The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-10-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
FORTUNE IN MISFORTUNE.


How can you be so superstitious?' re
piled the worthy matron, seeking to con
ceal her own anxiety for her sons futur,
under genial smile
"From boyhood, complained the youne
man, 81 have been pursued by the genlu,
OF misfortune. As child, my bread al
ways fell butter-slde down; | received
punishment for other boys pranks and
although l learned my lessons better thar
the others, could never get the frs
place in my classes. If / went down the
street, some misfortune was sure to hap
pen to me: either got into a crowd
where my clothes were torn without any
fault of mine, or tile from some old roo
waited until passed to fall on my. head
And now, do what will, have nothing
but trouble and annoyance"
Nevertheless" said the widow Munter
in aconsolatory tone, "every thing has re-
suited to your advantage. If you never
have been one of Fortunes favorites, you
have been more successful than the ma
iOrity OF your more favored associates
You have always had many warm friends
and, when you shall have passed your
third examination, you are almost sure to
get an honorable and perhaps lucrative
position"
"Ay; but there's the hitch" replied
Emile, in gloomy tone.
II am convinced" said his mother
'that you will pass a brilliant examina
ton; but you must try to overcome this
tlmidity and distrust of your own pow.
ers"
Easier said than done. l have nc
fears of the examination, for l am well
prepared. What fear is some new freak
of fortune, or, rather, of misfortune"
eve can only do our duty, and leave
the rest to Heaven" said the mother
allow often have l seen in life that what
to our limited vision appeared TO be q
misfortune proved to be G blessing while
on the contrary, d great stroke OF good
fortune often makes men arrogant, and
leads to their ruin"
During this conversation, Emile had
packed his trunk, and made all resdy fol
his departure. His mother, as may be
supposed, insisted on accompanying him
to the depot With all their precautions
to be in time, they came very near being
too late for the train; for on the way theil
cab lost wheel, which caused an un
welcome delay.
Emile was naturally inclined to look
upon this accident SIS an i'll omen. JUS
time enough remained, when he arrived
at the depot, to get tlc1et, and take 8
hasty but atfectionate leave Of his mother
Another dilemmal The train 1;.s literally
Crowded, With the exception of the little
pa-rOnlZed first Class c01lpes; and it was
with much difficulty that the conductor was
prevailed upon TO give him 8 seat in one
OF them, as he had only a second class
ticket In mis- haste he threw his travel
ing bag on the feet of an elderly gentle
DsE, who was the sole occupant of the
coupe. and who, judging from the expires
sion OF ais face, would have preferred
almost any other manner of beginning al
acquaintance
The locomotive blew its shriil whistle
Emile leaned out OF tie window to taae
last look az the Gear lace of his mother
who tried IL vain To keep back her tears
Be sure to write me as soon as your
examination Is over"
% Yes, Certainly, mother; you can rely
on it."
AS the train moved off, Emile settled
into one corner, and, without pay iag Any
attention To his fellow traveller. was sosi
lost ia thought Of ais approaching exam
nation, which haunted him like ap
partition.
''Be ed good, sir, as To- close thai win
dow; there is terrible draugbt here,
said the elderly gentleman, breaking ID,
silence, IN tone that showed plainly b.
Vas not IN the best OF hamOr.
Emile, III his Ievery, Was deaf To Tn,
wish of has neighboT, whom lie seemed t
have entirely forgotten, until his com
panlOE cried out. Ia an impatient tone
DO you hear? You bcgiu By throw
ing your portIbanttau on my feet, ant
nov subject me To The danger of catchln,
an influenza
II beg your pardon, sir, replied Emile
starting up; 'but was thinking"
'Of your examination" interrupted nj
travelling companion, cot viii h yo
stand ia such fear
But, sir, how could you know any
thing about THAR" asked Emile, aston
iehed.
81 have, thank Heaven, very good ears
and heard your mother who, by the
way, seems TO be very sensible woma
when she wished you success"
mo one knows so well as she hoy
much | have at stake"
Us, then. the examination so very oil
icuit?"
cit is not that; but seem to have bee
born under an unlucky star"
"Bah Nousenser returned the oil
prone 10 ascribe to fate what is only To
natural consequence of their own Iolly.
THAT is not my Case" insisted Emile
81 have too many examples OF my I'D lucE
To-day, even, | came near missing Tia
train, In cOnseC uence OF my cab runnin
wheel off,
'And now you sit comfortably in
first class car, instead OF being CrOwde
into one OF the second or third class Cal
riages. Such misfortunes are Certainl
not very hard to bear
THAT is true; but"
"YOu would have found pleasante
company else where, perhaps, Iadmit-ir
stead Of an Old grumbler, al interestin
young lady, with whom you could hav
passed the time pleasantly"
"By no means | am in no mood I
enjoy ladies' society"
"Ay, you can think of nothing but thi
terrible examination. The gentlemen {
the commission are no tfihers, dare say
they will sound you to the bottom, Il
doubt"
"Let them. 1 have been no idler, an
feel that am well up in the old Roma
as well az German law"
Then you are jurist?"
Il have for four years filed a positio
In our courts, quite to the satisfaction
my superiors, and now 1 am going
Berlin to pass my third examination"
Which You vii do brilliantly, L hav
no doubt"
"Whs knowss' sighed Emile. "Tl
gentlemen of the commission are said |
b. very severe, ard in some instances
very disAgreeabie."
Certainly not more severe than
necessary; and, 50 far ss I know, Il