The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-25
HOW I MADE MY FORTUNE.

Three of us were sitting in small
room and contemplating the hardships
of our destiny.
'1Without money one can do moth
ing said George; "were I to hit upon
speculation that would have done
honor to Rothschild, coming from a
pauper like myself, no one would think
it worth attending to-"
"I." said Albert, "have actually lin
ished q work which would establish
my reputation as an author II l could
find a bookseller to buy it"
"I have petitioned my employer for
an increase of salary" I exclaimed,
anxious to contribute to the chorus OF
lamentations, "and he told me that
for forty louis year he could get more
clerks than he wanted"
cit would not so much matter, said
George, thoughtfully, eff, besides be-
ing poor, we did not seempoor. Could
one of us only be thought rich"
"What is the use of the shadow with
out the substance?" I asked.
"Of every use," said Albert, '1 agree
with George; the shadow sometimes
makes the substance. The next thing
to capital is credit"
Especially" returned George, 'the
credit of having a good fortune. Have
none of us rich uncle in India"
GA cousin OF mine went to Jamaica
or Martinique, I forget which" )" Isaid,
innocently, ''and he never came back" !"
"Capitall That is all we require, :" ex-
claimed George. eve will conjure up
this cousin of yours, or, could we not
kill him? Yes; James Meran, OF Mar
Unique, deceased, leaving a sugar plan
tation, hundred negroes and a for
tune of one hundred thousand louis to
his well-beloved cousin, Louis Meran." ="
We laughed at the joke, and |
thought no more of it; but George and
Albert, slightly excited by the fumes
of a bowl of punch which had sent
for to do honor to the testator, lost
no time in concocting, and afterWard
publishing, a full account In q local
newspaper of the fortune that had
been left me.
The day sundry friends dropped
in to compliment me. OF course l en-
,Geavored to undeceive them, but they
would not take denial. In vain |
assured them it was a hoax; it was
of no use. Several people remembered
my cousin James very well, and had
seen him at Mantle before he embarked
in 1879. Among others came my
tailor, to whom I owed a sum, which
was not quite convenient for me to
paw at that moment. No doubt the
rumor of my cousins decease had
sharpened his memory. Wished my
two friends at a place that should be
nameless.
.ssGood-morning, Mr.. Mayer; I sup
pose you have come for these fifty
francs?"
"I hope, sir, you don't think came
for such trifle as that. No, sir;
came to take your order for a suit O.
mourning"
ga suit of mourning
eyes, sir; cousins mourning. Darl
bronze for morning wear, black trous
ers and waistcoat."
cat the present moment, Mr.. May
er-'
'sI hope, sir, have done nothing tt
forfeit your patronage?"
s'But l repeat, I have received NJ
money at ALL"
81 hope, sir, youwon't t mention sucl
a thing; there is no sort of hurry" ex
claimed the tailor, who busted himsel
in taking my measure with slips O
paper. ,.-.-
After all, my wardrobe did need som
additions, and / said nothing more.
s'My dear Sir" said the next visitor
"I havea very great favor to reques
of you. Buy my house. You are yer,
rich; you must be on the lookout TO
safe and lucrative investments. Sixt!
thousand francs are nothing for yol
"a mere fraction of your income
With methe caseis different. Though
Mr.. Felix had made up his mind to bu,
the premises, and now hear he ha
changed his intention. What is tt
become of me? I have heavy de
mand to meet, and / don't know
where the money is to come from"
"I buy your house? Why it woul(
be madness to think of such thing.
''Madness no such thing; you coult
not find better rinvestment anywhere
In two years, with trifiing repairs, i
will be worth double its present value
you will never see such a good oppor
tunity again. Say done, and I'm off.
And he was off, without leaving m
time to put in a word.
Two hours after in walked Mr.. Felix
evidently not in the best of tempers.
''Really, sir" he began, "you hav
taken me quite by surprise. Thehous
is Indispensable to me. 1 reckoned OF
it as if it were mine, and only Offered
fifty thousand francs because tn
owner is embarrassed, and felt sur
he would be obliged to take them
With you, sir, the case is different; SO
came to ask you if you will let mehav
it for sixty-five thousand francs?"
Fifteen thousand francs droppin
all at once into the lap of poor fel
low who had to work hard to gail