The Osceola times., 1881-03-26
MACKAY'S CHECK.
A Great BONANZA Kings Gin 10 Poor Ned
Adams.
John Mccullongh in \. Y. rxpres,.

that Edwin Adams arrived in san Fran
cisco, after the completion of an engage
ment in Austria. lie was in a decidedly
bad condition. His Australian trip,
taken with the hope Of bettering alike
his health and his pocket, had resulted
dsasterously. His season had been
badly managed; the time of bis engage
ment was an unfortunate one; his i'll
health had impaired his powers and
compelled his frequent withdrawal: and
as the result Of his untold circumstances
his high reputation had not been sus-
tanned, nor had his depleted wallet been
replenished. II was thus, therefore, that
he came, with shattered health and dis
couraged hopes, 10 seek an engagement
in San Francisco. With him was his
wife, charming and devoted woman,
who had long been the sharer of his
varied fortunes and for whom he had the
deepest affection. Together they sought
obscure lodgings, and almost penniless,
Adams started out in search of some
thing TO do. The city in whose streets
he was now an unknown wanderer had
once been the scene of his most brilliant
triumphs. Crowded houses had been
held spellbound by his lefty genius, and
the greatest impersonater Of EnOch
Arden had received both praise and du-
cats in plenty from the warm-hearted
inhabitants Of Frisco.
Now, gloomy and despondent, he
walked and sought and waited in vain.
Nothing offered. Daily, a. his fruitless
efforts were repeated, and his little
money was growing less, he became al
most hopeless. His Old friends had left
the city, or had died, or-as he thought
more probable-had forgotten him. lie
had allowed few of his old associates to
know of his presence in the town. lie
was proud and very sensitive to ex-
traneous sympathy
Giving in his prosperous days, to any
and everybody who seemed in need ofas-
sistance, he had no expectation of a re-
turn, and never for an instant thought
of "reaping where he had sown." He
thought, as he pondered on his situa-
ton, of the old adagc, money makes
the man." with sort of sad cynicism.
Finally he became almost desperate
without money, and burdened with the
care of dearly loved wife. Perhaps
it was the knowledge that his death
could profit his wife nothing that alone
live. if only for her. But this. the dark
est cloud of his life, was not without its
silver, or rather golden, lining. Return
ing with his usual ill-fortunes from his
daily tramp, he found letter awaiting
him.
With trembling fingers he essayed to
open it, but they failed to perform their
offices. His long mental and physical
prostration had completely unneryed
him. His wife, leaning over him, burst
the envelope, and he read, as near as |
can remember, Us follows:
VIRGINIA Cry, Dec 24.-MY DEAR Mr..
ADAMS: Knowing you TO be in some
slight financial strait, may | beg your
acceptance of the enclosed accomoda-
ton and thus permit Inc to discharge in
part the vast Obligation feel, in COM
mon with hundreds of Others. for your
efforts in our behalf / trust that our
city may long be honored by your pres
encc among us, and that our stage may
not soon be deprived Of one Of its
brightest ornaments. With my best
wishes for your future success, and
thanks for past iavors. have the honor
to remain, your obliged aud obedient
servant, JonN w. MAcKAy.
The Enclosed accommodation" was a
check for two thousand dollars. PAYABLE
to the order Of Edwin Adams. and
signed by the Bonanza King of Nevada
For moment poor Adams was thun-
derstruck. At the next, with mighty
revulsion Of feeling, he burst into tears
He could do nothing but accept Of gift
so generous and deliCately offered but
more than the money did he seem TO
prize the letter that accompanied it.
have often seen him take it out when he
thought himself unobseryed, and pas
sionately kiss the soied paper.
When he showed it To me and i'm a
voice choked with emotion told me its
story, it was blurred and stained with
tears. The dear old fellow worshipped
Mackay from, that day, and if one want
ed to gain his everlasting friendship, he
had only to praise John W. Mackay, and
no eulogy was too fulsome. The timely
gift was the harbinger of better DAYS for
him, and he afterward got together con-
siderable money, but he never parted
with that letter. and he never tired tell
ing that story, and when he died the
letter was under his pillow. After poor
Adams death, when ! told Mackay
about the letter and the tears that Adams
had shed over it, Mackay's only reply
was:
Poor fellow, wish to God had sent
him $4,000"
/ know Mackay to have done many
kindly acts; that his generosity is like
The sweet presence Of a good dinlsed.
And in diffusion more intense
But none, ! think, will now afford him
more satisfaction inthe recollection than
that noble Christmas present to poor Ned
Adams.
"