The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-09-06
Beau Hickman and cansda Bin.

clever trickster. The two sports met on
the steps of the huge marble capitol.
Hickman had been pointed out to Can
ada Bill by a bootblack.
us your name Hickman, pard?" in
quired Bill, extending his hand.
The same, sir. Whose hand might l
have the honor of pressing% returned
Hickman, thinking that his new ac-
quaintance was newly-arrived western
member of congress.
"The hand you grasp, pard," responded
Bill, "is one generally known MS being
more able to deal cleverly than fairly. i,
like yourself, am one of society's razor
strops / am"
Canada Bill, by gum!'
"Shake the member two times-for
Pm glad to see you, Hickman"
How long are you going to stop in
town |"
stepped off expressly to make your
acquaintance"
Are you known in this city?'
No"
Then III turn you to good account.
How much money have you to venture
on q sure thingT
Got $4,000"
with YOU ?"
Right here :" and Canada Bill pulled
forth two huge rolls of bills.
How would you like to turn that into
$4,000 within the next three days?'
Name the Job and Pm your man.
Ssh! Well take drink )" and Hick-
man led the monte-tosser into the card
room Of a fashionable sample-room.
The next day genteel, solemn-lo6k-
inc man entered the gentlemen's parlors
at Wizards hotel, which were filled with
senator's, congressman, and Otlice-seekers
and holders of all grades. He carried
small notebook in his hand, and as he
approached each group he would bow
and say
Gentlemen am collecting money for
a widow lady and her three children.
They belong TO a once-proud but now
cast-down family. If you will aid them,
please ask no further questions. but give
what YOU see fit"
In the entire hotel the gentlemanly
beggar only received three donations of
twenty-five cents each. The others
waved him impatiently aside, while
some plainly told him he was an impos-
tor Before leaving, he said quietly TO
the three gentleman who had given him
money;
'This will be repaid you tenfold to-
morrow evening at this hour"
lie then took the address of each, ask
ing them to not fail to be in the parlor
the next evening to get their money, and
cautioned them TO speak to no one of his
promises-that he was Sir Orlando Mat
terson, president Of royal London society
Tor the encouragement Of benevolence.
As matter of course, before he had
got block away from the hotel every
one knew all that he had said and done,
and all considered him some crazy fam
attic. Then q report got about that he
was an immensely rich but insane Eng
fish nobleman, who spent yearly hun
dreds of thousands in seeking those out
who were willing to lend aid to the
needy, and in rewarding them after
wards, so that, according to his cracked
brain, the cause of charity might be in
general way accelerated.
The next evening he came again, ask
ing aims, and everyone was on the look
out for him. He first singled out the
three gentlemen who had given him
twenty-five cents each, and very quietly
passed each an envelope containing two
dollars and fifty cents and small card
upon which was printed: "Give, and you
shall receive" Cast your bread on the
waters and it shall be returned to you
Sir Orlando Matterson as you journey
through life"
Sir Orlando Matterson took seventy
three dollars in donations from the
house that night, and it was noticeable
that those whom his example had thus
ouickened were very careful that he
should have their correct address The
same result followed in each of the
scores of hotels and sample-roOms which
he had initiated on the night before.
The third night he, with solemn face,
returned to each donor of the previous
night the exact tenfold promised.
1T would be a JOY which l would con-
slider cheaply purchased" said he conf
dentially to dozen gentlemen, eff at the
cost Of half million dollars / could
teach the citizens of this beautiful city to
ne thoroughly generous to the poor"
This night he was like the ticket-seller
at the railroad depot. One, two, FIVE,
ten and even twenty dollar bills were
showed at him on all sides, so great had
been the awakening in the cause of be.
nevolence which the example of Sir Or
lando Matterson had aroused. A benign
smile lowered about his mouth, and a
tear that glittered betimes in his mild,
kind eye proclaimed the Joy his soul felt
as ne SnONcu Dill alter Oil INTO Ills pOck-
cts and gazed with the look Of a father
upon his converts.
"We'll split her now" suggested Bill,
as he ceased counting.
"Twouldn't give you $4,000" quoth
Hickman. "Let it he till tomorrow
night. think can raise little hush
money on this racket"
Next night Beau Hickman went the
rounds, and found groups Of expectant
converts waiting TO see Sir Orlando Mat
terson. One at time, as fast as he
could do so, he would take one after an
other of the most prominent gentlemen
aside and whisper in his ear:
Il have got little subscription book
here which was handed to me by a
friend as he took the train this morning
for New York. Sorry you got sold on
Sir Orlando Matterson. He's skipped out
That was Canada Bill, the three-card
monte man."
as that so"
"Sure. Here's the book with your
name = it for twenty dollars"
well, for gracious sake, Beau, don't
show that notebook TO anyone. And
scratch my name off it, will youp
Certainly returned Hickman