken me great deal amongst the
docks: was continually witnessing the
departure of the Australian liners. / had
frequently speculated on the prospects
which a new country offered to men of
energy and enterprise in my situation, and
now that the only tie which could make
England dear to me was entirely broken,
dctermined to quit her forever, unless
should be able to return and take up the
position to which, from my earliest days,
I had been taught to believe l was enti-
tied. --.l--.-.. .-...i- .--.-.
Fortune smiled on all my efforts in the
new country, not that especially courted
or deserved her favors, for was Indifferent
as to how matters went with me for long
while after leaving London, Yet every
thing l touched literally turned to gold.
Making my way to the diggings, became
q most successful adventurer, coming day
after day upon vast quantities of the
precious ore, and realizing, in a few
months, more than many had done in
twice the number of years. Like many
things in this world, my indifference as to
whether i found the gold or not seemed to
be the reason for my meeting with it every
| where. My fame as a finder spread,
iabflngins with hitifsconsequent dangers and
narrow escapes, the. cupidity and lawleSs
state Of society in these regions, otiliging
every one to defend with his life the re-
suits of his industry or good luck. Great
gain had really not been my original
thought i'm going up there, but imagined
that any merely intellectual, or monoton-
ouslyi routine.like existence in a city,
would not half so effectually distract my
mind from its settled grief and disappoint
ment al fhel wild and adventurOus life
must necessarily lead in the gold-fields. ]
found, however, that this was only partial
Nv the case: l. never forgot my sorrow
But rs my wealth increased, by degrees
clung to that, not with any miserly inten
ton, but because it seemed to open the
prospect of my some day returning tc
England a rich man; and if | did so
might not still make Bertha Mollett my
wifes | could not entirely repress the
latent hope, and yet dared not indulge In
il nevertheless, it would sometimes assert
itself. and indirectly it undoubtedly had
an influence on my future plans.
spent several years as digger, paying
periodical visits to Melbourne, where
turned the nuggets and dust to the bes
account. Then grew weary of the wori
and the life, my health was not good, ane
| finally determined to settle in Melbourne
and, Il possible, by judicious commercial
speculation, complete the fortune OF which
| l had already laid more than good foun
dation. NV old luck did not forsake me
! my ventures were everywhere successful
and, at the end of ten years, was On
doubtedly in better position, financially
than l ever should have been had all my
boyish prospects been fulfilled.
During the latter part of my residenct
in Melbourne, and when ] was seriously
thinking of returning home, curiously
enough came across an old schoolfellow
who, like myself had been prepared fol
college by Mr. Mollett He had gone uE
to Oxford, where, however, having led {
wild life, he had come to most unmitigate(
grief, and, at the, time we met, was bount
for the diggings. With beating heart,
could not refrain from making inauiriel
after the person still dearest to me, ant
learned, without much surprise, but witt
an indescribable pang, that she was mar
ried. EIDlIOl tiJCt
,aYes," said Jack Judder, =" she got owe
il at last, old boy. or at any rate, SCENE,
to do 80; Mollett drove her straight at tn
matrimonial fence, and she was obliged t.
take it IN her stride as we might say il
the huuting-feld. Very likely he calle'
ON ber, with whip and spur, but anyhow
| she answered, and came off f.an easy win
ner; won the Grand Prix' in q canteI
80 TO speak" - - ~,
"Ycs," he replied, married the son Q
a Mossoo fellow-Frenchman, think
queer name, can't remember il Pombo, o
Bombo-somcthing of that kind-recollec