The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1877-06-28
TWENTY rOUNDsSTERLlNG.
FROM THE ENGLISH MAGAZINE.

There never r.as such man to bet
as Staining. He was always sure he
was right. Our friend Maxwell
ought to have sailed for Brazil, but |
felt confident should see him on the
street. Staining said it was nonsense
and he'd bet twenty pounds to a shil-
ling was wrong. He hardly finished
speaking when Maxwell, who had
not sailed, came up. Staining pulled
out from his pocket-book . twenty
pound note and handed it to me.
There YOU are, old fellow. "A fool
and his money etc. Another Illus
tration Of that wise adage."
Not exactly; for you don't sup
pose shall take your money ."
"les do; and shall be extreme
ly annoyed if you make any difficult
ty."
| protested; but he said in irrita-
ton, "Iheu be my almoner, and give
the money in charity" Aud he
pressed the note back and left abrupt
Iy, There are objections to standing
in the public highway with a idtl in
your hand and a puzzled expression
on your face, so the note was traas-
ferred to my pocket. l went my way
pondering, when ! was met full tils
by clergyman whom very weN
knew.
"Halloo' he cried, "Mr. Smith,
both yoa and | seem to have our
minds so much occupied to-day that
We cannot take care of our bodies"
/ apologized. mo grave matter of
mine." | said; but you look SD.
Nothing wrong with you or yours"
No, thanks but | have just left 4
depressing scene"
"A young couple, married in hot
haste, have gradually come to grief.
The wife and child are i'll. Relatives
and friends have receded into the re-
mote back ground. And worse than
all, the husband
Has become intenwrate or has
gone mad"
Neither one or the other"
something worse.n
"Tes; for to be dishonest is worse
than going mad. And il is such a
mere trifle that is needed, apparently
to put all straight that groan at my
inability at the moment to find it,"
what is wanted 2"
well, it's only twenty pounds"
"There's the money which you re-.
quire haste away and do all the good
you can with it,
My friend looked astonished. He
even hesitated
ut is very, very good of you,'' he
said, but really'-
~ have the power to give it away,
Good-by.' And hurried off. Then
| hastened back to him.
kindly, on no account mention
my name"
"No, as you wish it; but you should
know that of the objects of your boun-
ty.' And he told me. Then we
parted. had gone only dozen
yards when there passed me a young
man, with flushed face and a fright
ened, anxious look in his eyes. He
caught up to my friend and spoke To
him.
That is the man." said to N.Y.
self, whose proceedings have been du-
bious asd who will, l trust, be rescued
by Staining's twenty pounds. Well, if
the wheel should turn, and this poor
man should ever he in position to
deliver fellow-cres.ture from such
trouble A. he himself il now in, by
the surrender Of twenty pounds. |
wonder whether he'll do it," smith
you surely know human nature well
enough to answer your own question
| Not he--aot a bit Of it.n
This little incident, with plenty of
other things besides, was swept from
my memory by a sudden call to go
abroad, even to the place where
Maxwell did not go-Brazil. Moth
ing hampered me then was young
bachelor, and could start for the anti
podes at two days notice. When /
take my wife and children--I forget
the exact number--for our automnaI
trip, in these later years Of my life.
require weeks preparation Alas, tht
change!
Away then to Brazil; away to q
new life, new scenes, new compan.
ions, new hopes and fears; away II
fortune-and the yellow fever! Here
occurs in my tale grand interval o.
twenty years tmy story deals in TWEEN
ties !! doubt whether | should have
come back had not young English
lady one night sang in my hear
ing an old home ballad, 30 well re,
membered In connection with som,
loved ones, who in this World will
sing no more, that the well know
craving for the native land ssmasteyee