The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-10
PHILIP PARSONS.
A CHICAGO EDITORS WILD YARN.


On Christmas morning, in the year 1S75 when
] entered my room in the office-editors have no
Christmas other holidays was surprised to
find my chair occupied by person of pleasant
but somewhat singular appearance, who was so
attentively reading some of my manuscript that
he failed to notice my presence until stood at
his side and inquired if he were waiting to see
me- At the sound of my voice, he rose quickly
from the chair, and, scanning my face and general
appearance, remarked, more as a personal COM
mentary than directed to me:
"Yes, time-a quarter of a century-has left
traces of its march, nevertheless has dealt kindly"
Then, extending his hand, he added
81 am the bearer of package, one of some
value to you, and the bearer of some messages Of
grateful remembrance. By the way, that article
which 1 found on your table and was looking
over when you came in, though unfinished
promises, with a few grammatical corrections
and some judiciOus pruning, to be pretty fair
reading"
Overlooking the circumstances under which the
criticism had been made l bowed an aeknowl-
edgment, and told him that, if ne had any busi-
ness with me, was then at leisure 10 hear him
Opening a leather travelling bag, he took out of it
package bound in stiff dark-colOred paper, tied
with strong tape, which, at all its crossings, was
connected with red sealing wax bearing some i'm
preston as of private or maybe a public seal.
Placing this on the table before me- he waited for
no question, but asked, quickly:
"Do you remember Philip Parsons ?''
81 can't say that / remember any person Of
that name. Who was he, and where does he
iye?"
college-Hale-whO one day, twenty-five or
twenty-sX years ago, applied to you for work on
your paper which work you were unable to give
"Such an occurrence as that has taken place so
often that any particular case does not suggest it.
self. What of it?"
"Wel that case a peculiar one That
young man Philip Parsons He remained
here in Chicago three weeks, seeking any kind of
situation, and though you aided him with your
advice, and even your recommendations he
failed in getting anything in the way of employ
ment His last dollar was expended, and then, in
his extremity, he explained his condition to YOU
He proposed to go further West and you loaned
him twenty-five dollars, to be repaid should he
ever be able to do so. That package on the table
before you is that sum, returned with interest
The bread cast on the waters is now returned TO
you more than hundredfOld. Perhaps il will be
considered additional pleasure that the re-
turn is on this blessed morning when all Chris
tendon is rejoicing. Feel the weight Of that
package if you please"
Picking up the parcel whose weight far ex-
ceeded any expectations founded upon its ap-
pearance expressed the judgment that it was
heavy for its size, and asked what ii contained.
"Gold, sir-pure gold, nine-tenths fine, coin
standard, and bears upon it the stamps and seals
OF the Assay Office. / will show il you in a mo-
ment; but let first explain its history, and
why it is / am its bearer to yOuu
Quietly replacing the package on the table
and trying with poor success, to hide my impa-
tence to the treasure and realize the extraor-
binary result of an ancient act of kindness which
was still unable to remember having ever per-
formed, bade my visitor proceed with his story,
which he did, substantially after the following;
"When Philip Parsons left you that morning
u was with feeling of gratitude so profound that
he swore to himself that, so long life lasted he
would never forget you, and that, should he ever
obtain wealth, he would share it with you even
II it were millions. He kept his word he did
even more; the gold now before you was his all
He lives no more. / was his companion for many
years. and he bid me time and again 10 tell VOL,
u his adventures, and to assure YOU that fre-
quently ne would have given up, perished i'm de-
spair, were It not that he was sustained by the
purpose TO enrich you, no matter how many
years might pass away in the effort From Chi
cago he reached the Mississippi River going bv
canal to Peoria, and thence by steamer 10 ST
Louis. He failed to find employment there and
hired as a deck-hand on a New Orleans packet for
his food and transportation Ill-fortune followed
him, and at last he went to Texas and thence ont
on the plaiTss, where he found employment as n
herdsmaD A band OF Mexicans, entering Texas
N . fOrav fcr cattle, carried him with them into
Chihuahua while there he was seen by a Mex
icsn General. Eho was then running revolution
ior the Presiasncy. This General engaged him to
50 - San luis PotoSi TO teach English to family
of Hexicaa boys and girls. His scholars proved