Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-21
THE FIRST FOLIO.
Remarkable Manner in Which it Was Los
and Better Copy Restored

! and a Better Copy Restored.
Many have attributed my good fortune
simply good luck, but when | make
known all the facts of the case thins
that reflective readers will come to tbs
conclusion that my prosperity was not
determined by chance alone.
My uncle was rich. My cousins, though
neither saints nor perhaps evsn models
of propriety, were none of them bad fell
! lows. One of them was in the foreign
office, another was making his way slowly
at the bar, aud a third was, like myself
q soldier. The others possessed small
private means, sufficient TO enable them
to live decently, and one of them at least
increased his income considerably by
whist at his club and By pigeon shooting.
| had gone to an army crammer's when
only lad, and after leaving Sandhurst
went with my regiment to India, SO that
my uncle had seen very little of me,
which ultimately proved fortunate cir
cumstanee, The first communication
which had with my uncle was made by
me with considerable difidenee, and was
not of kind to recommend me TO him.
l had lost two charges, and not posses
sing the means to replace them, | wrote
to my uncle explaining the matter and
asking him for a loan. In reply he sent
me check for the sum required. | was
very grateful and economizing till had
saved the money lent me, repaid 1T TO
him. soon afterward returned with my
regiment TO England, and on my arrival
in london | had an invitation from my
uncle asking me to dine with him.
found him very taciturn and apparent y
unsociabls. During dinner | noticed
that he frequently looked at me furtively,
as though he fould in ny appearance
some cause for surprise. When we reach
ed the desert, however, the interest that
be had been me- ifesting in me was ex.
planned, for be said, almost as if he were
soliloquizing.
"You were the last of my nephews to
borrow of me, and you are the hrst who
has ever repaid loan"
After delivering this verdict, which ap-
peared to give his mind relief, my uncle
became quite laxative, and amused me
very much by relating the various causes
which mad led to his disinheritiug HE diff
ferent heirs. While he spoke, could tell
by his Indignant snorts, and by the fire
in his eyes, that he must be a terribly iras-
chile old fellow. The barrister, who was
conyeYancer and equity draughtsman,
had proposed that he should examine all
the title deeds of the real propertywhich
he had learnt he was some day to inherit,
and, when he had finished his investiga-
ton, had limited that fee OF 100 guineas
would be acceptable. This sum had been
handed to him, and his name forthwith
struck out of the will. The way in which
my uncle told this story was very conf
cal. My cousin, who was the crack shot,
had bored him, it seemed, one night by
telling Of the coming pigeon shooting
matches in which he was engaged, and
had afterward won from him e25 at whist.
What fool the fellow must have been!
Still more foolish, if possible, had been
that cousin who, on seeing my uncle's
splendid collection Of rare books and first
editions, had said that if they were his he
would soon turn them into cash. Finally
| he told me that his niecs was now his
heiress, aud l could see that he VAS not
altogether satisfied with this arrange
ment. After dinner my uncle offered TO
show me his library, and | willingly as
scented. Apart FROM my desire TO CRAFTY
my host, had a genuine interest in rare
books, and vas eager TO see mis- valuable
coll lection of which | had often heard but
had been too young to appreciate when,
az boy, had last been IL his house.
My admiration on beholding his treasures
was not feigned, and my uncle was sharp
enough 10 understand that. We spent
the remainder of the evening in the Ii
brary, and so we'll did we get on together
that before left the house my uncle pro
posed that | should resign my commits
sion and become his secretary. / did not
understand the full significance of this
proposal; / knew that | was not asked TO
give up my profession without better
equivalent than a private secretaryship
being in store for me. | was the only one
of his nephews whom he had never ap-
pointed his heir. On the other hand,
what guarantee had / that / should not
meet the same fate as my oousins, or
rather a worse, seeing that | might be
cast adrift on the world without money
or the means of earning a livelihood.
Observing my hesitation, my uncle said;
think over the matter till to- morrow,
and give me your answer then"
This l agreed to do md then l bade
him good night. / found myself face to
face with very puzzllng dilemma. But
the stake might win was big one, so |
decided TO run the risk. The result was
that a week later was installed IN my
uncle's house az his secretary, and was
also in the possession OF the comforting
knowledge that his will had been altered
in my favor. did feel many qualms,
both at heart and conscience, on account
of my pretty cousin, whom | had sup
planted, but it was not for me to inter
fere with my unole's right to bequeath
his property as he choose.
Ny uu Sic was very well read, and was a
man of considerable refinement and cul-
ture. He was a Shakesp esrian scholar of
great learning, and his collection Of
books pertaining to the greatest Eliza
bethan dramas was most extensive.
The most valuable or at least the most
highly priced book in his collection was
FIRST foio," for which, if remember
rightly, he had given $50, though he
would not have parted with :. Cor ten
times that sum. The rare book was not
merely as curiosity by its owner, as he
was able to put it TO a critical use; its
state OF preservation was so perfect az
to render il unique copy. / was con
4.HU