National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-03-01
Speculative Bargains.

In one Of the arge city thorough fare
of London. where several fine old wrecks
of mansions testify TO the pristine splen-
dor oi the scene, not many years ago II
block of those ancient seats OF grandeur
was to be sold. A purchaser presented
himself we will call him Alpha. His
offer Of ten thousand pounds was taken,
and the money was TO be paid within a
certain number Of days. On his way
| home Alpha meets Beta, and informs
| him of what he had bought, but not of
the price paid. "Do you mean to keep
the property, or sell il ?" asked Beta.
Il don't mind parting with it for twenty
thousand pounds" answered Alpha.
Beta tried u little fencing but he knew
the value Of the property, and ne ulu-
mately gave the sum demanded foi -.
A day or two after, Gamma receives IA
note from Beta, TO state that he has
certain houses and land in his posses
sion, which he is half inclined To part
with will Gamma go aud look Mt it for
himself, and make an offer if he is in
clined to purchase Gamma went his
pactised eye saw the value of what was
for sale, and the future profit that could
he made of it. Gamma aud Beta had
tough discussion over the matter; bnt
result was that the former agreed to give
thirtyfive thousand pounds for Beta's
property, which he was half inclined to
part with Thus far all went on in
business like way. Alpha gave his check
to the original seller for ten thousand
pounds, and took Beta'S for double the
money while Beta received Gamma :
check for thirty five thou and pounds, |
and pocketed the difference All these |
transactions were accomplished in about /
week or ten days. After little fur
ther lapse of time Beta meets Gamma, /
you going to do with that property q
"Well, replies Gamma in a cool, in
different sort of way. con second
thought | didn't care about keeping it
and so have let it go at a sacrifc p
" Would 1t be lmpertinent to ask what
you ca a sacrifice ?" Not at all, was
the frank reply of candid Gamma Il
let 1t go dirt CHEAP, considering its real
value | was satisfied with obtaining
fifty thousand pounds for it - ooh
were You really - gasped Beta " de
lighted to hear 1t ! told you you would
make your money out of the purchase,
when You bought the properly of me-
- Have you any more to sell - asked
Gamma. The last WAS, in fact. well con
tent with the way he turned his bargain .
Beta laughed, and expressed himself
satisfied too. He hurried off to Alpha, and {
'ald to him, "Now that the business is l
'losed aud done between you and me, (
Will you tell me what was the original {
1rlce pad for the property you sold to |
ne . With all the pleasure in life" i
Alpha. L gave ten thousand
bounds for it. Now I'll tell you =
omethlng in return. You know | gave ,
'ou double that sum. | sold at a profit G
If fifteen thousand pounds to Gaama, s
If whom Delta has purchased it for fifty {
thousand )" Alpha had reaped cent per
emf, but his heart sank within him :
lie calculated the harvest he might have !,
and became depressed and al T
ogether out of tune. A fixed but not :
pleasing melancholy seemed to en- +,
hroud him; and when he is asked for +,
subscription that may help to alleviate II
ONE wide spreading devastation. he j,
miles a sad smile, shakes his head slow .
Y +; and apologetically remarks. Have
on forgotten that lost forty Thousand n
ounds III 'peculation some time ago ?" p
lie is positive to this day, that if he b.
ad met Delta first instead of only h
oubling his outlay, as he had done by 90
ncountering Beta, he would have mul- n,
pied 1t by five, He forgot his real tr
ain in his Hypothetical loss. and ever g
nee he has refused to he comforted - II
emple Bar. ~,