Year: 1872

In one of the large city thorough ia re of London, where several fine old wrecks of mansions testify to the pristine splen- dor of the scene, not many years ago block of those ancient seats of grandeur was to be sold. A purchaser presented himself we will call him Alpha. His offer of ten thousand pounds was taken, and the money was to be paid within certain number of days. On his way home Alpha meets Beta, and informs him of what he had bought, but not of the price paid. "Do you mean to keep tine property, or sell it ?'' asked Beta. II don't mind parting with it for twenty thousand pounds" answered Alpha. Beta tried a little fencing but he knew the value of the property, and he ulti- mately gave the sum demanded for it. A day or two after, Gamma receives & note from Beta, to state that he has certain houses and land in his posses sion, which he is half inclined to part with will Gamma go and look at it for himself, and make an offer if he is in clined to purchase? Gamma went his practised eye saw the value of what was for sale, and the future profit that could be made of it. Gamma and Beta had tough discussion over the matter but result was that the former agreed to give thirty five thousand pounds for Beta's property, which he was half inclined to part with Thus far all went on in 8 business-like way. Alpha gave his check to the original seller for ten thousand pounds, and took Beta's for double the money while Beta received Gamma's s check for thirty five thousand pounds, | o,,I r,oo1-ofa1 %ho 1ifforopoo All 4hoco transactions were accomplished in about week or ten days. After little fur ther lapse of time Beta meets Gamma, and sympathetically asks, "What are you going to do with that property ?" "Well," replies Gamma, in cool, in different sort of way, Son second thought I didn't care about keeping it; and so have let it go at sacrifc P "Would it be impertinent to ask what you call a sacrifice ?'' "Not at all, /" was the frank reply of candid Gamma. "I let it go dirt cheap, considering it's real value! I was satisfied with obtaining fifty thousand pounds for it p "Oh were you really ?' gasped Beta " de lighted to hear it I told you you would make your money out of the purchase, when you bought the property of me. " "Have you any more to sell ?" asked Gamma. The last was, in fact, well con- tent with the way he turned his bargain. Beta laughed, and expressed himself satisfied too. He hurried off to Alpha, and said to him, "Now that the business is closed and done between you and me, will you tell me what was the original price paid for the property you sold to me ?" With all the pleasure in life, y answered Alpha. "I gave ten thousand pounds for it." ''Now I'll tell you something in return. You know gave you double that sum. I sold at profit of fifteen thousand pounds to Gamma, of whom Delta has purchased it for fifty thousand p Alpha had reaped cent per cent, but his heart sank within him. He calculated the harvest he might have gathered, and became depressed and al- together out of tune. A fixed but not a pleasing melancholy seemed to en- shroud him and when he is asked for subscription that may help to alleviate some w1de-spreading devastation, he smiles sad smile, shakes his head slow ly; and apologetically remarks, "Have you forgotten that I lost forty thousand pounds in 8 speculation some time ago ?' He is positive to this day, that if he had met Delta first, instead of only doubling his outlay, as he had done by encountering Beta, he would have null. tiplied it by five. He forgot his real gain in his hypothetical loss, and ever since he has refused to be comforted.- Temple Bar.