Year: 1870




and continued it for a long time.


One day, however, was very unfortu-
nate. had taken a now route, and wan
dered on hour after hour without making
any sale and IL was nearly dark when
turned TO go home, more completely down.
hearted than ] had ever been before. /
was going on slowly, holding out my little
basket of confectionery to the few passers-
by, when boy coming by gave tip to
my basket, which upset its contents into
the gutter. This was the finishing stroke
to the days calamities, and as the fellow
ran off laughing heartily at my doleful
looks, 1 sat down on a step and began to
cry in utter despair; for l remembered
that had nothing TO begin the next day
with and no money to replace my little
stock.


But it happened that it was near your
store that this disaster occurred. You had
seen ii all and called me to you. Very
soon you wero made acquainted with my
story, and YOU not only gave me quarter
of a dollar, which amply covered my loss,
| but stocked my basket with various little
articles of trimming, which you said |
could take about with the candies, and
when l could find no sale for the one, l
ened l was when l saw you putting in so
many things, for the candy woman was al
ways particular about the price of every
cake and stick of candy, and l did not
dream that you intended giving me so
much without ayment. But when | ask
ed about it you only laughed and told me
to take them for nothing, and when they
were all sold if wanted more, to come
back and you would sell me whatever
wanted very low and some day l might
have a store of my own. Will you were
talking your wife came down stairs, and
after looking at me a moment, went up
again and brought me two big buns, which
eat as | went home. Never did food taste
to me so delicious, for / had eaten nothing
since breakfast; and after all the trouble I
had had through the day, l was now COM
pletely happy.


On reaching home another piece of good
luck awaited me. l found pedler ian old
acquaintance of Connor's) at supper with
them, and after / had related all that pass
ed to my good friends, who were surprised
at the sight of basket full of trimmings,
tho peder proposed to take me with him
in his journeyings. This appeared to all a
fine chance for me, as he intended as soon
as he could realize sufficient means to open
a store in some western town, and pronis-
ed to give me, should prove worthy lib
eral share in the profits.


l thankfully accepted his offer, and it was
decided that on the following day we should
depart. The only thing that troubled me
was that the hour for starting was to be so
early that could not go to my generous
benefactor whose kindn' IS was the COM
mencement of my good fortune, and in
form him of my project. This at first
grieved me very much, but as one of the
children, from'iho description gave of tho
store, was positive that the sign bore the
name of William Murray, contented my
self with resolving that as soon as the ped
Ter, Uncle Rogers as he told me TO call
HIM would fulfil his promise Of teaching
me to write J would send letter from
whatever part of the country l might
chance TO be which should assure you of
nv lasting gratitude, and detail my situa-
ton and prospects. 1t was full two years
before l was able TO act on that resolution,
and as l had not learned your name cor
rcctly, of course my letter failed TO reach
you.


But must hasten with my story, leaving
particulars to a more scasonable time. Ny
little stock was carefully deposited in un-
Gle Rogers covered wagon, and having, as
he termed it, formed a partnership, we
pursued our wanderings for sometime with
success, and at last opened small store in
Cincinnati. AS years passed by, our bust
ness continued to flourish beyond our most
sauguine expectations. Uncle Rogers
faithfully fulfilled his promises in my re-
gard, and when at length | became the
husband of SUSIE" he glanced pleasantly
at his blushing wife as he spoke, 81 found
myself at the summit of earthly happiness.
Uncle Rogers delight in our union was
scarcely less, believe, than my own; but
the good old man did not live long to wit
ness our felicity, and his death to both of
us was a sad afiliction. Nor did the last
token of his attachment, his bequest to me
of all the little property he possessed, tend
to decrease my sorrow.


After his death Cincinnati became dis
tasteful to me. l longed to behold my ma
tive city again, and as Susie had no ties to
render her reluctant to depart, we soon
made arrangements for coming thither.


During all the period of my absence |
had retained a lively recollection of the
events of the day preceding my departure;
and on my arrival, as soon as | had found a
boarding house, and conveyed Susie and
our baggage to it, l hastened to Second
street. / had not thought of the changes
fifteen years make in thriving city. The
entire street looked to me unfamiliar, and
l walked square after square, looking in
tently at every trimming store, making in
auiries at several and at last remember
ing the directory | consulted ii in eager an
ticipation all in vain. Tired, disappoint-
ep, and good deal out Of humor l return
cd to my wife, acquainting her with the i'll
success of my search.


She, to whom had often related the un
looked for bounty that made the name
of Maury "A sacred word to me, sympathiz-
ed in my disappointment, but encouraged
me to hope that on the morrow | might be
more successful. But the morrow brought



only similar result. As for the Connors,
after whom | next sought, | easily found
their former residence, and learned that
they had all gone to the west several years
previous.


Today lucky chance led me to the fire.
had been but few moments there when
your neghbor warned you against pick
pockets. The name struck me as being so
much like the one that was haunting my
memory, that leaned forward eagerly to
see the person he addressed, and when
beheld your face, and heard the well re-
membered voice, my heart lonped with the
conviction that at last beheld my bene-
factor. few inquiries satisfied me that
was correct, and after being induced to al
most despair of ever meeting you again,
you may imagine that delayed not an in
stant to avail myself Of the opportunity
thus afforded of addressing you.


And now my dear friends" continued
the young man, taking hand of each and