Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-24
A FLEETING FORTUNE.

1aVOr1te vice OF age, winch seems 10 He
strange. anu cid, and no longer hunger
after wealth. What good would it do me
nowp My habits are settled, my passions
are extinct: quiet, freedom from pain and
care, and the preservation of my eyesight,
are the only blessings l crave. l have
enough for food and clothing; not enough
to tempt others to flatter, cajole, and de-
ceive me. But early in life longed for
riches with an unwholesome yearning;
money seemed to me the greatest good,
yet even money was not worth toiling for.
When INDUCED in airy castle building
which was very often always pic
tured myself as fir.ding treasure; land
ing a double event at tremendous odds;
having q fortune left me; or becoming
suddenly rich in some equally facile man.
ner--never slowly, by hard work. In
many novels, the hero, poor, determines
to achieve wealth and fame at the end of
one chapter; and when the next opens,
he has done so. The intervening years of
humdrum are jumped. wanted to jump
them too. was quite willing to be ten
years older and ten thousand times rich
er, could such abargain have been made.
But it couldn't; and l dawdled the ten
years away, and was just as poor as at
the commencement. And yet was once
for few hours. actually and literally, a
rich man; and IL happened in way which
my fancy had not pictured.
l was fond of travelling about, and my
small means caused me to seek inexpen-
sive modes of conveyance. My legs were
the cheapest; and walked all over En-
gland, Scotland, and Wales; but the coast
stopped me, for could not swim the
channel. Pay for my passage / must,
but would pay as little as l could help;
80 chose long sea route from London
to Holland. AS the boat started in the
small hours of the night, passed the
evening in mild dissipation. Dined off q
chop and cheese with pint of cooper"
followed by pipe and glass of rack
punch. Sat in the pit of theater from
curtain-rise to curtain-set, only leaving
when the brown holland appeared. Then
a potato at singing-tavern brought me
to half. past twelve, and it was time to go
to my inn in Holborn for my luggage.
This was not extensive, consisting merely
of leathern bag, which could be worn
when l liked as knapsack; and with this
in my left hand, and stout oak stick
tipped with formidable ferrule in my
right, sought the Docks. This must
seem so very eccentric to young people
of the present day, thst think it better
to mention that it was upward of thirty
years ago: cabs and habits of luxury have
considerably increased since then. In
the neighborhood of the Tower, the
streets were quite deserted, and
it was a curious experience to hear ones
the capital of Bustle. The traffic, rolling
dockward by the main arteries of the
city, only reached the ear as faint, muf-
fed murmur, like that of the distant sea.
Turning into small Place-a triangle of
houses, with paved court in its center
however, l came upon group of three
men, who seemed to be engaged in scuf-
&c, and supposing it to be drunken row,
l was passing on without notice, when
one of them called out "Murderr'
What a fine old English word that is
how expressivel The sight of it in large
print gives the blood pleasant curdle,
and forces the purchase of an evening
paper upon the man whose coppers would
never be charmed out of him by any sim
pie assassination. But heard in the
stiffness of night there is muttered hor-
ror in the word which is appalling
am not a chivalrous man; shrink in
stinctively from incurring danger or even
discomfort on behalf of friend, let alone
q stranger; but there was an earnestness
about that cry which arrested my steps.
Again, in more stitled tone: "Murderl
Helpp
advanced toward the group, and
saw, by the light of dim lamp, that two
of the men were STOPPING over third,
who lay on the ground. One of these
rose on hearing my footsteps, and warned
me with an oath to go my way and mind
my own business; and as | did not heed
i'm ha Mi nh OF
me, Knowing something of fencing, l
lunged as he came up, catching him low
in chest the with the ferrule of my stick,
and he rolled over into the road with a
gasp and groan, and lay there, doubled
up. His mate stood up, hesitated q mo-
ment, irresolute, and then turned to fee;
struck him over the head as he went,
but failed to bring him down, and he got
away. Glad enough to be rid of him,
went to the assistance of his victim, who
still lay on the pavement; but he was not
seriously injured; and when had loosen
ed his neckcloth, and poured some of the
contents of my travelling flask down his
throat, he was able to get up. Fortunate
ly for him, garroting had not been yet
cultivated to science, and he was only
quarter-throttled.
His first care was to feel a pocket in
side his waistcoat, having done which
he said in tone of intense relief: "Tbey
have not got itf Thanks to you, young
man, they have not got It'll You won't
leave mep You will see me to the boat
can walk. o yes, am better now"
Don't be afraid" said L 81 will moi
leave you till you are safe. What boa
do you meanH"
"The Rotterdam"
"Why, am going by that myself.
am glad you can walk, for we have no
got overmuch time to lose."
We were not more than quarter of ,
mile from the wharf, and had half al
hour to do 1t in; but did not think it in
cumbent upon me to go to the assistance
OF the man who had served me as
psastron, and still lay in the road; so VIZ
went our way, and left him there; anC
whether he came round presently, or re
ceived any permanent injury to his con
stltution from that poke in the stomach
know not.
The man had rescued was gray.hair
ed, with wizened face deeply scored by
wrinkles, and frame which did no
seem capable of making the stubborn re
sistance which he must have done in de
fense of his property. The cab in which
he started for the docks had broken down
aud. afraid of being late, he had taken
short cut through the by.streets on foot
and had been set upon by the rascal
with whom found him. That was tn,
simple account he gave me on our way
to the wharf, which we reached in time
AS Tor the luggage, that had been takeI
on In the morning, when his berth wa
chosen. The latter precaution had neg
lected, but found no difficulty in securing
sleeping accommodation, for the vesse
was not crowded; indeed, there were bu
three passengers besides myself and tn,
old man Not being used to five hour
of theater, followed by a walk and an en-
counter with street thieves, was tired
and turned In soon after we started.