The Morning herald., 1877-01-09

l ne uOnL IKE 10 tell you aDOuL tnem.
"Well, now, Sir John, could you tell me
what you know about this young man.
since you think he must be the same one2''
II know he must be, and I'll tell you all
about him and the whole cursed lot. In
the first place." continued Potts, clearing
his throat, "old Brandon was one Of the
cursedest old fools that ever lived. He
was very we'll off but wanted to get richer,
and 80 he speculated in tin mine in Corn
wall. I was acquainted with him at the
time and used to respect him. Hepersua-
ded mel was always of-handed about
money, and a careless easy fellow-he per-
suaded me to invest in it also. / did.so,
but at the end of few years found out
that the tin mine was rotten concern, and
sold out. I sold ata very high price, for
people believed it was splendid property.
After this found another mine and made
money hand over FIST. I warned old Bran
don, and so did every body, but he didn't
care fig for what we said, and finally, one
fine morning, he walked up and found him
selfruined.
"He was more utterly ruined than any
man I ever knew Of and all his estates
were sold. Ihad made some money, few
others in the county had any ready cash,
the sale was forced, and / bought the whole
establishment at remarkable low figure.
got old Brandy-Brandy was a nickname
1 gave the old fellow-I got him house
in the village, and supported him for a
while with his wife and daughter and his
great lubberly boy. l soon found out what
vipers they were. They all turned against
their benefactor, and dared to say | had
ruined their father. In fact, my only fault
was buying the place, and that was an ad-
vantage to old Brandy rather than an in
Jury. 1t shows, though, what human ma
ture is.
"They all got sick at last, and as they
had no one to nurse them, l very consider
ately sent them all to the alms-house,
where they had good beds, good attendance,
and plenty to eat and drink. They reviled
me for sending them to a comfortable
home, and old Brandy was the worst of all.
I used to 20 and visit him two or three
times day, and he always cursed me.
Old Brandy did get awf'llly profane, that's
a fact The reason was his internal pride.
Look at me, now! Pm not proud. Put
me in the aims house, and would | curse
you? l hope not
"At last old Brandy died, and Of course
had to look out for the family. They
seemed thrown on my hands, you know,
and was too good-natured to lei them
suffer, although they treated me SO abom-
inably. The best thing l could think Of
was to ship tn. m = off to America, whtr'
they could all gel rich. So I took them to
i"Did they want to 60"
"They didn't seem to have an idea in
their heads. They looked and acted just
like three born fools"
"Strangep,
"I let a friend of mine see about them,
as had considerable to do, and he got
them passage"
u suppose you paid their way out"
T did, Sir" said Potts, with an air of
munifcence z; "but, between you and me, 1t
didn't cost much"
II should think it must have cost con-
siderable sum-"
"Oh no! Clark saw to that. Clark got
hem places as steerage passengers,
"Young Brandon told me once that he
,ame out as cabin passenger" |
"Thats his cursed pride. He went out
n the ,steerage, and devilish hard time
le had too"
"Why| |;
"Oh, he was little crowded, l think
There were six hundred e,nigrants on board
he Tecumseh-"
"The what ?'
"The Tecumseh. Clark did that bust
ess neatly. Each passenger had to take
is own provisions, SO he supplied them
nth lot. Now what do you think he
ave theln?"
II can't imagine" .: I
"He bought them some damaged bread
one quarter the usual price. 1t was all
1ouldy, you know" said Potts, trying to
1ake Brandon see the joke. IL declare
lark and | roared over it for a couple OF a
,onths, thinking how surprised they must
ave been when they sat down to eat their !.
rst dinner"
"That was very neat" rejoined Brandon
"They were ali sick when they left"
aid Potts; "but before they got to Quebec
,ey were sicker, I'll bet"
"Why SO p Il
"Did you ever hear of ship.feverw
i'd Potts, in low voice wh' h sent sharp :,
,rill through every iure Of Brandon's be- y
~. He could only nod his head. a
"Well, the Tecumseh, with her six hun
red passengers, afforded an uncommon
ne field for the ship-fever. That's what :
was going to observe. They had great
me at Quebec last summer; but it was =
unanimously voted that the Tecumseh was s
10 worst ship Of the lot. \
[ro BE coNT1NUEp.] n
Do not talk during play, unless you q
now the plot and what comes q sxt. -