Year: 1877

/ L was a young man possessed of suf
icient means to enable me to live at my
ease, and refrain from labor of any kind,
when suddenly there came a blow that
scattered my prosperity TO the winds,
and forced me to employ my labor and
wits in the general struggle Of gaining
Il living. The blow came in the shape
Of failure of large firm in which my
capital was invested.


After securing a clerkship in the
house of a creditor of our late firm, my
first care was to look up a less expensive
clearinghouse than the fashionable one
in which l was living. / inserted an
advertisement in several widely circu
lated city papers, asking for reasonable
board in strictly private family, and of
course received multitude of answers
the next post. Out Of this motley in
stallment of epistles there was but one
that pleased me, and that one i decided
to answer in person Immediately.


Grace Kingsley was the name of the
favored landlady writing to me, and the
letter stated that her house was entirely
private, having no boarders whatever. l
was much pleased with the fair, delicate
handwriting, and an idea took posses
sion of me that Grace was young and
fascinating widow. / was not disap-
pointed when 1 reached the house, and
my ringing at the door-bei was answer
ed by the lady herself She invited me
into the parlor in manner so court
eous, and yet so modest, that l had fal
len desperately in love with her before
l could cross the threshold.


/ enjoyed a very pleasant chat with
Mrs Kingsley. During the converse
ton she informed me that her late hus-
band had been in fair way of business,
and at his death, year previous, had
left her in very comfortable circum-
stances. They had but one child, and
this item of Immortality 1 was most
graciously permitted 10 look upon, as it
lay peacefully slumbering in its cradle.
| also learned that the lady was living
in the house quite alone, and desired a
male boarder more as 4 means of pro-
lection than as source of revenue. In
conclusion the landlady looked so pretty,
(she was quite young. not more than
two or three and twenty,) and the board
so moderate, her companionship so invit
ingand she seemed to trust in me so favor
ably that l would have been heathen,
dead to all charms and inducements of
the sex, if had not engaged board on
the spot.


The next day / had my trunk re-
moved 10 my new boarding place, and
permanently established myself there.
Before leaving my clearinghouse a
letter was handed me BY the postman,
but / did not find time to examine it
until | was comfortably ensconsed in the
parlor of Mrs Kingsley's cozy house.


Opening the letter 1 discovered it to
be from wealthy uncle of mine, resid
in Vermont, who regularly sent me
letter once year, but whom 1 had nev
er seen. His epistles were always short
and to the point, generally consisting of
an account of the weather in his local.
ty, and good advice to me to take care of
my money, as might be burdened
with some more o. it before was much
older. / was always very glad to get
this advice from him, as regarded it
as an intimation that was to inherit his
wealth on his decease.


One day, however, about year prev
Iious, 1 received letter from him which
contained another topic besides those l
have mentioned. My uncle made some
pressing inquiries about my matrimon-
ial prospects, and stated thatif was not
already married / should at once enter
into the welded state and let him know
oft, or he would never more be an uncle
of mine.


Now, as my uncle lived in Vermont
and I in Philadelphia, and never an
ticipated that he would ever pay me a
visit, and discover the falsehood,
wrote and informed him that / was not
only married but the father of bounc,
ing baby. This intelligence so pleased
my uncle that he sent gold goblet and
silver pap-spoon to be presented to my
child. at once sat down and wrote 9
very romantic letter 10 my uncle, thank
ling him for the presents, and then Wis
Iited the nearest jewelry store and turned
both the goblet and spoon into cash
which / pocketed-


Ireceived no further letters from my
uncle until the one l read in Mrs Kings
leys parlor. The postscript to TINS not
only astonished me, but absolutely
frightened me. 1t read as follows;


"P. s. Ihave never visited Philadel'
phia, so have decided to do so at once
and geta look at you and your wife and
ahOrIf fhe