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THE GIFT OF A HEART:

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THE GIFT OF A HEART: A SCOTTISH STORY. [ATL RIGHTS RESERVED.J CHAPTER XIV. THE UNFORTUNATE MAN'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF. T HM story related by Mr. Rule's "unfortunate" acquaintance, Collins, was told nearly in the follow- ing words I was born in London, on-well, it's of no conse- ,qxwm. Ill say when George III. reigned in the land, and then I'm sure I'm right. My father began life under great disadvantages, but he was pushing and presevering, and worked himself into the posses- sion of considerable wealth. I have heard him say that when he came to London, a boy in his four- teenth year, he had less than twenty shillings in his pocket; and when he died he was worth a good many thousands. You see, sir, some men are lucky and some men are unlucky, and my father was one of the formet sort. It seems to me that he must have had a double share of good fortune—that is to say, not only his own, but his son's also. However, I'll say this of him, that if he was lucky he deserved to be, for he was a steady, hard-working man all his life. When he was in his twenty-eighth year he married my mother, whom I can't say I mind much about. I was their first and only son, and my mother never rightly recovered the event of my birth. She lingered on, however, until I had reached my fourth year, but she was always ailing. I remember one day father taking me on his knee, and telling me mother was dead, and that I should never see her again in this world but I was too young to know the loss I had sustained." "Shortly after this I was first sent to school. Nothing particular occurred in my history till I reached my twelfth year about which time my Aunt Juliet, who bad kept house for my father since my mother died, got married, and my father engaged another housekeeper, Mrs. Stratford by name. She was a widow, about the middle age; a cunning, scheming woman, unprepossessing in appearance as she was in her character. The servants bated her, and I didn't wonder at it. They used to say in my hearing that she wanted to 'get round" father and marry him; and the result showed that they were correct in their surmises. I remember one day, when she bad taken me to task, that, to aggravate her, I told her I believed she wanted to get into father's favour and become his wife. After that she hated me intensely, and tried to make me as uncomfortable as possible. My father wished me to make choice of some of the learned professions. For my part I was quite indifferent as to what I did, but to please him I signified my preference for medicine. It was ac- cordingly resolved to send me to college to study for that profession. I was anxious to get as far away from home as possible, and Edinburgh being cele- brated for its medical school, I used that argument with my father to induce him to allow me to go to the Scottish capital and study there. He acceded to I my wishes, and so, in my eighteenth year, I came to Edinburgh. 44 Away from the restraints of home, and with abundance of cash at my command, it was not long before I gave the loose rein to my appetites. I sometimes think it might have been better for me if my father hadn't given me such a liberal allowance, for I made but a bad use of it. I took fashionable aikLexpensive lodgings, and formed a number of ac- quaintanceships which did not conduce much to my improvement. I hadn't been very long in Edinburgh when I got notice that my father had married old Mrs. Stratford. Of course, I was thoroughly disgusted <»?ifrb his conduct; and the more so, you may be sure, oeoause the chances were that I should not fare so well now. Knowing the feeling the cunning old woman cherished towards myself, I had no doubt that she would use all her power to influence my father against me. Although these were the thoughts of my heart, I -saw that it would be policy to keep on as good terms as possible with both parties; so I wrote my father a letter, congratulating him on the event, and wisbing him much happiness in his new relationship. At the same time, judging it to be a favourable opportunity, I informed him in a most respectful manner, that the allowance he made me, liberal as it was, was scarcely adequate to meet my expenses. I dwelt upon the cost of living in such a town as Edinburgh, the large outlay in expensive books, the necessity of appearing like other people, if you wished to be resptct.ed and so on. The effect of my appeal was that he at once made a very handsome addition to my allowance. 44 I did not return to London for fully three years. I had no particular wish to do so; and my father, knowing that probably, never pressed me. I bad been living all this time a very fast life, and, not- withstanding the old man's liberality, I was getting into debt and difficulties. I was making scarcely any progress with my studies. I had got into an un- settled sort of way, and could not apply myself with any energy to them. It was true, I attended my classes tolerably well, but that was all that could be said. The only circumstance upon which I can look baok with any degree of satisfaction at this period of my life was my love for Lucy Ashbourne, the youngest daughter of a deceased writer to the signet, who lived with her widowed mother in the city. Lucy was a charming girl in mind, manner, and ■person, and I loved her to adoration. I sometimes think sbe also loved me; perhaps it was only her gentle kind way that made me think so. She did not know how unworthy I was of her love. I had never .gone tbo length of making her a declaration, for we were bc th young, and I had no immediate prospects of being in a position to marry; but I believe my love for that good girl was the means of re- straining me from rushing into many follies. But poor Lucy died in her nineteenth year. I sometimes go to look at her grave down in the old Canongate churchyard. "I have told you that it was fully three years before I returned to London. I then received a letter from home informing me that my father had met with a serious accident. He had been out driving in a gig, not far from his own house, when something startled the horse, and it ran off; the wheel of the gig coming into collision with the lamp-post, my father wafc pitched out, falling upon his head. He was taken up insensible, and removed home. There -were only some slight external bruises, and it was supposed that after a few days' rest and quiet he would be all right again. Well, he got better, but although his bodily health was in great measure rCBtorerlr his mind was a complete wreck. He was perfectly imbecile, and had no recollection whatever of his former life." That was a distressing state for a ison to e-o his father in; but, thank Heaven! it did not lavt long. In less than six months from the time of the accident he was released by death. 44 My father, on his second marriage, bad prepared a will. Its terms were, that in the event of his wife having no issue-and she bad not-she was to re- ceive the sum of X8000 at his death. There were a number of small legacies to other relations, and the whole of his remaining fortune was to fall to my share, a8 residuary legatee. "I was highly delighted with my position, for I found that, after all the claims upon my father's estate bad been satisfied, I was worth between fifteen and sixteen thousand pounds. I thought I had now obtained all that was necessary to make me happy, and I immediately began to lay plans for enjoying myself. 44I resolved, in the first place, to spend a few months in London, and, after that, to start on a Con- tinental tour. To tell you, Mr. Ruls, how I spent my time during these few months in London would only be to tell you the proceedings of a foolish young man, Who drank, sported, gambled, and spent money in every conceivable way. The end of it was, I was laid upon a sick bed, the victim of my own excesses. I had a miserable time of it, as I lay and thought of the events of my past life. I would have wished my- self dead, but that I believed there was a tribunal beyond death, before which I should have to stand I recovered slowly; and when I began to look how my affairs stood, I found I had made a very large hole in my fortune—that, In fact, I had made away with the larger half of it, in little more than twelve months. I began to think seriously now how to pre- 8erve the remainder; and all ideas of a foreign tour were abandoned. Now I began to regret that I had not made a totter use of my time in Edinburgh. Had I been even ordinarily diligent-for I did not want abilities—I might have been in a position to earn a good income tiy following out my profession, I hadn't much in- clination for going into business; and, besides, what 184 I know of business of any kind ? "So I resolved to wait patiently until I saw what might turn up, in the shape of some profitable specu- Mbs, in which I might embark the remaining 1 portion of my money, so as to secure a comfortable income, in an easy way, with little trouble to my- self. HI was not long in finding out something which seemed to suit me exactly. Looking over the advertising columns of the newspapers one day, I read an advertisement in the following terms: HI PARTNER WANTED.—Wanted a Partner, wbe can advance from £ 3000 to JE5000. to join the Advertisers in an established and rapidly increasing Business, in which the profits are large, and the returns certain. A return of 20 t;o 30 per cent. upon the sum invested may be confidently anticipated. Personal attendance not essential. For further par- ticulars apply by letter, addressed, C.C.C., No. 873, —— Office.' «' I considered that this was as likely a speculation as there was any hope of meeting with, so I imme- diately wrote to the address mentioned, for further particulars. "I received a most satisfactory reply the follow- ing day. The advertisers were Messrs. Hooker and Frampton, wholesale dealers in home and foreign fancy merchandise, Stubb's-lane, Upper Thames- street. I was informed that the business had only been established about two years but that its pros- perity had already so far exceeded the most san- guine anticipations of its proprietors, that they found their capital insufficient to carry it on in the manner they desired. They had conducted it on the principle of paying for everything they bought 4 cash down,' and thus supplied themselves with goods on the very best terms. But, on the other hand, they were obliged, in conformity with the usual practice in the trade, to sell upon four months' credit. This neces- sitated the employment of a large floating capital; but, at the same time, as the house was careful to do only with good men, there was really no risk. It could be shown by the books that the profits bad averaged exactly twenty-six and-a-half per cent. per annum on the capital embarked; and it was con- sidered that an additional sum of L5000 might be introduced, with the prospect of realising an equal, and probably a much greater, per-centage of profit. The letter concluded by asking for an interview. Thinking very favourably of the matter, I ap- pointed an interview on the following day, at the firm's place of business. Mr. Hooker was an elderly gentleman, with a comfortable, well-to-do appearance; and Mr. Frampton was an active, thorough business- like young man, of about thirty or so. I liked the appearance of both very much, and found them parti- cularly agreeable persons to speak to. Having answered all my inquiries, shown me their books, and expatiated in glowing terms upon the advantages I should be sure to derive from the connection, I agreed to go in, in the first place, to the extent of JE3000, with the promise that, if the business prospered, I would put in another JE2000. It was arranged that a balance of the company's books should be struck every three months, when a division of the profits would be made; and the name of the firm was to be changed to Hooker, Collins, and Frampton.' When the deed of partnership was being signed, Mr. Hooker observed that it was the rule in part- nerships that the working partners should be paid salary in addition to their share in the profits; but that Mr. Frampton and he had agreed to waive their rights in this r espect, and place themselvoa on the same footing with myself. I was much struck with this mark of my partners' honour and generosity; and my confidence in them increased. 44 I called at the warehouse regularly once a week -sometimes oftener. When I called I generally took lunch with Mr. Hooker in his private room, where he had a cupboard excellently stocked with wines. He evidently knew what it was to live well. At the end of the first quarter I received as my share of the profits £ 150; and I was so much gratified with the result, that I began to think it might be well to embark another S2000 in the business at once. On second thoughts, however, I considered it might be advisable to wait until I saw if things continued to go on in the same way. 44 At the expiry of the second quarter I received d6160. I was now satisfied as to the profitable nature of the business, and said to Mr. Hooker one day, when we were having lunch together- I suppose you couldn't employ any more capital profitably, could you ?' 444 Yes,' said he, 4 we could have cleared at least JE300 no further back than last week, by the pur- chase ef a bankrupt's stock, if we had had two or three thousand at our disposal. Scarcely a week passes but we have such opportunities. Bless you! that's the way fortunes are made in business.' I I was thinking,' said I, 4that I might put in another two thousand, if there was a good chance of its turning out well.' 444 Chance!' exclaimed Mr. Hooker; I there's no chance about it; the thing's certain. And even sup. posing it didn't turn out so well as you might expect, you know there can be no risk. You could withdraw your money at any time upon giving the requisite notice in the terms of the coutract.' "'Well,' said I, 'I'll put in two thousand, and trust to you to do your best for our mutual in- terests.' "4 You are a wise man; and you may implicitly rely upon our doing our best by you,' was Mr. Hooker's reply. "When the third quarterly balance came to be made, I received JE165 as my share 4 It would have been greater,' Mr. Hooker explained, 4 but they wore only beginning to feel the advantage of the two thousand I bad last invested, and we should have the full benefit of it next balance.' As I saw the reason- ableness of this explanation, I was perfectly satis- fied. "Since the period of my connection with the firm I had been living quite a new life. Instead of going on in the fast style which up to that time I had pursued, I now lived in a quiet, respectable way; and, as I begun to grow wearied, having nothing par- ticular to take up my time, I thought I would take a run down to Scotland, and see my old friends there. 441 signified my intention to Mr. Hooker, who com- mended the propriety of the step. 44 4 Keep your mind easy,' said be; 'things are going on swimmingly; and should anything of im- portance occur, we'll write you.' 441 had intended to stay in Edinburgh for not more than three or four weeks; but the time passed away so agreeably, that more than two months elapsed before I returned to London. I had received no communication from my partners since I left, but this gave me no uneasiness. It had never heretofore been necessary to consult me on business matters; and it was unlikely, therefore, that anything during my absence would have necessitated such a step. 44 The morning following my arrival in the city I called at Stubb's-Iane. To my astonishment and dis- may, the establishment was closed. II I could scarcely believe the evidence of my senses at first. When I did become satisfied as to the fact, I reflected that possibly one of the partners might be just dead, and the establishment closed in conse- quence. 44 I immediately proceeded to make inquiries at an adjoining establishment. 44 4 Can you tell me,' said I, to a boy who made his appearance on my entrance,4 if either of the partners of the firm of Hooker, Collins, and Frampton is dead ?' 44 4 Can't say for that, sir,' said the boy. I haven't heard nothin' of 'em since they bolted.' 44 4 Bolted!' I exclaimed. I You don't mean to say they've run away ?' 44 4 Well, I donno,' replied the boy;4 but that's what folks say. One of 'em's gone to Scotland, that's Collins; the other two's gone to Amerikey, that's Hooker and Frampton.' 44' Good gracious!' said 1,4 that's dreadful.' They were a bad lot, sir,' replied the boy. 4 I 'spose you're one of their creditors ?' 44 4 Well, yes,' rejoined I, trying to look as calm as possible; and I walked away thinking unutterable thoughts. 441 never made any further inquiry after my late partners. I was afraid to do so, indeed. lest I might get myself into fresh difficulties, by its being dis- covered that I was a partner. Every other day, however, for a fortnight or more, I walked down to Stubb's-lane, hoping against hope, that some- thing would yet turn up, by which all would be satisfactorily explained. But, of course, it never was. is This was a dreadful blow to me. All the money I now had in the wor:d was some fifteen hundred pounds, and it was evident I must do something or starve. What to do, however, was a puzzle. It was more than six months before I could make up my mind upon the subject; for I had resolved to be extremely cautious before making any new ven- ture." CHAPTER XV. BELATm VARIOUS APPROVED METHODS OF "RAISING THE WIND." "IwMaeatedin a.coffee-house in Bucklersbury, one day." continued Collins. 44 having a glass of sherry and a biscuit for lunch, when a man named Brandon, whom I had met before, came in, and sat down at the same table. Dull times, these, Collins,' said he. Never saw them worse, Brandon,' replied I. 414 Doing nothing at present, I suppc Be ?' 44 4 Not a thing,' said 1. 41 wish I knew what to lay my hand te.' "I Welt,' said he, 41 know what J could do, if I only had cash to carry out my idea.' I inquired what the idea might be. If I Well,' said Brandon, 41 have it in my bead to bring out something m the medical way. I'm intend- ing to bring out pills a&d ointment for the cure of all diseases, internal and external.' But the difficulty,' said 1,4 in ray opinion, would be to get folks to buy them.' I Oh, there's no fear as to that,' replied Brandon. 4 They only require to be well advertised give them strong recommendations, and first-rate testimonials, and they'll go off like gunpowder!' 444 But what do you know about making pills and ointment V I inquired. 44 4 Well, I have bad some little experience in the line. I was nearly a year with a chemist in Black- friars-road, when a boy; and so I've a smattering of the trade. The first great object, you see, is to make them cheap, so that they'll pay well. The next important thing is to put nothing in them of an injurious nature; so that folks can use a great many of them without doing themselves positive harm. The pills,' he continued, 41 would make of bitter aloes, which is just fit for the purpose, and can be bought from the wholesale druggists for thirty-six shillings a hundred- weight. Thirty-six shillings a hundredweight is four- pence a pound. Now a pound of this stuff, with less than a hap'orth of potato-flour to whiten the pills, would make as many as would fill sixty thirteen- pence-balfpenny boxes!' Capital l' said I; 'that's wltatl should call a fine per centage of profit.' The ointment,' said Brandon, I I should get up in a similar way. I was thinking of calling them Doctor Healwell's Infallible Pills and Ointment;" it's a name that will suit as well as any other.' II. Excellent!' said I. 4 But, then, the articles will not sell unless you have testimonials.' 44 4 Oh, as to that,' replied Brandon, I I can get first- rate ones, in any quantity for a mere trifle. There's one old Irishman down Whitechapel way prepared to make affidavit before the Lord Mayor that the oint- ment cured him of seven ulcers in his left leg, after he had been through nearly every hospital in London. There's plenty more can be got as good as that.' Then why don't you go on with the business P' I asked. For the best reason in the world,'replied he. 41 want capital to start the thing. If I had only four or five hundred pounds I could make a good start.' 44 4 Well,' said I, I I confess I rather like the idea, and I wouldn't much mind going into it. The question is, will the medicine sell?' 'They must sell. Any thing will sell if it's well advertised,' was the reply. 4 Well,' said 1,4 meet ma here to-morrow, and I'll think over the matter.' 441 pondered over Brandon's scheme all day; and the more I thought of it the more I liked it. The satisfaction of knowing that it would supply the public with what could not possibly do them any harm, and in rare instances might even do them good, soothed the feelings of mistrust which for a time rose in my mind as to the character of the undertaking. 444 Well, what do you think of my plan ?', asked Brandon, when we met on the following day. Is I I must say I rather like it,' I replied. 4 There's money to be made at it, evidently.' 44 4 You're right,' rejoined Brandon. 4 It's one of the most money-making professions a man can turn his hand to.' 44 He then went on to tell me that he had seen a beautiful little shop which would suit the concern exactly; and he proposed that we should go and secure it immediately. Previous to doing this, however, we set about arranging how the partnership should be carried out. We finally agreed that the invention, being^Brandon'sj I should contribute the whole of the necessary capital; and that the manufacture of the pills and ointment should be placed under the personal superintendence of Brandon. I was to draw up the advertisements, rough-draft the testimonials, and write the book of directions to accompany the pills and ointment. so In little more than a month we bad got our machinery into working order; and the world was astonished one morning by the announcement of those miraculous remedies, 4 Doctor Healwell's Infallible Pills and Ointment, for the cure of all diseaser to which the human frame is liable; going at once to the very root of disease, bringing one and all of the bodily functions into healthful exercise, and strengthening and invigorating both body and mind. Attested by thousands of testimonials, from persons of all ranks and stations, to be the best remedies ever discovered for conquering disease and prolonging life. Sold by all respectable medicine vendors througbout the world.' fl The starting expenses were considerably heavier than we had anticipated, but the medicines took well; and we were astonished to find persons assuring us, in the most solemn manner, that they had derived more benefit trom the use of Doctor Healwell's pills and ointment than from the prescriptions of the most eminent medical men. At the end of a twelvemonth we bad sold nearly two thousand pounds' worth of the medicines; but the advertising and other expenses (including a sum of £ 13 11s. 6d. for the materials of which the pills and ointment were made) amounted to above sixteen hundred pounds. We bad thus only something less than two hundred pounds each for our year's profits. 44 We hoped, however, now that the articles were fairly afloat, that we should be able to save a great deal in our advertising expenditure. In tbi?, how- ever, we were mistaken; for we learned by experience that whenever we ceased advertising, the sale of our medicines ceased as we increased it, their sale pro- gressed and, in short, the one answered to the other as cause and effect. In this way we made very little of it; and after seven years' toil Brandon found him- self as poor as, and I a thousand pounds poorer, than when we first started. (To be continued.)

--"----"DEPART TO GOD."

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