Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-10-21
Iwko mas IN reality nensioner ON Mr. ]

r. r. i '- "-- .-- -
I Montns passed. away and no news ar
rived. Them | came 10 the conclusion
that my handwriting had not proved
me 90 be the person required, and thai
| should never hear any more of the
matter especially a. my mother
assured me she Rad mover heard of our
having any fdlatiVcs in India. Mean.
ume friend of mine, n very ingoniu.
person, who had recently patented an
invention Of great prospective value.
came TO me and asked p,e Il Z had any
money TO invest IN a pfOhtable specu-
lation. Unfortunately had not, but !
promised 10 try and borrow IL was,
however unsuccessful.
Believing my effort to be hopeless,
| went round to his oflico with n sad
heart to tell him. He was not in, and
did not see him that day, and before
another day dawncd | received my
long looked-for letter | opened Il
with an eager, trembling hand, hoping
IL might contain some good news on
which TO build a future hope. Judge
of my surprise and delight on finding
an incloscd draft for one thousand
pounds, payable to my order. Could
Il be real or genuineP Were not my
senses dcceiving mep To come, too,
just at the moment when, rs | be-
lievcd, five hundred pounds would se-
cure me fortune, made il seem moro
like magic than reality With an almost
swimming brain, read the letter ac-
companying H. The writer began bv
calling me his dear friend, but warned
me that 1 should find the name of a
stranger attached to the cpistlc.
you may remember. however, the
writer went on, ''that somewhere
about four years ago person came to
the post-oflice where you were then n
clerk, and inquired of you what tim-
the mail closed that was TO ~, ont In m,
next Australian pac~ct; that Won told
him he was alroady half an hour lod
latc. lat you piticd his distress al this
announcements aud offered to get his
letter posted II possible. You succeed
cd and received his fearful thanks.
and, at his urgent request, wrote your
name for him on card. | hope YOU
remember all this, because tho writcris
that individual, and desires 70 live in
your memory, as you ever will in his.
Now, kind friend, let me tell you of the
Importance OF that letter and its value
10 me. l had a rich, unmarried uncle.
who was IN q deep decline lie had
been told | was dead. and had willcd
his vast possessions to other relatives.
L heard of this, as u were, by accident,
and that hs was about to SET for the
kast indies, ne, or 20 retr.n. A letter
by the next packet might possibly
reach him in Australia. 1 wrote it.
and rode many miles to post 1t; but it
would have been too late only for your
kindness. 1t did reach him. however.
on the eve of his departure, and caused
an important alteration in his will. for
] was che only son of favorite sister.
He sailed for India, but died on
tho passage; aud IL my letter
had missed that packet he
would never have received It. The diff
ference to me would have been a fort
une. was poor then-I am rich now.
VIII You accept this trifle-not as re-
ward, but a token OF friendship-from
one who has ever, and ever will be.
grateful. That single minute of time,
which you so kindly improved, made
the difference of a world to me; and II
It is ever in my power TO change your
fortune for the better | am yours 10
command. would have sent this re-
membrance sooner, but there has. been
some litigation, and l have only re-
Gently come into possession of my
legacy. You viii, of course, pardon
my having sent for your address and
card, TO avoid the possibility of a mis-
take; and my absence in India, on the
return of your letter, must be my
apology for my long delay in com.
municating with you since"
This was the substance OF letter
that made the difference of a world I,
mo--for lnow had the means of enter
ing into partnership with my friend -
and that resulted in n fortune, and as
much happiness rs can be found in this
sphere of existence. Ii would be- dim
cult to calculate the changes effected
and the persons made happy by that
simple act OF posting a letter; that II
we 60 down to posterity. and consider
the dcstinies altered by that one triiling
thing, we shall perceive how great be.
comes the smallest deed of our lives.
IL may be the stone in the fountain. .-
thfiddeiphiQ CdH