Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-20
TWENTY POUNDS STERLING.

There never was such man 10 bet as
Staining. He was always So sure he was
right. Our mutual friend Maxwell onght
to have set sail for Brazil, but l fel. con-
| fident had seen him in the street, but
Staining said it was nonsense, and he
bet 920 to Is 1 was wrong. He had
hardly finished speaking when Maxwell
came in. Staining pulled out Of his
pocket eco note and handed it to me.
"There you are, old fellow. a fool
and his money! etc. Another iIlustra.
tion of that wise adage."
"Not exactly; for you don't expect I
shall take your money!"
"Yes, I do: and shall be extremely
annoyed if you refuse"
protested, but presently he said in
considerable irritation:
'"Then be my aImoner, and give the
money away in charity"
He left presently, and, as there are
objections to standing in the public
highways with bank note in your hand
a0d puzzled expression on your face,
the note was transferred to my pocket,
and went on my way wonder
ing, when 1 was met full tilt by a
clergyman whom knew.
'sHello! he cried. "Mr. Smith, you
and seem to have our minds 30 much
occupied that we cannot take care of
our bodies"
No grave matter Of mine," I said;"
but you look sad. Nothing wrong with
you and yours?"
No thank you; but have just quit
ted depressing scene. A young couple,
married In haste, have come to grief.
The wife and child are i'll, Relatives
and friends haYe receded into the re-
mote background. And, worse than all,
the husband"
Has become Incorporate or has gone
mad"
NCAIAACA O@AC A04 IAO OlACAs
Something worse?"
"Yes; for to be dishonest is worse than
going mad. And it is such q mere
trife that ia needed apparently, to put
all straight, that groan at my inability
to find it.
whats wantedP"
"WelI, it's only e20."
"There's the money you require.
Haste away, and do all the good you
can with it."
My friend looked astonished. He
even hesitated moment.
'''It is very good Of You," he said,
nervously "but really
'1 nave the power to give this away.
Good by" And I hurried of. Then I
hastened back to him.
May request that you will on no
account mention nay name?"
GAS you wish it, won't; but you
should know the objects of your bounty" 1"
And he told me. Then we parted. I
had only gone dozen yards when there
passed me young man with flushed
face and frightened, anxious look in
his eyes. He caught up to my friend
and spoke to him.
''That is the man" 1 said to myself,
'whose proceedings here have been
dubious, and who will, ! trust, be rescu-
ed by Staining's EGO. Well. if the
wheel should turn, and this poor man
should ever be in position to deliver a
fellow creature from such trouble as he
himself is now in, by the surrender of
EGO, wonder whether he'll do it! Smith.
you surely know human nature well
enough to answer your own foolish ques-
ton. Not he-not bit OF it.
This incident was soon swept from my
mind by sudden call to go abroad,
even to the place where Maxwell did
not go-Brazil. Nothing hampered me
then; I was young bachelor, aud could
start for the antipodes at two days
notice. When take my wife and chill
dren-I forget the number-for our au-
tumnal trip, in these later years of my
life, I require weeks preparation.
Away, then, to Brazil; away to new
life, new companions, new hopes and
fears; away to fortune and the yellow
fever Here occurs in my tale an in
terval of twenty years (rny story deals
in twenties). I doubt whether should
have come back had not young Eng
lish lady one night sung in my hearing
an old home ballad, 80 well remembered
in connection with some loved ones who
in this world will sing no more. that a