Year: 1873

was .coi'o hi'' P0'''N"
sufficient means to enable me to liv
at my ease, and refrain from labor o
any kind. when suddenly there cam
n blow that scattered my prosperity t.
the wiuds, and forced me to emplo,
my labor and wits in the general strug
gle of gaining living. The blow
came in the shape of the failure Of
large firm in which my capital wa
invested.


After securing a clerkship in th
house of q creditor Of our late firm
my first care was to look up a less OK
penslve clearinghouse than the fash
ionable one in which | was living.
inserted an advertisement in severa
widely circulated city paper, askin!
for reasonable board in a strictly pri
vate family, and Of course received
multitude of answers by next post
Out of this motley installment Of epis
ties, there was but one which pleaseC
me. and that one decided to answe
in person Immediately.


Grace Kingsley was the name O
the favored landlady writing to me
and the letter stated that her hous,
was entirely private having no board
ers whatever. | was much pleased
with the fair, delicate handwriting an(
an idea took possession of me tha
Grace was a young and fascinating
widow | was not disappointed whel
/ reached the house, and my ringing
at the door-bell was answered by th'
lady herself. She invited me into th'
parlor in manner so courteous, anC
yet so modest, that | had fallen de
sperately in love with her before
could cross the threshold.


enjoyed a very pleasant chat witt
Mrs. Kingsley. During the converse
ton she Informed me that her late hus
band had been in a fair way of bust
ness. and at his death, which occuret
a year previous, had left her in prett,
comfortable circumstances. The,
had but one child; and this item o
morality | was most graciously pei
mitted to look upon, as it lay peace
fully slumbering in its cradle. ais
learned that the lady was living in tn
house quite alone and desired a NAL
boarder more as means Of protection
than as a source of revenue In cor
clusion, the landlady looking so prett
(she was quite young, not more tha
two or three and twenty and tn
board so moderate, her companionshi
so inviting, and she seemed to trust i
me, and look upon me so tavorably
that I would have been q heather
dead to all charms and inducements Q
the sex, if | had not engaged board o.
the spot.


The next day | had my trunk re
moved to my new boarding place, AM
permanently established myself there
Before leaving my former boarding
house, letter was handed me by th
postman, but | did not find time t.
examine it until | was comfortably
ensconced in the parlor of Mrs. Kings
ley's cosy house.


Opening the letter. discovered i
to be from q wealthy uncle of mine
residing in Vermont, who regularl,
sent me 4 letter once year; but whom
l had never seen. His epistles wer
always short and to the point, general
ly consisting Of an account of tn
weather in his locality, and some goo
advice to me to take care of my mon
ey, as l might be burdened with som
of it before | was much older. wa
always very glad to get this advis
from him as | regarded it as an int
nation that | was to inherit his wealt
on his decease.


One day, however, sabout a yea
previous, l received a letter from hir
. which contained another tonic beside