Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-01-03
A ROMANCE OF CALIFORNIA.

oOtn Ieputdbtoh ANU proHG were coming
to him rapidly. A part of the qualification
he experienced from this rise in life was
in the thought that it would enable him,
possibly, to help some "forlorn and ship
wrecked brother;" wherever he went his
heart and hand were ready for generous
deeds, and in addressing an audience he
was quick to discern in it any apparently
poor student to whose suppositious case
might be addressed words of cheer and
sympathy. During a series Of lectures
on physiology and the laws of health at
Quincy, Mass, in the Winter of 1S49, be
noticed among the regular attendants a
pale-faced, poorly-attired and singularly
intellectual looking young man, whose
earnest attention and fixed gaze individu-
allied him to such degree in his obser-
walton that at last he found himself al
most designating him specially in some
of his spoken remarks.
From Quincy the lecturer went with
his course to Plymouth, in the same
State, and when there, again the strange
youth appeared as one of his auditors.
He determined to ascertain who he was,
but before he could take the ordinary
steps to such end the faithful follower un-
dertook his own introduction. After the
lecture one evening, the youthful stranger
sought the doctor on the platform, and, e,
giving his name as w. Z. Wright, ask
ed the privilege of a brief conversation.
He was, he said, a poor Massachusetts,
boy, not yet Of age, without relatives or
friends, who felt in himself a possibility
of great things and an irresistible in
spiration to find some one who had the
mind and means to assist. Accident had
led him to attend the first lecture in Quin-
cy, when, at first sight of the lecturers
face, he had been impressed with a sense
Of peculiar natural sympathy between
them. Aside from the matter Of the
scientific discourse, the speakers person
ality had exercised over him magne-
tism not to be either described or resist
ed, so that he had been impellcd to fol-
low to Plymouth. 1t was his final con-
viction that the stranger so influencing
him could be no other than the great
friend whom his needs had instigated
him to look for, and in this belief he now
wished to submit n certain proposition.
The California gold fever had just broken
out; he felt absolutely sure that if he
could go out as a miEer it would be to
certain riches, and his proposal was that,
in consideration of receiving half of the
results of the golden venture, the lecturer
should supply him with pecuniary out
fit to the extent of 81 900! 81 shall sure
ly succeed" ," concluded the youth, with
singular earnestness Of manner. "Only
lend me the sum / ask and have faith in
my honesty, and | will make fortunes
for both of us. "Trust me and you shall
find me true!"
Extraordinary and incongruous as this
proposition TO a scientific lecturer was
Doctor Wieting did not receive it so as
toundedly as a more ordinary character
might have done. The stranger hac
magnetiZed him in his turn, and the dis
position to charity, Of which previous
mention has been made, inclined him tc
take peculiar view of the curious appli-
cation. Hence, instead Of dismissing the
applicant as a lunatic, or very shallow
and audacious imposter, he told him to
call upon him at his rooms on the follow
ing day. Nor did subsequent reflection
and consultation with his more worldly
minded brother, who was his business
agent, induce the benevolent lecturer tc
think the worse of the wouldbe Califor-
nian. In short, at the next appointed
interview, he thought still more highly
of the youths sincerity, abilities and
confident mission, and after an earnest
conversation, bade him come with him
to Boston, where the money should be
given. Wright went to that city, OF
course, received the $1,000, and-with
the words repeated. "You shall find
me true!"-departed quietly and re-
solutely for the gold-felds Of the Pacific.
BY incompatible instinct, rather than
reason, DR.. Wieting felt sure that his
generosity in so trusting stranger and a
boy had not been foolish-sure that he
and Wright had been predestined to a
mutually benefcent association, and that
the act would be blessed. Nor was this
blind, problematic faith disappointed.
| Within two years he received from his
absent debtor from varying addresses in
the California mines, no less than $4,000
in gold. Writing at last to say that he
was already munilicertly overpaid for
his benefaction, and to release his CRATE
ful correspondent from all possible future
obligation, he was answered that the con
tract for the half Of all mining gain.
still held good, and should never be fore
gone. "The obligation is as much with
my Maker as with you," wrote the Cali
fornian, "and / insist upon paying ac-
cording to my agreement. So, at inter
walls of months, from year to year, but
no longer with places of address given
the overwhelmed benefactor was the re-
cipient Of golden shipments, until in 1867
the sums which had been thus sent
amounted to nearly $1,000 in coin. Soon
after these splendid figures had been
reached, there came another surprise
The voluntary debtor for life wrote thai
he was about entering business enter.
prise requiring $4,000 more capital thar
be had at command, and begged hi.
friend to lend him that sum. Here agar
anaIl.a.. I.ann ..,i..l.I Ln..a 1919 i. L -.