Evening star., 1898-11-19

been taking up your time like this and YOU
magistrate, and never told you what
brought me! It's more than a month past
that master said TO me. Maria, IL anything
happens to me. go to Mr. Greathpart's or
nee. and give him my keys. AID ask him to
sure to come '
Did he say so? That was most gen
erous of him, and ] appreciate st highly.
| VIII come instantly. ans shall bring a
lawyer with me. kind-hearfod and abla
man. Goodbye for the prescott Maria: , on
nave fulfilled your charge. as I believe YOU
lently.''
You see welvby.' as thev went IN to
the house ''Dodson had left his firm. and
had few friends. perhaps none-a reserved
man about himself, but a true man at the
bottom"
so you have always said. Mr.. Great
heart Wen know now; my experience as
lawyer proves that. as n rule. a mans
papers reveal him, and there some
rious surprises
IF you look through that safe and note
the contents. Welsby, I'll read this letter
addressed to me. | gather that | must be
very ike Dodson, very-do every hing for
himself
LIVERPOOL. April Is. lss-.
"Barnabas Greathear. csq:
My Dear Sir: You will peruse this letter
after my death. and YOU VIII be pleased To
consider IL as Intended for your eyes alone.
since it is in the nature OF A confession.
My early career was a continuous strug-
gle with narrow and arduous circum-
stances, and / suffered certain disappoint-
ments at the hands OF friends which / CON
sidered undeserved. In conseSi iuense of
| these experiences grew penurious. cyni-
cal merciless, hopeless. and, let me say II
plainly. a sour. hard man, hating my
| neighbors, and despised Of them. May the
Almighty forgive me!
This year in which write a great
I 49, l.-
has been softened and touched at last with
human sympathy. The force which has
affected me is not in any book or sermon.
but your example OF goodness and your
charity toward all men. In spite OF the
general jurgment on me, which has been
fully merited, | have seen that you do not
shun me, but rather have gone out OF your
way to countenance me, and 1 have heard
that you speak kindly OF me. Ii is not my
nature 10 say much; = IS not yours TO re-
ceive praise: but / wish you 20 know you
have made me a new man.
1T seemed TO me however. dangerous that
[ should begin to distribute my means
openly among charities, / was inclined
to do, since | might pass from hardness
to pride. and be charged with ostentation.
as L had been once with miserliuess, with
sad justice in both cases.
so 1t came to ME that still retaining
and maintaining my character for mean
ness-as a punishment for my past ill-doing
and a check vanity--I would gradually
nous aid of respectable people who are
passing through material adversely. and
the help of my native city. so that my left
hand should not know what my right
doing. This plan / have now, at this date
pursued for six months, and hope 20 con-
unue TO my death. and | did not know 80
great joy could be tasted 10y any human
being God has given to me. And now
to all the goodness you have shown me will
you add one favor, to wind up my affairs,
as follows:
Il. Provide for my housekeeper gcner-
ously.
-. Give liberal donation to the other
servant.
-. Bury me quietly. without iutimation
to any one.
-. Distribute all that remains. after pay
ing every debt, as you please, In the help
of widows. orphans and young men.
IS. Place a packet, marked 'gilt-edged Sc
curities,' in my coffin.
And consider that among all your good
works this will have humble place, that
you saved the soul of-your grateful friend,
Samuel Dodson."
What Dodson has done with his money,
Mr.. Greatheart, i don't know. All his
curities together don't amount to 5000.
He seems to have been living on an
nuity."
His wealth is here welsby. in this
packet of cancelled checks, -, which go
Welsby, l know no man who has invested
his money so securely as Samuel Dodson.
See. read that top check"
To Goldbeater London, 10000. Why, it
was from that bank L got the draft for
Fairgrounds, and the date corresponds.
Curious
"Eh? What? You don't mean TO say
that this man We slanged and looked down
on was"
Yes, Zaccheus was Sam Dodson."