The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-24

Did want anything? In a few
months ell trouble would be O. er
and we should be in, clover. For
mus. do him this justice-one leaf o
every trefoil he might gather was t,
be your humble servant. Yet 1 Ineve
| liked him.
! To tell how on q sudden, fortun,
came upon us, would be to mako
long story. The tenacity of Lewis
Icharacter carried him through. H,
looked sickly but; in the weak, veal
casket was the mether's heart. H,
had the art Of waiting. When he wa,
in Curistor street one day overture.
were made to him, by the acceptanc,
OF which he would have secured t.
himself handsome income for life
But he disclaimedit, and went ouietl,
up to bed, on a November night. in
The shabby sponging house, with the
observation that he was in no hurry
So that when an extraordinary turn
in the lawsuit took every lawyer by
surprise, and the legal world stood
aghast, amazed, dumbfounded. at de-
cisicn that put him in possession of the
entire wealth of that remarkable un.
Gle of his who used to pinch my ears,
he alone was cocl. l can see him
now, fastening the elastic band about
his umbrella as he walked out of the
court; as calm as the cabman whom
he hailed. On the morrow morning,
when he had read q report of the case
in the papers, he turned to me and
said: u was right, my friend; you
see that was right. And now tell
me which are the rooms in the castle
you would prefer? Drop ih at Coutts's
and see the liberty I have ventured to
take with your balance. Tell me if
you like your brougham; it is at the
door. Now see whether you cannot
become Lord Chancellor"
In sober truth, my brougham was
at the door: my account was a prince
ly one; and had the pick of the cas-
tie apartments. The scene was glo-
rious one when the snu of Lewis's
fortunes was in its noontide splendor.
The beautiful, the brilliant, the gifted
the illustrious, crowded to his halls,
thronged his drawing rooms, peopled
his park, and tasted of all the sweets
OF his refined and liberal hospitality.
He alone remained calm and easy, /
might saw, uncOncerned. Misfortune
had hit him hard, and had not stirred
a muscle of his face /; fortune was now
his generous friend, and she could
barely extort smile from him. was
l think, more grateful. l blessed and
thanked--the Fates. For, while any
care as to my means of living was re-
moved tar away from from me; l
neglected no opportunity of promot-
ing my own advancement in my own
way. l worked at my profession, and
Lewis was able to introduce me to
first-rate business. l had at times
moro than l could well manage.
When l was at the castle would re-
tire from the scene of the festivities
to my own apartment, and there turn
out my brief bag upon the table and
read into the small hours. Very few
men, l fiatter myself, would have
done that with the advantages that l
had within my reach. But l was de-
termined not to be dependent on
Lewis. l was resolved to draw the
line somewhere for, as think have
remarked before, never really liked
him.
l grew rich-I do not deny it: and
it was Lewis's money that enabled
me to make a figure in the world,
which is half the battle in the profess
sions. But he wanted me l was ne
cessary to him; and therefore it was
fer himself that he was open handed
with me. l am not the first orphan
that has been adopted; nor the first
school chum. who has been befriended
in after life; the first man who has
owed his steppingStone to fortune TO
accident. don't see why should be
pestercd about, it an though there
were something SO cry extraordinary
in my case. make my acknowledge
ments once for all and l fail to see
why l should be perpetually uttering
thanks. 1t has been said that grati-
tude is lively sense of favors to
come: l AIN sure That I expect
nothing more from Lewis. The
brOugham in which ride was part of
his estate, granted; my house was
part of his estate, granted. The case
in which l pocked nearly three thou
sand pounds was of his introduction
have L ever denied it? My wife's.
brilliants were present made to her
by Lewis when we married. Does
net this happen every day in the
week? Am l bound to like a man
because he finds pleasure in my sOcie-
ty and profit in my advice? Let me
tell my story in my own way to the,
end. We were at the castle. My
wife and children had been staying
there for months, and l had been in
the habit of running down in the IN
tervals of my arduous professional
duties. Lewis had stood godfather
to our eldest boy, and had settled a
sum of money on the engaging young
fellow that insured him:a good posi-
ton in lite so that we felt bound to
humor the godfathers desire to have
the boy as much with him as possible
Lewis was very fond of children
and they l am bound to add, were
very fond of him.
well, on certain autumn morning
the first OH which a fire had been
deemed necessary in the breakfast
room-Lewis asked me to give him
half an hour in the library. l had
business of my own on hand; but 1
was always good natured fellow, l
believe, and L followed my old school
fellow. He began quietly, as when
he put the band round his umbrella
when he had gained his cause
THE vicissitudes of my life arc not
ended yet. My dear old schoolfellow
learn that once again haven't pen
ny in the world"
AT this point begged him TO ex-
cnse me for moment; and 1 ran to
my wife's boudoir, and told her to
have everything ready for the mid
day train. Above all, she was not to
forget her diamonds. She was the
most obedient of consorts, and l will
do her the Justice to say that she did
not forgot thing--evcn TO the baby's
socks. l returned to the library, and
taking Lewis by the hand, expressed
my regret. lie continued
"Not penny in the world. / am
beggared my dear friend, by the men
whom have helped to aflluence. NV
people have turned upon me.
My own stewards have DESTROYED me.
The people aud places 1 found poor
and bave, and that are now thriving,
are the centres of the infamy that has