The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-07
Col. II, Il. 4lsfoR's Fortune.
AN AGREEABLE STORY OF 4 PROPHECY BY
A CANARY, AND ITS FULFILMENr.

A CANARY, AMI lis
The Atlanta (Ga.l Constitution tells the
following interesting story, showing how
Col. II. A. Aston. former journalist of
that city, was made happy Though the
prophecy of canary aud a news paragraph
in the Baltimore Sun which was brought
TO bis attention;
Several months ago Ger. Gordon and Col.
II. a. AlSton were walking down Pennsyl-
vania avenue. in Washington City. They
noticed a crowd standing on tile sidewalk,
and upon investigation discoyered porta-
ble stand upon Ehich gEaSe and specula-
tive group of canary birds were engaged in
telling the fortunes of the bystanders. The
piOdus opsrOndi was eiDple. a stranger
would give one of the birds nickle. The
bird would then hop off 10 a basket near by
and pick - little envelope in his bill and
carry it TO the expeSiapt cEsiomer. In this
envelope he would find = small piece of pa
per, ON which was printed the history of his
future life-at least canary bird 's-eye view
OF it.
Moved by one of those unaccountahle Inn
pulses that operate with the great ar well rs
the lowly, Gen. Gordon announced his pur-
pose of trying his luck with the birds. He
handed the wisest looking canary he could
see a carefully-selectel usri1ei and awaited
the result. The bird returned with an en-
veIoDe, which the Senator opened. 1t an
nounced that the Senator talked too much,
had five children, and would live To be SO
years of age" The Senator remarked that
the first part OF the fortune was not true,
that The second WIS, and lie hoped the third
weuld be. Upon this encouraging resume
Col Alston determined 10 have his fortune
tried So lie chased nickel into the corner
OF his breeches-pocket, and, capturing one,
banded it TO a lilely.looking bird, aud re-
quested him 10 move ahead with the pano-
rama. The bird looked at the Colonel care
fully, as If he felt .hat the case in hand re-
quired his very finest judgment, and then
moved off in profoundly CuHiemplative and
reflective mood. He soon returned with an
envelope, which he Geliyeyed 20 the Colonel.
The first CLAUSE of the fortune was this
You invite too many people to your house;
many OF those you invite not your
friends" That ,onch was true The hos
piiality of Col. = lsiou Is Wide and spon-
taneous as that of the biblical geutieInan
who, when hE had wedding in has house,
felt so good about it that he sent out the po-
/ lice to beat mp his guests from the bushes
and thicketS.
Bnt the above was small part of the pro-
phccy. The printed slip went on 10 reaite
that the Colonel would in a short time
celVe a large sum OF nOGes- - e. thought at
first that Ihis was tidingS-,iire bur grateful
-abuut his big fee which was then in the
prospective. Bpt the paper gent on TO saw
thai lac would receive this fortune a an in
heGlfauce, and that IL woulG ue the basis on
which he would build definite prosperity
he folded the scrap Of paper, pnt il i'm his
pocket, and went to WlI3i-IJ's where he
met J udge Lochraue lie vas showing the
I paper 10 this genial gentleman. 5Sith the big
1 Irish heart, when lie was interrupted bv the
exclamation g ~ hv, u.y GEAR sir vour for
/ tune Is already left yuu. / SAW this verv
J day in the Baltimore Sun that John L. Is
! ten, of BrGn2>iNu, had died, leaving "A fortune
/ of about 5000, 600 TO be divided among his
/ heirs and relatives in The Sonth" Colonel
\ lsiOn then hurried out to find the Balti-
more sun. lie failed however, and the
( matter dropped u1ai "a his mind A ,lav or
n fFsTN l-fl Y II
! asked him If lac was any kin TO j e a lStou
( of Brooklyn, repiarLiug that that gentleman
! had left Q fo-IGIi2s IL be divided among his
relatives. Colonel Alsion replied carelesSiv
and coming to Georgia soon after forgot all
ahout the ciear-eyed canaIies and their pro-
phecy.
! \ few days ago, however. he received n
/ printed copy of the will OF John f A Aiston
addressed TO him aS one of the heirs of the
rs,ate. The will hequeatbed various speci-
fed amounts To special heirs, aud then re-
rired that TAG ha!autr, amounting to : 81
/ coo, should be OistriD.it,-d TO the heirs in
/ Georgia aud South Carolina ibro,Yf tla
J agency of Mr. Albert Glover. Col. Aston
/ Yesterday received a letter, which we exam
J lned, from Rsr. - lover, announcing that he
/ would lac ia Georgia before long To nave a
( personal iuterVissNg with Col. \ lston concern
! ing The distribution, aud also announcing,
! that he was bringing The matter To a close as
} rapidly - pussi hle. Mr IIer Boyce of 4 n
9is'a, has the card upon which the fortune
/ was printed. hut Colonel Alsion has written
4 to him for il, thar i.e GIay he ready 10 meet
4 the 'ide or inquiry :tat th.s article vii turn
/ sooSe upon him.
The above story is trEe in every particu-
! lar. 1t is a remarkable story ia itself. but
! when taken ia c Inuection with the nufner-
uuS miracles at luck that have been work ed
] ia behalf of Cslsnel Alison. b..comes much
/ more remarkable. We pIe,iicI JhaI he will
. clear S5O,Q ,Q9O 10y the little Inheritance.