Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-22

/ was, at 20, senior "TdHSltT VI mar
yard, an excellent all round athlete, a
thorough musician, possessed of oft ad-
nired physical beauty and admittedly
"a very decent kind of fellow but
minus the where with-the yellow metal
to enjoy these gifts and accomplish
ments. From some way back relative l
had inherited the munificent income of
$500 per annum. And here l am, with
/ chest full of rejected manuscripts-a
literary failure, with not ghost of an
idea how to pay my next month s board
bill. And unused:
| wish l hadn't gone to school
Then l would not have become ambi-
tiOus. believe l would have made an
excellent blacksmith. There is, to me,
L positive glory in watching the rigid
metal yield to the blows of the sledge
and the sparks fly around in geonetric
regularity, but with spiteful hiss, as if
resenting the onslaught of the smith.
In that there is nanful exercise. room
for some play of inventive genius, too
if YOU have any-and income. And
! what exquisite rest, when after a hard
LAYS work. banging and pounding and
hammCring that ugly, unyielding mass
If metal into something shapely and
pleasant to look upon, one sinks into
lreamless sleep!
All, me. But who the deuce have we
! here? Ye gods. letter-the first l
have received in six long months. But
dare say it is from my tailor. The
| last l received was also from him.. Yes,
it looks like his caligraphy; l shall read
i: for dessert. Now, if my poor but re-
| spectacle parents Cod rest them
| had not been seized with the belief that
had genius, they would have appren-
ticed me to a blacksmith or to some
such respectable tradesman. But, no. l
was TO become a great man, shining
| light of some kind or other, and conse
quently the money, which would prob
ably have prolonged their lives. and
after their deaths have rendered my lot
less unbearable. was pocketed by the
tutors and college professors, whose
teachings have untitled me for the bat
tie of life.
ConfOund it! Well anyhow have to
thank them for an excellent cOnstitu-
ton.
| dare say l shall have to do some
-illI- tNluNdlIOl MbIl bbI llltA
much. Among strangers | descend to
plain. everyday labor. This is undoubt-
eddy the irony of fate. Yes, | was
particularly unhappy on the day when
my injured feelings expressed them
selves as above. l was reduced to a soil
tarv dollar. and my quarterly stipend
would not be due for 10 days. There
seemed to be nothing for it but to sell
my books and few old trinkets, and
adding the proceeds to the $l25 which
my lawyer would send me ON the 10th
bury myself in some western goldfelds
or in some other-as | then put it-GOd
forsaken part of the globe.
But the idea of rushing off to parts
unknown without settling with my
obliging and indulgcnt tailor seemed to
be unworthy of member of the house
of Paton-so famous for its polnny and
other delicate brands of sausage meat
Therefore | decided then and there to
open the letter, discover how much
owed him and give him draft on my
lawyer for the amount.
1t WAS the old story of honesty meets
its reward, - for when l opened that
tailor letter, 10, and behold! there fell
from it Il check. l didn't throw my hat
in the air or do any of those other silly
things which men are reported to do
upon being pleasantly surprised. No,
was simply astuunded-so very astound-
ed that | sat upon my hat, which had
lain ON the chair, and didn t notice it.
And L positively gasped:
A check from my tailor! What in
the name of goodness does he mean?
The man must have gone mad.
But, no, he hadn't. After a little
while l investigated that precious envel-
ope further, and discovered that the
check had not come from the tailor. 1t
was from a lawyer named Dustie, and
his letter was such Il thunderbolt that
it crushed TO atoms my recent dreams
of the heavenly delights of the gold
fields. Here is a true copy of the docu-
ment:
Mr.. Ebenezer Patton:
DEAR SIR-In accordance with the will of the
late Miss sara Cullom herewith inclose you
my check for 500 10 enable you to come to Bos-
ton at once. You will please make no unneces-
sary delay about coming to this Office upon
your arrival in the city, failure to appear be-
fore O'Clock on Thursday next might preclude
the possibility Of your securing any portion Of
the said Miss Cullom's millions. Your obedent
servant, HOSEA DUsTIE.
| didn' t pause to consider whether the
entire story was a hoax-other people
might have been skeptical. But, al,
though had never heard of such per-
son as Miss Sara Cullom, l instantly
seized that check, rushed to the bank.
got % crisp SEQ notes in exchange and
was on board a special train as fast as
l., L., 1,
| could remember were that millions
were waiting for me, and that l had
but two hours to cover so miles and
reach Mr.. Dustie's Office.
The minutes flew by like seconds as
the train pounded along. My brain was
perfect blank save as to the fact that
If l was not at Mr.. Dustie's Office mil
lions would he lost to me. l was just
beginning to plan some gigantic scheme
of charity when my head collided with
the opposite side of the carriage and the
train stopped suddenly.
With a smothered cath and an aching
head l rang for the guard and inquired,
What the deuce is the meaning of
this?''
A way train ahead, sir. We must
follow slowly until we get to some loop
and then pass her.
But paid for this train to arrive
in Boston not later than o'clock"
Never fear, sir, we'll get there"
But was not so certain of getting
there" and 1 forthwith relegated that
particular way train to the very remot-
est region In certain very hot place.
l fumed and swore until we started
again, and lay passion waxed stronger
when, as we bowled into the Old Col
ony station, saw that it was 30 min
utes past o'clock.
But at last / reached the Office Of
Hosea Dustie. l sent in my card and
was at once admitted to the presence Of
a baldheaded, sinister looking individ-