New-York tribune., 1873-05-19
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

1vno,, . prcu1AR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
BoSroN, May 15.-It is pleasant, now and
tAen TO come upon real oldfashioned novel; which de-
xanda on its incidents for it's interest, and is neither
. reform pamphlet nor discussion OF metaphysical
robles in disguise. We have much philosophy but
tered with story that all story and philosophy TO
Eoak Of IS sometimes agreeable change have been
led into this mood OF mild congratulation by
"Ready- Money Mortiboy," novel which ]. h
Oegood a Co about 70 publish. The
story is neither romantic poetical but i has some
striking features BE good and youll be happy, peo-
pie are very fond of saying butt be happy and you wiz
he good" perhaps the other side of the shield ana
may be well for to contemplate that also occasionally
It only TO incline to genteness OF Judgment '
ward those whom fate persecutes. ReadyMOney mor'i
boy English banker, who loved money, anu
gave himself body and soul to to its acquisition 10 TINS
pursuit of the gold he worshiped ne sacrilceu
everything else in life. He broke MS "hes
heart he estranged those who would have been
his friends. He Kept his only son on suoh
desperately short allowance that at nineteen the poy
forged check his father, for only hve pounus nov"
ever The father paid but turned his son out OF DOORS
With only ten pounds to begin the world iOr h
self The boy led wild, reckless life. Roaring DICK
was the name he was known by, in the far countries
through which roamed He forged again In the west
Indies 10 pay gambling debts, and Frenehman
Alcide Laheur who an inmate OF the same prison
o which he was thrown, helped him TO escape. From
time they partners IN III III
crime. At last they made plan that DICK
should return home; should humor his fathers
weaknesses and by some means should get a500O with
which they would go together TO Homberg and =" try
the system" plan Of play by which Laheur heart and
soul gambler, felt that he could conquer fortune
1t appears that in old Ready MONEYS heart there
soft place for he honestly glad 10 see bis son
back though he charged him a sovereign week for bis
beard and possibly would not have given him any wei
come at all had he appeared upon the scene in the char
acter OF a needy adventurer. But DICK understood
the paternal peculiarties too well for that.
He began by piously paying back the IS his
father had paid on the forged check and the
$40 with which he had started his career compound
interest and all. He represented himself success
full man. wel-Of already but with half dozen things
iust needing little more ready money than he could
command 70 turn them into mines OF untold gold The
old mans eyes were dazzled, but he did not relax his
purse-strings. Meantime La1eur was waiting impa-
tenty in London. At last Roaring Dick concluded to
rob bis father OF certain bags of gold kept, he
rhanced to discover closet in the old mans ROOM
Duplicate keys prepared, Jaheur was to come
from LondOn--the old miser was TO be drugged, and
the whole thing quietly accomplished. Oddly enough
that very afternoon Old Ready-Money transferred to
his son all his property II utterly unexpected
and overwhelming performance-quite consistent, how
ever, with the old mans character He felt himself
failing; his his natural heir. and by giving him
everything in advance he should cheat the State OF
legacy duty. Roaring DICK was overwhelmed wealth.,
more than he had dreamed Of possessing, was his
all at once. He forgot that Lafeur was to arrive
until the very last moment and then laughed
himself hOarse think that, after all, II was himself
whom he had been planning to rob. He let Lafeur in,
and explained matters-the money was his, now-in a
few days the five Thousand pounds should be forth
coming. But Lafeur could not wait. Dick would fam
have spared his father so speedy an awakening but
necessity constrained him. He the duplicate keys
provided beforehand, and went up stairs He opened
the PRESS took couple Of bags containing hund
red pounds EACH and threw them upon the table. The
noise awoke the poor old man.
He started up with Shrek
"Theves - murder 80 Dick! - Dick! - thieves!-
"It IS Dick. Do MT be alarmed father. am helping
myseh 70 little OF my own property That Is Is all;
The old man gasped, but could not speak He thought
81 was another OF the dreadful dreams which disturbed
Dick sat on the edge Of his bed with the candestck in
his hand, and looked him in the face, pulling his beard
meditatiyely. as he always did when he was going to
is quite as wel father that we should understand
one another. All your property is now mine can do
] shall not be hard on YOU What you gave me when
was nneteen W give y41 now @ 6eaI ny you are unn
boy, the bargain is good one for you pound
aud lodging, aud much drink you like to put away
The pound begins tomorrow"
His father put his hand to his forehead ana looked at
him curiOusly. He still thought II was nightmare
"It your fault that your estimate Of my charac
gave yourself any trouble to find out what was like
a Young man. That Is an excuse for you, and ac-
for your being easily taken IN by my stories
/ wanted your money, which natural enough. l
knew very well that If came sniyeling home ike
Deggar, DeGgar should remain. so came home ike
a man nOurished the little money had in your
face Dragged about my estates and my mines and all
the rest OI ~ bstAtes ana nnts were an es I've got
nothing IneveT had anything. I've lived by gdn-
bling and my Wits This very night II II were noe for
the deed Of gift you have made, should have robbed
you and you would never have found ont who did it,"
The old mans face was ghasty, Beads Of perspra-
stood upon his forehead His eyes stared hXedy at
his SON. but be made no sign.
You see my dodge succeeded Dodges generally do,
II one the pluck GOODNESS carry them through
Now Im worth hall million of money. No more screw
ing hard-earned coins out OF poor people. NO more
property sir shall be spent used, made the most o-ior
my enjoyment"
Stll his father neither moved nor spoke.
i've lived since yOn kicked me out into the world
i cOuld-as gambler lives. You have told me, IN the
last few days. how you have lived. Father my life has
not been ~ bad ar yours. I've held my among law
less men, and fought for my own hand IN my own de-
fense No one curses the name OF Roaring Dick-not
even the whose money have taken from their
pockets for they would only have done as much by me
Il they could But youl In every street, in every house,
yours Will be memory OF hatred. never robbed poor
man. You have spent your life IN rObbing poor men.
There have NY say and shall say again.
A. for these thngs" kicking the door OF the press
they will all sold. Tonight only want the money.
Go 10 sleep now and thank Heaven that you have got
sOn who will take care OF your latter days"
ont ms arms afer him in gesture Of wild despair and
fben fell heavily back without a sigh or a groan
Laheur returned 70 London by the night train with the
money and Dick quietly to bed, where he slept
like atop.
The result Of this midnight entertainment was that
the poor old miser struck with paralysis and could
utter neither reprOach accusation. Mercful was
This deathne, if its awful silence fear could not
penetrate and memory dumb The strange, and
pOssby unnatural part Of the story comes just here
IN the effect this sudden change OF fortunes upon
Dick Mortiboy. He began presently to feel the respon-
abilities Of wealth He showed others the mercy he
had failed 70 receive himself He raised the salaries Of
al bis clerks He proyed himself capable of a noble love