Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-20
GOOD MIR. sPRUE.


| badge on his coat.
There was a general scramble for the
head of the line, and hurried falling back
to less eligible places by those who had
| failed to secure the first.
l never had any luck in gaining good
place in crowd. A tall man, with high
hat, always would go in between me and
whatever sight was to be seen. Ii it
| rained at the circus, the inevitable fat
woman, with the green umbrella, always
bounded my horizon. In the rush to hear
| a popular preacher, have been fortunate
enough to secure camp-stoOl at the far
| end of the aisle, but, most commonly, have
had to put up with stauding-room in
the third or fourth rank, catching here and
there word of the discourse, but not a
| glimmer of the sense.
This time / Jared as usual. Elbowed
out at every attempt to gain better
lodgment, found myself at last at the ex-
treme end of the queue
Hurry up, say kept shouting he in
| brass and blue.
But in spite of all, the line shortened
slowly. l was getting nervous. The next
day was Thanksgiving, which had agreed
| to spend at Deacon Patchin's, between
whose daughter Polly and myself certain
| tender negotiations were then in active
progress. To miss the train involved the
choice of either giving up my visit or wait
| ing several hours and arriving just in time
| to find Polly in the pouts and taking a
| longing look at the cold remains of that
especial turkey of whose growth in fat
ness Polly's postscripts had kept me from
time to time advised.
Hurry up less than minute till the
| gate closes !" admonlshed the blue and
brazen Official, as at last l reached the
| ticket window.
"Ticket to Hugginsport," said hur-
riedly.
Two dollars" replied the ticket.man.
Shaping down his stamp on piece of card
board with the heel of his hand.
"Pve lost my pocket book /" exclaimed,
quickly withdrawing the hand sent in
search of it,
Here was fix had started with a
liberal supply of the one thing needful for
Thanksgiving-at least so far as material
pleasures gn-and here 1 was without a
penny to pay my fare, and not half min
ute of spare time
looked around helplessly.
81 perceive your embarrassment, sir, ="
said grave-looking gentleman, whose
white choker and long skirted coat left no
doubt of his calling Iperceive your en-
barrassment, sir, and shall be happy to re-
lieve you of it. Get your ticket out of
this; you can hand me the change and re-
NIT the rest.
As he spoke he placed twenty-dollar
bill in my hand.
"But, my dear sir" began.
pray don't waste time in compliments.
My name is Rev. Speedwell Sprue of
Chapelton, to which address you can remit
the trifing sum advanced. 1 ask no bet
ter guaranty than your countenance."
81 accept your favor" replied, with
warmest thanks My name is Hodiah
Trimley, white goods clerk with Twist &
Bobbin of this city"
"Come, sir, do you wish the ticket or
not % demanded the man at the window,
with his thumb on the spring that held
up the slide.
L threw down the bill. He hastily
counted out the change, and handed me
it and the ticket. The former l passed to
the obliging stranger, whose hand | had
barely time to press in parting, as left
him waiting for another train.
The gateman was in the act of closing
the passage and the last bell was ringing
as / hurried through and jumped aboard,
with views of human nature considerably
elevated by the trusting confidence shown
by Rev. Mr.. Speedwell Sprue-though l
doubted whether it would do well to sell
white goods on the same credit system.
| From Mr.. Sprue and his child-like faith
| fbnunbfo gradually fnrpaI 70 pnllxr
Patchin, and had already laid the ground
with love and Polly to lend their charm,
could have laughed at the proudest prince
in his palace.
Dickerville J" sang out the conductor,
as the whistle blew and the train slowed
mp at the first stopping place.
Two men with lanterns-it was night
train-came bustling through the car,
scanning the passengers closely.
''Ha !! this looks like him !" said one of
them, holding his lantern to my face.
Fills the bill exactly" cried the
other, glancing from me at paper in his
hand.
"Come, sir" he continued, placing
hand roughly on my shoulder; " if I'm
not mistaken it was you who bought the
last ticket for this tram"
"It was" answered, looking up aston
ished.
"And paid for it with twenty dollar
bill, he added, receiving the change"
l acknowledged the fact, but with no
abatement of surprise.
"That bill, he proceeded, twas coun-
terfeit, and we've been telegraphed to ar
rest you"
1 endeavored to expostulate, and ex-
planned as well as my confusion would
permit, the circumstances under which |
got the note.
ga likely story +" was the sneering
comment; 60 there's so many good Mr..
Sprues you see going around lending money
to total strangers. What did you do with
the change, now?"
Handed it back to Mr.. Sprue," 1 an
swered
GA clever dodge" said one of the men,
as the two exchanged winks.
"Come alongl" they commanded, and
without further ceremony l was hustled
from the tain, dragged to a neighboring
calaboose, and locked up.
Next morning | was taken before jolly
looking magistrate whose face was a guar
antee that l should at least have fair
hearing
"Well, young gentleman. what have
you to say to this ?" he began.
1 was proceeding with my story earn
estly, when, to my great joy, who should
enter but my kind friend, Rev. Speedwell
Sprue, in company with a stranger OF very
different appearance.
"Ohl MIR. Sprue, how glad | am to see
You !" | exclaimed ga word from you
will clear up this unfortunate affair"
To my great chagrin Mr.. Sprue, instead
of promptly answering my appeal, turned
aside and quite ignored my presence. But
his companion promptly stepped forward.
"Do you recognize this," he asked,
placing in my hand an article taken from
his pocket.
81 dol" cried" It's my own pocket
book"
"Of which you were robbed by that
person." he replied, pointing to the Rev.