Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-11-24
NV Advertisement.

successful many years OF enloaffass'pe"' ""'
almost fruitle.s toll are required.
1t was while passing through my period OF
such service that misfortune ACCUMULATED
around mo, and forced the alternative OF dis
appearing between two days, or seeking some
channel by which visible suppor. could be
obtained
Utterly unfit for any rtrpose save The prac-
tice Of medicine, and mostly incompetent Tor
that. it was with feelings Of despair one
morning ewoke to the fact that my landlady
had during the night seized all my properties
for rent. What position to be in No
thing lelt but breeches, Boots and gown.
lay in bed till dinner time, coeita'ing upon
the pass TO wEick the loss OF the articles re-
duced me- Then bright idea appeared
Springing up, FASTENED to the table wrote
an advertisement, rang the bell and handed
i, to the landady, requesting her to publish 1t
in the morning paper, after which her bill
shorld be settled.
Next morning it appeared among the per-
sonals as follows:
NOR ADoPTION.-A fine, healthy male. All
claim. surrendered 10 reliable parties. In
duire of DR.. SAMUEL, ITO Jones street.
Putting on the garments remaining 10 me,
awaited developments. Soon the door-bel!
rang, and fat, puffy man. with fat putty
woman clinging to his arm, was ushcred into
the room.
Where's the boy1" shouted the man,
dropping into chair, as the wife sank breath
le-sIy into another. surveyed them through
nv eve. glasses waiting for them to cool OF.
Good Heaven can't you show me the
boy ~ impatient'y inquired the man.
Yes, somebody else may come" whispered
his mate. as she wiped the perspiration from
her brow.
I arose. and With both of them cycling me
eagerly, took my stand before the fireplace, my
soul too full for utterance. Glancing from
one TO another, | noticed their curiosity was
fully excited, and then mournfuly said Il am
the male" The sentence took away wha,
breath was left, and they sat and stared at me
until the effort became painful.
At last the old man recovered sufficiently to
start to his feet and make bee line for the
door. whittier be was followed by bis better
half, who, as she reached the step. turned and
with look Of contempt remarked, " Don't
You think you've done it ?"
The next conner was tall, rough man in
ouirinq for that boy, as though he were a pack
age Of merchandise. lie went straight to bis
purpose. and could not be induced to tempo
rize. Upon being told it was myself, he rose
in wrath and grow.ed, Durn your eyes, if
had cowhide, I'd horsewhip you !"
Glad when the door closed upon hin, !
waited with some curiosity for the next visitor
Twas an old maid so deaf tha! she could not
be made to understand the non-appearaDce OF
the baby boy" For half an hour tried to
scnn,int her with the fact that it was myself
wished to be adopted, till at last fondling be'
ear-trumpe, as she would have done veri-
table baby, she turred upon me bland and
chillliks smile, saying, BriDgee outee goodee
pottee ttcc boy" Falling upon my knees be-
side her, seiziug her hand in mine, ] porred
nv heart before her, and again told her | was
the boy.
Judging from my position / was making a
declaration Of love, her face assumed iiercely
savage expression, and she launched into The
most vo!uble refusal any man ever had to sus-
tain. Expending her breath and vocabulary
for she rapidly talked herself into towering
rage. she rushed 10 the door, screaming as she
went, Did / ever Mahala Falcon in n
strange room with strange man "
wen, to ny chair very much discouraged
the hours had sped rapidly by, and barring
the bread and water Miss Smith allowed me
I hsd tasted nothing for two days. Many
straits had weethefed, bu. none go narrow as
that What was the use Of living. or strug-
Cling for food and clothes. and then to die
lust az old age had brought success? Why
not end oil at once, and end in oblivion The
rest denied me on earth? Thoughts ofsuicidC
had been long familiar 10 me now they
swept over my brain with redoubled vigor.-
Finding in my drawer a lancet, whe,,ed the
poin, on the back Of book, and prepared foi
fDal exit By tracing the course Of large
artery proposed to divide. All prepared,
was about entering the border land Of death
when the bell rang with merry peal anc
stayed my hand. 4 young and handsome
vomsn entered the apartment. Seeing me
she hesita.ed for a moment, and bad time L
notice. in the dim light Of the evening, hei
mourning dress, aud the cad, pale countenance
that told of sorrows experienced and renem
bered.
as this the place advertised ?" said she
bolding OFT the morning paper, "and can
see the child :"
There was that 10 the quiet twilight Of tb'
winter evening and the low sweet voice Of th
speaker that proclaimed me saved.
What is the color Of bis eyes ?"
"Blue."
"Of his hair?"
" Hair and whiskers light"
Hair and whiskers ligh. ?" repeated she
looking at me strangely.
"Yes, miss, hair quite light fine boy. miss