Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-22
wRIrrES PoR The VERMONT PHOENIX.
THE DROPPED POCKET BOOK OR
NY FIRST LOVE

hoh AHE NEhMONI GHtEhtN.
THE DROPPED POCKET nook or
MY FIRST LOVE
lit is with feeling Of pride akin to that which must
have animated the bosom Of Barnum when he intro
ducod the Fecjee mermaid and the wooly horse to an
astonished world, that publish the following orig.
inal love story, written presumably by young
pirant for literary honurs hitherto "al unknown to
fame" Suffice It to say that the author is n resi-
dent Of windham county Lest the story should lose
something OF its charm by editorial revision, pre-
sent 1t to our readers Ucrbdiini ct Htcrdtptl
one Bright day in June as the Birds were
singing their glad and merry songs l found
my self Crossing the mountain going where
knew not all was thinking about was the
dear one 1 left behind dearer than gold to
me but must giveher up at last When she
found out that must know my Fate | said to
her Emma you know you have Peted me and
you have let me be in your Companey you
have worshiped me you said but you said you
could not stOop so low as to make this Wourld
Paradice to me l love you as none other
ever loved but she said to me Just as l was
about to Withdraw Herbert you 90 away
From me and try and Forget me and see if
you cant Find one you love better go and see
if you Cant make a small Fortune to begin
with if you cant Find one that occupies
a Place in your heart as much as you Pro-
fessed to me come and take me For you know
i am Right Herbert you Can come and clame
me as your own now go and Prove your self
worthy go Mt once | will Prove true in your
absance or until you Find one you love bet
ter go at once she said as she Rose to go l
Jumped and clasped her to my Bosom Just
one kiss l stole From her young and meas
ance lips | left the Room went straghtway
home and Packed my small Valiese and took
the stage Coach and as lay back in the ever
welcome and eviteing Cushions l gave my
self up in thought TO the dear one left be-
hind thought would 60 and try my luck in
some Place or another that might earther
gain small Fortune or learn to Forget her
but how could l ever She so young and beau
tiful and l nothing but my hands to depend
upon to gain it at last 1 was landed at the de-
pot determined to gain something or loose
tho ever Blooming Rose Sat down on seat
in the depot and gave my mind up to thoughts
as l sat DREAMY thinking of what lay before
me to do 1 was suddenly aroused by the cars
and the engean schreeching and the bell
Ringing which announced the arrival of a
train hardly knowing what 1 was about l
jumped aboard the train as it drew up Care
ing not where Il went went straight through
the car before l Found a Convienant Seat
every thing looked dark before me it sudden
ly occurred to me some one was watching my
actions it was very Portly looking man
middle aged l should Judge he wore gold
specticles and very large and dainty gold
headed Cane lay by his side l thought l
would not let him know that l saw him look
at me so sharp and inquisatively on dashed
the train Suddenly the Silance Was Broken
more there was great excitement then it
seemed to me the Folks were trying to see
which would get out First thought l would
get oil here as most People did got up and
was about to leave the train when the con-
ductor Put his hand on my shoulder and said
your ticket sir he Said as he held out his hand
said had no ticket three dollars is the Fare
then Pulled out my large Purse but small
Contents and Counted out the Required sum
and gave it TO him which left me the Remain
ing sum of only two dollars Went out of the
car and hurriedly and went down the First
street that met my View and wondering what
1 should do in Baltimore with only two Dol
lars which would not keep me one day and a
half as / was walking along at a Brisk Pace l
noticed a gentleman Dropped something
quickened my Pace and soon came up to
7 IA lao d.
ceived it in one corner of the Pavement
saw it was very large Pocket Book open
ed it and of all Joy l saw that it was Well
Filled saw twenty dollar notes and ten and
one Hundred dollar notes and the First
thought that Pressed upon my mind way why
could not and go Back and claim my dear
Emma but as much as l loved her l Could
not keep it, it did not belong to me to be sure
no one saw me Pick it up why Could not
keep it a secret no, no, must not will not
/ quiekened my Pace and Came up to him 1
saw it was the man l see on the train With
the gold headed Cane he was FlOurishing it
in great style When i came up to him
touched him lightly on the shoulder and said
YOU will Pardon me mr. if l may be bold
enough TO ask if you have lost your Pocket
Book he looked straight at me and said no
sir young man have not you look and see if
you Please said you dropped a short ways
back aud had the good Fortune in Recover
ing it For you he Put his hand Immediately
TO his Breast Pocket and he Fairly shouted
yes have lost my pocket with several thou
sand dollars in it / have just been to New
York aud drew the money what kind of a
Pocket Book was the one you have lost as
you said you had not lost one 1 would like to
have you describe yours it is a very large Rus
sian leather one he said and it had clasp,
like this i said as Produced it out of my
Breast Pocket oh yes, yes, that is it that is it
he Repeated as he snatched it out of my
hand young man Come along with me he said
AS he paced down the street Which kept me
Fairly in the Run at last said to me young
man are you gointer stop in this Place long
yes sir if Can get Starvation you can sir
and get good Pay For it TO he said if you
would like to work in the Bank in due course
of time we drew up to an elegant establish
ment l Read in large gilt letters National
Bank he said come in sir he said as we as
cended the Broad marble stairs which Brought
us in large Room with menny Clerks busy
at their desks he and 1 went straight accrost
the Room where there was an elderly gentle
man engaged in Writeing he looked up when
he Perceived US cOmeing and said you come