Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-01

federate who sat opposite offered to ac-
commodate him with loan on the secu-
rity Of his gold watch and chain. The
proposition was accepted instantly, and
the watch, having been minutely exam
ined, was pronounced good for sixteen
pounds, which sum the appraiser read
ily advanced upon it.
Thus reimbursed, the foolish lad must
needs insist on renewing the game, to
win back his own" as he said. Very
brief indeed was the contest that now
ensued The cheat who held the cards
had no occasion to practice the GUS
tomary wiles with which simpletons are
beguiled-his victim was but too eager
and impatient, aAd seemed, as no doubt
he was, quite unable to repress or con-
troll his nervous excitement 1t was
really pitiful sight to witness, as he
staked one piece of gold after another,
while the perspiration trickled in streams
down his face The sixteen sovereigns
disappeared in less than so many min
utes; and no sooner had the clever man
ipulator of the cards received the last
than he deliberately restored the cards
to the pack, deposited them in his coat
pocket, took out his cigar-case, lighted q
cigar, and coolly settled down to the en-
joyment of its fragrance.
Out Of compassion for the silly lad
and knowing the modification he must
be enduring, turned my face away,
and | noticed that the Scotchman
did the same; but the young fell
lows feelings were too much for him,
and after vainly struggling with them for
awhile, he was weak enough to burst into
passion of tears. This relieved HIM
in some degree, and by way of epologiz-
ing for his weakness, he began to say
that he would not have cared so much
for the loss of the money but that the
watch was a present from his mother
now dead, and he valued it far beyond
its worth, though il had cost more than
double the sum he had received for it,
Well" said the man who had ad-
yanced the money, you can have the
watch again if you choose Send any
friend you like to my address in Bir-
mingham, or come yourself, with the
sixteen pounds, and i will return the
watch and chain" at the same time he
handed the card to the lad, who seemed
consoled with the idea of recovering his
mothers present. Whether he ever did
recover it | cannot say but looking to
the fact that the trinket was certainly
worth much more than the sum advanced
upon it, the probabilities are against his
ever having done So AS we approached
the next station the poor lad drew his
portmanteau from beneath his seat, and
announced rather gloomily his intention
of returning home by the next down
train, since it would be no use going on
without money. We lost him when the
train stopped; and we lost also the
elderly invalid, who made all haste in
transferring himself to another carriage.
The fellow who had played the bully also
relieved us of his company though he
must have travelled on by the same train,
as he turned up again on our arrival in
the afternoon at Euston Square.
When the train moved on again, the
Scotchman thought fit to take the con-
federates to task for their cruelty to the
lad who had left us, in victimizing him
to the extent they had. MY dear sir, 7"
said the chief performer, speaking with
an unction that was quite edifying, you
may depend upon it this morning work
is the very best thing that could have
happened to the young man. 1t will do
him more good than anything else, and
will be worth all the money it has cost
him. He is immensely conceited, as
you must have noticed, and it will take
the conceit out of him. If he had taken
the advice you were good enough to
offer him, he would have saved his
money and his watch, and might now be
enjoying his holiday, instead of return
ing home penniless. Another time he
will remember the lesson\of to-day, and
will not despise the advice of a friend.
Will you take cigar?
The proliered courtesy was declined,
the canny north countryman evidently
not relishing the interchange of civility
with professor who inculcated morality
by rule of thumb.