Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-12-24

Yes, there was no mistaking it. | was hard
up. Here was Christmas, the snow on the ground
and the total amount Of available cash in my
possession was twenty-five cents.
sat in my solitary room--a very upper 4"
one, smoking the pipe of solitude and reflection
Here was |, Godfrey Jordan, after two years
illness, about to restart in life. ! had been with
my regiment in India five years, and having met
with an accident, was sent home on twelve
months furough with half pay. At the end of
that time, it was found that the injury was such
as to necessitate my resgning the service. |
did so, and after another years suffering, had so
far recovered my lost vigor as to cross the ATTAIN
tic in search of fortune, or rather, employment a.
for the former was what | never dreamed of, ex-
cept at intervals, when my castle-building would
commence with my marrying my Fanny and end
with house in Fifth Avenue, etc, etc
A | sat on that particular evening the ghost
of former Christmases fitted by me in magma
ton.
A Christmas spent in Cronstadt, showed up,
drinking strong tea with piece of lemon in it,
and sleghing out in the country
Another spent in the wlds of New Zealand
with n party Of four Masres, my dwelling place
their canoe, my Christmas dinner piece of
dried pork wheat cake and peaches.
Another spent in an open boat on the Ganges,
in company with seven Musselmen, boat-load
of treasure, and with the hot sun melting the
pitch in the decks, and preventing me from
crawling out of the little cabin before sundown
. Others spent at home in the dear old house.
surrounded by friends and relations, telling sto-
ries and singing songs by the freight. Some
have passed away, others have become lostNo
me, some by misfortune, others by fortune ; for
find that the latter is quite as likely to separate
friends as the former.
Yes, here was, alone, with hardly friend to
speak to. | had brought over few letters of
introduction. These found to result in an in
vitation to dinner, promise to aid me in any
way possible, request to come again, and there
the matter generally ended.
So had made up my mind that no further
good would come of my letters, and resolved to
trouble their recipients no more. They did end
in something, In what manner am about to re-
late.
Among others | had presented letter to a Mr.
Deschamps, wealthy gentleman residing in
Fifth avenue. This had ended in my going there
once 10 tea, and receiving an invitation to go
again, coupled with the advice not to give up,
but go on in my search for employment and visit
all the leading firms and offer my services. This
found to be rather embarrassing way Of
" getting on" as | generally received for an
answer that they quite full, that business
was dull, and that they had already more hands
than necessary.
This answer generally wound up with an OBJ
II
number of young men out Of employment, and
that the best thing for young man to do was to
"push out West"
Upon inquiry found this "pushing West "
meant locating upon Government lands, cutting
timber and building log-hut as a residence,
and then set to work and till the land.
How was to do this? In the first place. my
injury was such that nothing but sedentary en-
ployment would do for me while, as to tiling
land, knew as much about that as did about
the language of the Cherokee Indians.
This, however, is depression suffice it to say
that tried all sorts of things and failed. had
tried literature. No go. People didn't appre-
ciate my efforts | had advertised and answered
advertisements, yet still was unemployed, and
likely to remain so.
Coming over in the steamer, | had made the
acquaintance of countryman of mine named
Box, who was now employed in n large city
house. had that day received a letter from