The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-01
THE OMEN.

John and William lived together In the
same clearinghouse. One evening as they
were sitting before the fire, in q listless
mood, having nothing to occupy their
thoughts, and on that account being ready
to give immediate attention to any trifing
occurrence, a small burning cinder flew from
the crate with report resembling that OF a
musket. and falling on the boards beneath
their feet 1t Immediately changed to black
substance of an oval shape, upon which they
fixed their eyes with great curiosity.
Now the friends, though living in town,
had been brought up in the country. and
they still cherished some silly superstitions
that they might as well have forgotten, which
they had learned from ignorant old women,
TO whose gossip they had listened with cred
uiuus ears in their bOysh days.
1t is cofiinl" said John, taking up the
endeT and examining its shape, as II 1t
were an omen Of some mischief.
"NO, no, Jehn," said William, who tOak
a SunShiny view of things; would you
fling away luck when il flies to your feet?
1t is Purse, and says as plainly as cnders
can say that you and | shall 90 with full
pockets through the world, while the less
lucky around US are starving.
1t may be as yOu say, returned the
half-convinced John, still closely examining
the Oval-shaped cindeT; but granting it to
be a purse, there Is a hole in it " hich goes
right through the cinder, and this seems TO
say that we may get purses, but what IS the
use of bottOmlesS purSeY
This depressing speech staggered the
sanguine William for moment; but his
buOyant spirit enabled him to continue the
argument and take cheerful view of that
which his friend disliked as gloomy omen.
ut is true. john" said William, "a purse
may be as bad as bOttomless If you spend
your money as fast as you put II in, for the
coin flies away through its top as sure as
through its bottom, though less suddenly.
But by industry you can keep your purse
well filed, and by economy prevent your
self from dipping too deeply into Its con-
tents"
John and William soon after left their
lodgings and separated from each other to
seek success in differ rent quarters.
Years passed away, adding 10 Williams
advances and sinking John in the social
scale. Time Widened the distance between
their positions and exalted the one as fast as
# depressed the other.
William was walking one dark evening
along a dimly lighted thOroughfare when a
man addressed him, soliciting charity IN
tones that touched his memory and took
him back 70 former times.
81 should know lhatvoice, said he; why
John! Ii surely cannot be John Who speaks
to me in this sad condition ?"
MY Ddllts dldSs IL JULiil, 70 lily sUIION !
said the man, in doeful tones, land now I
begin to think that you must be my former
friend William"
LAY, and your present and future friend,
too" said, William, kindly, for he now
knew that it was certainly John who spoke
TO him.
Following up kind words with suitable &C
tons, William took his friend to the nearest
restaurant, for the poor man was hungry
and thirsty, as well as meanly attired. There
be cOmforted him with aplenteOus meal, and
cheered his heart with generous liquor /;
soothing him with spirited sayings, and ad-
ding money TO his other gifts. that the en-
joyment OF the evening might not increase
the bitter memories of the morrow.
'Ah, William" said John, as he sat with
recovered spirits talking confdentially to
his happily found friend, you and such as
you succeed in life by making the best of
things Do you remember the talk we once
had about The cinder that flew from the fire
If that cinder were not cofinlike, it had
sun a gloomy look, for the purse with a
hole in it holds no money, and without
money one might as well be in the grave.
You took a bright view of the black cinder,
and saw luck where | was looking for mis-
chief. You and such as you are the men to
conquer difficulties and 10 make the best OF
bad omens. New York News.