Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-14
An UnaCCountable
Prosperity
By ALAN HINSDALE

Indeed, 1 was out of a position and
had nothing in the world to prevent
starvation. To add to my melancholy
l was In love with girl who was sup
porting herself by teaching. She loved
me, but of course marriage between us
was out of the question. One after
noon / was sitting on bench in a
park with other homeless, workless
men. A man sitting beside me got up,
leaving a newspaper behind him. l
took it up mechanically and tried to
read some of the items in it, prin-
cipally to relieve my mind from gloom.
Suddenly my eye caught sight of my
own name. 1t was among few per-
sonals. 1t said that if l would send my
address to Murray & Field, agents, 1
would hear something to my advan-
tage. l would have concluded that the
ad. was for some other person Of simi-
lar name, but my name is an odd one
and my two surnames are also un-
usual.
lost no time in calling on Murray
& Field and found that they were
agents for woolen mill in New Eng
land. handed in the ad. which I had
taken from the newspaper and was
shown into Mr.. Fields Office. Without
saying anything to me he took down a
letter file, withdrew a letter and read
it over. Then he put it back in its
place and said to me:
"DO you want position?"
said that most assuredly did want
a position very badly. He told me that
he had been directed by an officer Of
the mills he represented to send me to
them. Opening a drawer in his desk,
he took out 500 and handed it to me.
1 gasped some questions, but he said
he knew nothing about the matter ex-
cept that he had been instructed to ad-
vertise for me. l took the $50 and
spent one of them for a meal. With
the rest paid my way to the mills.
When I got there I was received by
the secretary and put in a room by
myself, the door standing open. After
remaining there about half an hour 1
was conducted to the Office Of the sec
retary, who told me that if I wanted
work I could have it. I asked him
questions, with the same result as be-
fore.
1 was given job on small salary,
but the salary was increased rapidly.
Within six months after being en-
ployed l was receiving 500 month,
and then my salary was doubled. did
all could to earn it, but 1 am not an
unbiased judge as to whether sue
ceeded. However, liked my work
and felt that l was fitted for it. One
day asked if I might consider my SAL
ary permanent, and on being told that
it was l wrote my sweetheart that
was ready to marry her if she was
ready to marry me. She replied that
she was, and l obtained leave to &c
and get married.
Before leaving l was handed check
for $1,000. which was told was for
immediate use. was given every
thing / desired except information as
to why l was favored. To my ques-
tions on this point received only ST.
lence. Before my return from my
honeymoon l was Informed that
house had been provided for me, and
on my arrival one of the employees of
the mills conducted me to it, and when
we We're inside he handed me a deed
for the property, which was worth
about $4,000.
My wife insisted that there was
fairy godmother who was showering
ON me all these blessings. but did not
believe any such thing.
One day the secretary of the COM
pany told me that l was wanted at
certain house, to which he would con-
duct me. 1 felt it in my bones that
was to receive an explanation of my
good luck or kind treatment, and while
being driven to my destination ] was
forming theories to account for it. 1
was driven up to handsome dwelling,
alighted, and when in the house was
taken upstairs to room where an old
man lay in bed. He looked at me
steadily as approached him, motioned
me to take chair close by him, and
then said to me:
81 am your fathers brother. You
probably never heard of my existence,
for I ran away from home when
boy, and I have understood that ny
name was never mentioned in the fam.
lily. You are the only living person
sprung from that stock. ] am unmar-
ried and have no children. 1 advertis.
ed for you, through you to make some
atonement for my desertion when a
boy. l own the controlling interest in
the mills where you are employed.
have but short time to live, and at
my death you will inherit my stock in
the company. It occurred to me that
you should be trained to manage the
property, and took my own way OF
training you"
I have no remembrance Of what reply
I made to this announcement. I was
so full of so many emotions that I
doubt If I said anything to the point.
NV uncle had eyhouStod him ralf in