Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-20
A FUNNY MISTAKE,

II was an odd adventure, and one in
which / exhibited q degree Of audacity
that l can scarcely credit now, but ii
brought me such good fortune that 1 have
never regretted it, especially with such d
reputation for dignity as 1 now enjoy. 1t
is not very long story, yet l think it will
interest you. Ny wife says l have told il
too many times, but believe it will bear
one more repetition. 1t was in the year
1850. ! was in the employ of large mer,
camille house III the city of Boston | had
begun with them six years before, fresh
from country town, and had gradually
been promoted until | was confidential
clerk. and had charge of the corps of book
keepers which the business demanded
was of a reserved disposition, of studious
habits, and was fast becoming a confirmed
bachelor. when the events | shall narrate
occurred, changing the tenor of my life.
II was the month of December; | remem-
Der the evening rs distinctly as though ii
was lust past The snow was several
inches deep, and the sky was filled with
the small white messengers. The gas
lights glimmered feebly; the shop windows
were obscured; travel in the street had
nearly ceased; while the few who were out
hurried as fast rs possible to their respect
i've destinations. Important business de
manded my attention in New II rk, and /
was 10 leave on the midnight train for that
city. I had taken my supper, or more
properly speaking light lunch, near the
store, where | was employed until 10
o'clock with the accounts and papers
which were necessary in the transaction OF
the business which called me away.
looked at my watch, and found | had
but scant time TO go home and get my va
Iise, which had unfortunately (as | then
blindly thOught) forgotten to bring with
me. AS left the warm store, and stepped
out into the wintry air and breasted the
storm, the sensation, instead OF being un-
pleasant, was rather exhllarating. L found
in few minutes, however, that the storm
was more severe than / had imagined, and
nv progress was very difficult. 1t took me
much longer to get 10 D street than / an
ticipated so that | was in a great hurry.
lived in a long block Of houses, all just
alike. knew nothing of those who lived
upon either side, for | was away early in
the morning, was gone all day, and after l
got back at night, devoted myself to my pipe
and books, very rarely going out again.
The storm seemed TO have redoubled its
fury as | went up the steps and opened the
door. | was almost blown into the hall,
and the door swung behind me with yio-
lence All was dark, but [ knew just
where my valise was, all ready, so | crept
up stairs cautiously, to avoid further dis
turbance, found my room door open, and
right in the corner. where | expected, my
yalise.
Without an instant's delay l rushed
down stairs, and was soon out in the blind
inc sleet. | was really exhausted when
got to the station, and, TO add to my trials,
| was lust in time to see the train slowly
moving off. After hard run | got on the
last car, recovered my breath as soon as |
could. put my valise into a rack, gave the
conductor, with whom was well acquaint-
ed. nv ticket, and settled myself for nap.
When | awoke it was morning, and found,
to my dismay, that We were snOw-bound,
and had made but little progress on our
way. There was nothing to do however,
but to make the best it. | read awhile,
smoked awhile, walked lmpatiently
through the car, even lent them hand at
clearing the track; and, after other devices
To kill time, thought ! would look over
my business matters. As | took down
nv valise, it felt so light it attracted my at
tention at once. so that | inyolumarily
looked 1t over attentively. 1t certainly ap-
peared right, and there were my initials G.
S. r.. in the proper place. Something in
tuitively told me | had made a mistake,
and before opening l tried to think how it
happened Although l had taken it in the
dark. ! recalled the stairway, the room at
the end of the upper hall, the position OF
things as they had appeared in what little
light there was, and the valise in the cor
ner whence | took it. There could be no
mistake and vet this vnlise seemed only
about half as heavy as ii ought. 1t may APP
pear strange that | had not noticed it be-
fore but in my hurry to- the station,
doubt if I should have noticed had II been
empty.
To solve the mystery, l opened it, and
the contents certainly were not mine. Per
daps some OF the fellows i'll the house had
played a trick upon me. found some
toilet articles, some apples, book, and, at
the bottom, a roll which appeared to be my
papers, but which proved TO be a lecture in
manuscript upon "Grecian Art with the
name Chester Sylvanus Richardson at the
end Who the dickens he was was mys-
terry. and how ! came by his valise a still
greater problem After more study over it,
il flashed upon me that | must have gone
into one of the other houses in the block.
This cased my mind q little, though still
felt anxious about my papers. There was
nothing ! could do but exercise patience,
and so ] began reading the lecture. Al
though somewhat beyond my acquire
ments. found it interesting and instruct
i've.
Toward 1 o'clock in the afternoon, we
arrived at the manufacturing town OF
S, whose inhabitants were of the wide
awake. notwithstanding class so often
found in thriving New England villages.
As it was impossible to transact my bust
ness in full without my papers, and as
was weary with the slow progress | had
made, | formed sudden resolution 10
stop over night in s., telegraph for my
yalise. and go to New York some time the
next day when it arrived.
The srow about the town was fairly
beaten down, considering the herceness o!
the storm and the short time since 1t had
begun 10 abate After getting out of the
cars did not hurry, but ieiSureiy passed
along the platform 70 the rear OF the other
passengers AS | was about stepping OIL
the platform to the sidewalk, TO my sur
prise two gentlemen, of nice appearance
seemed about TO accost me; but. as they
were total strangers TO me, |, of course
supposed myself mistaken and passed on,
In q moment they were by my side and
one Of them said, very politely Excuse
me, Professor; | thought il was you, ou'
did not feel sure, until saw your initials
upon your valise. | am sorry you have
had such & rough journey, but can assure
good audience, despite the storm.
was so dumbfoundcd that | could not
resist his efforts as he and his friend es-
corted me TO carriage placed me in it
and then entered themselves Before | had
a chance to speak the older gentleman
said Il trust Professor. YOU will at once
feel at home with Us. You have many
warm friends IN town, though you are s
stranger, personally. to us"
Yes, broke in the other man. II an
Mr.. Alderman, Chairman of the Lecture
Committee, and my friend here is Judge
Lincoln, who would insist that YOU should
make your headquarters at his house"
saw what their mistake was; but now
to get myself out of the matter caused IN,
to fall into reyerie, during which my com
panions politely ceased to talk to me. A
few minutes thought and I determined I,
perform the part 50 unexpectedly thrus
upon me, and give the lecture as best
. 10 tis,,, g..