The daily gazette., 1875-07-28
An Old Mans Mistake
BY PAUL PLUME.

euronReo the SIDEWALKS. Ihey did moi
, appear to mind the threatening aspect
OF the heavens, but. tripped along,
mufted In costly furs and expensive
coats. Thirty years had passed over
my head since I had trodden that
street. What astonishing changes had
occurred. scarcely felt older than
when used to make oonfes there on
holiday nights with my companions.
Alasl where were they nowf Hooked
about me and not one familiar face
Gould L see. / read the names on the
signs Of the stores-all were strange to
Inc. Here was evidently the srot
where little old man named Holmes
used to vend apples and cheap cigars.
The building was small, wooden
structure with a hip roof. A magnifi.
cent iron building, five stories high,
now stood upon the spot, and instead
OF cigars and apples being sold there,
trays Of sparkling diarnonds, and an
endless variety of gold watches and
1ewelry enticed the passers-by to halt
and gaze at the beauty and work man.
ship spread within the heavy plate
glass windows. -..ts-
When left the town 1t had l.fteen
thousand inhabitants Now was
Informed there were fifty thousand
souls residing there. For the first
moment in my life was sensible of
the competence of time. ] passed
through variety of fortune, but hao
always accommodated myself to every
change.
Sad with the thoughts that crowded
my heart, and weary with watching
the gay throngs, wandered to the
northeastern suburbs of the town, and
stood upon the pc billy beach, gazing
; far out into the quiet bay. The water
was as smooth as h. mirror, and the
headlands u the shore stood out like
old friends To wtlc1me me. Iwasgla
to behold this sight, for it Yves the only
familiar recoll, ction that came to my
memory. An old man leaning upon
The top of his staff was standing near,
looking over the water. His thin,
white hair fell upon his shoulders, and
his hands trembled as they rested upon
the head of his staff. rails ed my hat
and aaluted him. He turned. his eyes
upon me and gazed In my face without
o word.
This Is splendid view," I said, |
by Way of opening the conversation.
Yes, it is very beautiful, he respond |
ed; "but you are the first man whom I /
ever heard make the remark. People |
are now engaged in pleasure or money.
making, and have no time or inclination
to pause and contemplate the beauties
OF nature. When was young we used
to have many merry gatherings in this
spot. We all loved to seek tine seaside
then. Townspeople didn't run away to
Ia al ht mn I,1 r,A.. 4
content to enjoy themselves at home"
That must have been good while
ago." remarked.
He shook his head. "Yes, yes, q good
while ago. So long back that grow sac |
when think of it. OF those who were {
boys With me, not one remains alive to- I
7ears old" II
lis u long life you hare seen," re.
olied. "Did you ever know o person who d
ived here named Daniel Corbynr' |.
oynp You don't mean the man that c
,wned all the ships that sailed out OF
,ere in those daysp The man who lived
It Fort Hill, In the big house surrounded
Vith chestnut treesP He was very rich
heu; but evil came upon him like tenn.
best, and he died broken-hsarted and p
,oor." la
"He it is Of whom was speaking" I Il
ePesd." -, s.o-, ,,;,, ,,.,,. At,
he old man. \ was prosperous in those n
ave eaten at Baniel Corbyn's board"
HE was my fdther," murmured.
The old man started and looked at me. Q
what did you remark ?" he said. 81
''That Daniel CorbYn was my father" 0
repeated. lt(
"t'hat is strange" replied the old man. t.
thought there was none Of his blood 81,
n the top Of the earth. Now that re. r.
,ember, there was son that went away =,
o sea; he was a villa lad, and we used to '.
ak of him as one dead. can't remem- "
er how the tdeatot abroad. butit my II
npression he WAS reported as having b'
led in some far-of country. That was al
efo-e Daniel Corbyn was overtaken by al
lisfortune." ..-.- IC
Il am the person you are speaking Of. h,
[y name is Ben. Do you not rem. mber a,
en- CorbynY ~
eHe used to be the companion Of my q q
oy, Peter. Yes. Iremember him very ~ ~
"Is Peter dead or living; ! asked. hi
Its well seen thatyou have been q. In
'oad Or you wor ! not ask that question no
ater left US TIVE uty five years ago. He en-
as drowned just off the lower head. re,
nd-just by % d Mans Bluff He was m
iling with so4le companions and a w
nall struck che bont. We never reoov. 50
ed their odies. And so you are Ben su
'rbinf Where have you been these OF
any years." "a
Nowhere ia particular, everywhere in
neral" replied. "rve heen around
e world twice, and have lived a strange H.
e. wa
7 have distinct recollection of you," ins
ntinued the old man. "Tns longer I css
II into your face, the stronger come We,
e CLEANS that use to light the eyes OF xet
MEL Corbyn. You had good father. Sts
N, but grief killed him. Have you tra
7ed any money in your travels over ne.
. worldY' fro
Very llttle. Mr. Cole. I have made tht
rood deal, kat l',s spent it.. The fact Jel
I have no cae tom crit my possessions Law
ut care for, 80 shink it best TO spend by
GO along IN llie My estate won't but
worth Quarliig over" VIII
The old man noddec. perhaps you an
, correct" he said. ~,
IT hnyo Po,~ft,ua bo q haan 0ouprona to1