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HEWS & PLANTERS’ GAZETTE.
D. H. COTTIMG, Editor.
No. 17.—NEW SERIES.]
News and Planters ’ Gazette.
terms:
Published weekly at Two Dollars and Fifty
Cents per annum, if paid at the time of Subscri
bing ; or Three Dollars if not paid till the expi
ration of three months.
■*’ No paper to be discontinued,unless at the
option of the Editor, withoutthe settlement of
all arrearages.
AT Letters, on business, must be post paid, to
•insure attention. No communication shah be
published, unless we are made acquainted with
the name of the author.
TO ADVERTISERS.
Advertisements, not exceeding one square, first
insertion, 'Seventy-Jive Cents; and for each sub
sequent insertion, Fifty Cents. A reduction will
be made of twenty-five per cent, to those who
advertise by the year. Advertisements not
limited when handed in, will be inserted till for
bid, and charged accordingly.
ij,
Sales of Land and Negroes by Executors, Ad
ministrators andGuardians, are required by law,
to be advertised, in a public Gazette, sixty days
previous to the day of 6ale.
The sales of Personal Property must be adver
tised in like manner , forty days.
Notice to Debtors and Creditors of an Estate
must be published forty days
Notice that application will be made to the
Court of Ordinary, for leave to sell Land or Ne
groes, must be published for four months—
notice that application will be made for Letters
of Administration, must be published thirty days;
and Letter# of Dismission, six months.
Mail Arrangements.
POST OFFICE, )
Washington, Ga., Sept. 1, 1843. )
EASTERN MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Raytown,
Double-Wells, Crawfordville, Camack, Warren
ton, Thompson, Dearing, and Barzelia.
ARRIVES.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 9, A. M.
CLOSES.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at 2s, P. M
WESTERN MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for all Offi
ces in South-Western Georgia, Alabama, Mis
sissippi, Louisiana, Florida, also Athene, Ga. and
the North-Western part of the Stale.
arrives —Wednesday and Friday, by 6 A. M.
closes —Tuesday and Thursday, at 12 M.
ABBEVILLE, S.C. MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Danburg,
Pistol Creek, and Petersburg.
ARRIVES.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, by 1 P. M.
CLOSES.
Monday, Wednesday, ahd Friday, at 6 A. M.
f LEXINGTON MAIL.
’ By this route, Mails are made up for Centre
ville, State Rights, Scull-shoals, and Salem.
arrives —Monday and Friday, at 9 A. M.
closes —Tuesday and Saturday, at 9 A. M.
APPLING MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Wrights
boro’, White Oak, Walker’s Quaker Springs.
arrives —Tuesday and Saturday, by 9 A. M.
closes —Monday and Friday, at 9 A. M.
ELBERTON MAIL.
By this route, Mails are made up for Mallo
rysville, Goosepond, Whiteß, Mill-Stone, Harri
s’ouville, and Ruckersville.
Arrives Thursday 8 P. M., and Closes same time.
LINCOLNTON MAIL.
By this route,"Mails are made up for Reliobotli,
Stoney Point, Goshen, Double Branches, and
Darby’s.
Arrives Friday, 12 M. | Closes same time.
ITT The Letter Box is the proper place to de
posite all matter designed to be transported by
Mail, and such as may be found there ait die
times above specified, will be despatched by first
post.
VVe are authorized to an
nounce EDWARD R. ANDERSON, Esq. as
a candidate for Sheriff, of Wilkes county, at the
election in January next.
November 30, 1843. 14
53 and We are authorized to an
nounce JOHN H. DYSON, Esq., as a Candi
date for the Office of Clerk of the Superior Court
of Wilkes county, at the Election in January
next. December 7, 1843.
{J3 3 ’ We are authorized to an
nounce ROYLAND BEASLEY, Esq. as a Cali
didate for the Office of Clerk of the Inferior
Court of Wiikes county, at the Election in Jan
uary next. December 7, 1843.
(£/=’ VV e are authorized to an
nounce IRVIN JACKSON, Esq., as a Candi
date for the Office of Receiver and Tax Collector
of Wilkes county, at the election in January
next. December 7,1843.
Rock Spring Jtcademy.
T'llS Institution, under the Rectorship of
Mr. SAMUEL SCUDDLR, will be open
ed on the first Monday in January next. The
course of Instruction will be thorough and ex
tefMve. Board can be had with the Subscriber
or in the neighborhood, on reasonable terms.
- L. M. HILL.
. * December 7,1843. 3t 15
vY&tice.
WILL be hired, on the22d of December ins’t,
at the residence of the late James C. Tal
bot of Wilkes county, deceased, the NEGROES
belonging to the Estate of said deceased. The
Land willalso be Rented. Terms made known
on the day. S, A. TALBOT, Ex’x.
December 7,1843. 15
JVOtice •
WILL be hired, on Friday, the sth day of
January next, at the late residence of Ab
ner Wellborn, of Wilkes county deceased, the
NEGROES belonging to the Estate of said
deceased. Terms on the day.
N. WYLIE, Ex’r.
December?, 1843 15
Fall and If*inter
amms.
TIIE Subscriber has received his supply
of Fall and Winter Goods, comprising in
part, the following articles—to which he solicits
tlie attention of purchasers, as lus prices arc
fixed at unusually small rates.
Worsted Goods s
Cliusans, Tesatis, Crape de Lyons, Mousliu
de Lames, Grode Nap Marinos, Alpaca’s of all
colors and qualities, plain and figured Printed
Cashmere D’Escaese, anew and beautiful arti
cle for Ladies’ Dresses, Aeolians, Parisians,
Bombazines, and Merinos.
Silk Goods ,
Comprising a splendid assortment of Fancy,
Black and Blue-black, plain and figured, black
and white Satins, Velvets, some new styles for
Dresses, Gloves and Mitts, Men’s white, black
and colored Kid and Silk Gloves, Ladies’ black
Lace, fancy and fillet. Gloves and Mitts. A
splendid assortment of Velvet, Chine and broche
Satin Gros de Naples Bonnet Ribbons.
Shawls*
Woolen and worsted winter Shawls, now styles
Thibet 4,5 & 6-4, mode colors.
Black Mourning and colored Marino.
Mousehn de Lane 4-4 to 6-4, plain & embroid’d.
10-4 Herman Silk Shawls, new and very tine,
8-4 Damask Silk “
Drapers 9 Goods .
Fancy Vestings, new style , Caehemire figured
Velvet and black Satin Vestings,
Cloths and Cassimers, black, blue, green, claret,
Cadet and drab Cloths,
Black, blue and fancy Cassiineres,
Cravats, splendid scarf Cravats, Italian and Eng
lish Silk Cravats.
ALSO,
A general assortment of English, French and
American Calicoes, Satinets, Kentucky Jeans,
Linseys, Kersey, Blankets, Brown and Bleached
Sheetings and shirtings, some 3 yds. wide, Bed
tick, Apron Checks, Ginghams, Linens, Lawns,
Cambric, Silk and Satin Handkerchiefs, Hats,
Boots, Slices, Clothing, Saddles, Bridles, Collars,
Nails, Hardware, Cutlery, Crockery, Groceries,
Paints, Oils, Drugs and Medicines, with the u
sual variety kept in a country store. Those who
make it an object to get Cheap Bargains, and
new and fashionable Goods, would do well to
call at
W. S. HEARD’S
Nov. 2, 1843. Cash Store.
Central Jftoney
TAKEN a,, par, tor GOODS, at the Phila
delphia New Cash Store.
DR. J. MAYER, still continues to practice
DENTISTRY, and warrants every piece
oi work done by him. Call at his Store.
Charges moderate.
December 14,1843. 4t 16
CJ A T til for sale at Three Dollars per
A Sack. Apply to
BOLTON 4: NOLAN.
October 19, 1843. 8
NELSON CARTER,
DEALER IN
Choice Drugs and Medicines,
Chemicals, Patent Medicines,
Surgical and Dental Instruments,
Perfumery, Brushes,
Paints, Oils, Dye-Stuffs,
Window Glass, Spc. Spc.
REDMORtIr. \ AUGUSTA. Ga.
October 12, 1843. ly 7
HA VIE AND, RISLEY & Cos.
Near the Mansion House, Globe and United
States Hotels,
AUGUSTA, GA.,
DEALERS IN CHOICE
DRUGS AND MEDICINES,
Surgical and Dental Instruments,
Chemicals, Patent Medicines,
Perfumery, Brushes, Paints, Oils,
Window Glass, Dye Stuffs,
See. &fc.
Being connected with llaviland,
Keese & Cos., New-York, and Hav
vHLjg iland, Harral & Allen, Cliarles
jßrm ton, they are constantly receiving
fresh supplies of every article in
their liue, which they are enabled to sei! at the
lowest market prices.
O’ All goods sold by them, warranted to be of
the quality represented, or may be returned.
Augusta, August 1843. 51
State of Georgia.
WILKES COUNTY.
8 W 7W rected, requiring us to
J? /*Aw cause an Election to
a & >1C ‘ ° n
REPRESENTATIVE,
intheHouseof Representatives of the Congress
of the United States, to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of the Hon. JolmMillen. We the
Justices of the Inferior Court for the county a
foresaid, hereby give notice, that an Election will
be held at the Court-House in the Town of
Washington and at the several Election Pre
cincts in said Countv and Slate aforesaid, on
MONDAY the first day of JANUARY next, for
a Representative to fill the aforesaid vacancy.
LEWIS S. BROWN, j. i. c.
HEZEKIAH L. EMBRY, j. i. c.
JAMES HARRIS, j. i. c.
VVM. Q. ANDERSON, j. i. c.
A. S. WINGFIELD, j. i. c
November 30,1843. 14
WASHINGTON, (WILKES COUNTV, GA.,) DECEMBER 21, 1843.
CHEAPER THAN EVER.
WILLIS &, HESTER,
HAVING removed their Stock of GOODS
into the Store formerly occupied by Mr,
A. L. Lewis, offer them for sale at prices as low
or lower than can be procured in Washington.
Their Stock consists, in part, of the following
articles:
Cloths and Cassiineres,
Domestics, bleached and unbleached Calicoes
and Ginghams, Table Covers, Damask Table
Cloths, 8-4 by 10-4, a superior article, a good
stock of Flannels, Merino and Cotton Shirts, Bed
Ticks, of good quality, Muslin Delaines, woolen
Shawls, green Baize and green Flannel. Merinos
and Merino Circassians, Cotton Cambrics amt
Jackonet Muslins, Marseilles Quilts and worsted
Counterpanes, Table Diapers and Bird’s-eye
Diapers, Bed Blankets and Duffle Blankets, Crib
Blankets and Counterpanes, Camlets, and a gen
eral Stock of
Hardware and Crockery.
And all articles usually kept in retail Stores.
Thankful for the favors which have been be
stowed on them heretofore, they invite their for
mer friends and customers to call, assuring them
if they are in want of an article which they
have in their Stock, that it can be had at the
lowest, possible price for Cash or credit.
November 23, 1843. 13
PHILADELPHIA HEW CASH STORE.
Roods Cheaper than ever !
J. MAYER & BROTHERS.
RESPECTFULLY inform the citizens of
Washington and vicinity, that they have
opened a
Slock of Goods
In the New Building on the West side of the
Public Square, one building above Messrs. Bol
ton & Nolan. Their Stock consists of
American and Foreign Dry f Fancy Goods.
Boots, Shoes, Ready-made Clothing,
and many other articles too tedious to mention.
Call and suit yourselves. Terms
Cash.
November 9,1843. 2m 11
AUGUSTUS STRAUB,
[from NEW-YORK,]
Offers for Sale, (until the first of January
next,) very low, a rich Stock of
JEWELRY & CUTLERY:
CONSISTING OF
GOLD and Silver Watches, Music-boxen,
Breast-pins, and Rings, set with real good
stones. Ear-rings, Neck and Head ornaments,
Bracelets, Lockets and (Rasps; Coral Necklaces,
Silver Pencils, Gold Watch-chains and Keys.—
Real good silver tea, desert and table Spoons—
Butter-knives and Thimbles.
ALSO,
A superior quality of German-silver Spoons
and Butter knive.,—Spectacles ; Knives ; Scis
sors, Razors, lie: ’ r-straps, (Chapman’s patent
Razor Strap;) Shaving boxes and brushes ; Hair
brushes. Also, a line assortment of Shell, side
and Tucking Combs ; fine Ivory, and different
Metal combs, Pocket and redding combs, Sic.
Very fine Pocket-books, Money’ Purses. Very
fine Ladies Silk Work-pockets; Looking Glas
ses, Snuff Boxes; fine Soap, Cologne Water,
Hair Oil, &c.&c. Old Gold and Silver taken
m exchange. Ladies and Gentlemen are invited
to call and examine, at the tenement next door
to Bolton & Nolan’s, lately occupied by Dr.
Jl’jQ k i0 II
December, 14. 18415. 2t,
CLASSICAL
*Hale Seminary •
TT is the design of this Institution to lit youth
for any Class of College, for Commercial or
Professional life. The new year will commence
the first Monday of January and comprise two
Sessions of five months each, leaving June and
December for vacations. At the end of each
session, a public examination of the Scholars
will take place. The annual charge for the in
struction of each Pupil, either in the higher or
lower branches, is Forty Dollars. The number
of Pupils is limited to twenty, and no pupil cun
enter his name for a period loss than a Session.
Any particular information in relation to Books,
&c. can be obtained by application to the Sub
scriber. Terms, per session of five months, 820
A M. SCUDDER, Principal.
Washington, Dec. 14,1843. 3t 16
PERSONS indebted to the Estate of the
Rev. Jesse Mercer, deceased, by Note, are
hereby notified that the interest accruing upon
; the same, must he paid by Return Day, or else
they will find their papers in the hands of an At
torney.
F. FICKLEN, l E ,
WILLIAM F. BAKER, s rfi ’
December 14,1843. 4t 16
BQHKKKBo
A LL persons are forwarned noi to trade for a
Note given to John C. Stokes, for one hun
dred and three dollars. Any person wishing to
trade for the said Note will run the risk of losing
it, for I am determined not to pay it unless I am
compelled by law. The said Note was given the
27th of September, 1843, payable one dav after
date. THOMAS F. PRATHER.
December 14, 1843. 3t 16
COTTING &, BUTLER,
ATTOHNXES,
HAVE taken ar, OFFICE on the North
side of the Public Square, next door to
the Brauc’n Bank of the State of Georgia.
October, 1843. 28
EVERY VARIETY
OF
mm Mtim
EXECUTED AT THIS
©■IF Fo© S o
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING
J&toreUattrottg.
THE LETTER OF RECOMMENDA
TION.
lIY T. S. ARTHUR.
‘lt’s altogeilier out of the question, we
cannot have Thomas about us any longer,’
remarked Mr. Milford to his wife, alluding
to a head waiter who had been with them
for about a year. ‘He has not only grown
indolent and careless, but is, I am satisfied,
dishonest.’
,‘i have suspected him for some time of
not Uejing fairly,’ returned Mrs. Milford.
‘Buijmve you good reasons for believing
him fefclTy’dishonest V
‘I think I have. Fourtirr.es within the
last two months I have missed bills of five
and ten dollars from my pocket book, one
of which, that I know by a certain mark,
was paid to me yesterday, by Mr. Brown,
who stated on my questioning him, that he
had received it of Thomas.’
‘That looks bad.’
‘I certainly does, very bad. I cannot
begin to understand why, since he has been
with us, so many things have disappeared
mysteriously. llow many spoons have
you lost during the time ?’
‘At least six, large and small; besides
the dozen heavy table spoons which were
carried off when our house was entered by
robbers.’
‘1 am inclined to believe that it was never
entered.’
‘What then V
‘Why, that Thomas made free with our
plate while we were asleep, to the amount
of a hundred dollars, and then forced off the
bolt and left the window open to create a
suspicion that the house had been robbed.
‘I cannot think that.’
‘Well, Ido, then. It always seemed to
me a little strange that the window should
have been forced exactly as it was ; though
until to-day I never turned the matter over
in my mind very carefully. Don’t you
remember that the bolt of the shutter was
torn off?’
‘Yes.’
‘And yet, upon the outside of the shutter
were no marks of violence. The robber
was within, depend upon it.’
‘Dreadful! I shall not feel safe a moment
while he remains in the house. He might
murder us all.’
‘No danger of that. Still, I think our
wisest course will be to send him away at
•once. He is not a good servant by any
means ; and that is reason enough for part
ing with him, even if there were no cause
to suspect his honesty.’
‘O let him go, by all means.’
About an hour afterwards, Mr. Milford
sent for his waiter, and said to him—,Thom
as, I believe you and I will have to part.’
‘Don’t I suityou, sir ?’ asked Thomas in
a respectful tone.
‘Not exactly—though I have no very par
ticular fault to find with you. Still, 1 wish
for reasons of my own to change. Ilow
much do 1 owe you ?’
‘Ten dollars, sir.’
‘Here’s your money. I wish your ser
vices to cease from this time.’
Thomas took the balances of his wages
with a reluctant air, and stood some mo
ments as if hesitating whether to prefer a
request or not. At length he said—
‘l should be glad, sir, as you have no
particular fault to find with me, if you
would give me a certificate of good charac
ter. It is hard to get a place now without
a certificate.’
‘O,certainly,’ replied Mr. Milford, whose
naturally kind feelings too often led him to
act thoughtlessly. And turning to his desk
wrote the following—
‘The bearer of this Thomas P , has
been in my service for a year. 1 can re
commend him as capable and good tem
pered. WILMOT MILFORD.
‘Thank you, sir,’ returned Thomas as he
pocketed the note without reading ir, and
turned from the presence of Mr. Milford
‘Have you sent him away V .sked Mrs
M. half an hour afterwards.
•Yes; but I had to give the rascal a let
ter of recommendation.’
‘But 1 wouldn’t have done that.’
‘I know it was wrong. But then how
could 1 help it ? He asked for one.’
‘You could have said, no.’
‘So 1 could, But then I hated to deny the
poor fellow so small a favor. I wish him
well, even ifhe has not behaved himselfas
he should have done. He’ll no doubt do
better in another place. I suspect we in
dulged him too much.’
‘Yes, but you believe him dishonest.’
‘True, I have thought so—and with some
reason ; but then I am not certain about it.’
‘You were so certain as to make it a
ground of dismissal. How could you be
so unjust to others as to give such a man
a certificate of good character ?’
‘Oh, as to that, I only recommended him
as being capable and good tempered.’
‘No matter ! the simple fact of our re
commending him at all will enable him to
secure a place where he may have it in his
power to do far greater wrong than he was
ever able to do here.’
‘Well, perhaps it wasn’t right. But how
can we say ‘no,’ to a poor fellow who asks
so small a favor and yet one of so much im
portance to himself? I hope my non-com
mittal certificate will not enable him to get
into a situation where he can do any great
harm. I didn’t say he was honest.’
‘I believe you required a recommenda
tion when you hired him ?’
‘O, yes. I never would think of getting a
j man about the house without a certificate I
jof character, replied Mr. Milford, with j
j great simplicity and earnestness.’
‘Notwithstanding certificates of charuc- j
ter are often as you gave yours to Thomas,:
because a denial might prove unpleasant,’
replied his wife laughingly.
‘Fairly bit,’replied Mr. Milford, laugh
ing in return, ‘both by you and Thomas’s
letter of recommendation, which means just
as much as did the one 1 gave him, I sup
pose. Well, 1 must try and do better next
time,’ he added more seriously. ‘lt is not
just the fair thing to give a fellow you sus
pect of being a scoundrel a certificate of
good character.’
It was nearly four months subsequent to
this dismissal of Thomas by Mr. Milford,
that he entered a large store in Mobile
owned conjointly by Mr. Milford, whose
principal business was in New York, and *
iiis eldest son.
‘Do you wish a porter in your store ?’’
! asked Thomas.
‘We do,’ was the reply of the younger
I Mr. Milford.
[ ‘I should like to get a situation in that ca
pacity,’ added Thomas.
‘We require a certificate of character.
Can you come recommended ?’
‘Yes, Sir.’
• ‘I have several certificates, All,howev-’
| er, from gentlemen in New York with whom ‘
1 have lived.’
‘You are from New York, then ?’
‘Yes, sir.’ |
By whom were you employed there ?’
j ‘By Mr. Wilmot Milford, for one—and j
i b y—’
| ‘Mr. Wilmot Milford. Have you his
certificate of character ?’
‘Yes, sir.’
And the young man drew forth his cer
tificate. The younger Mr. Milford took
the piece of paper, and, glancing at the
signature, without reading the contents, ‘
j handing it back, remarking,—
! ‘lf my terms will suit, you can come.’
The terms were readily agreed to, and j
Thomas took up his quarters in the store of ]
Mr. Milford. He proved industrious and ■
attentive to his duties—and thus confirmed
the good opinion and added to the confidence
which his certificate had already secured
for him.
\ The junior clerk in the store was a young
man 18 years of age. He was a quiet,
modest person, somewhat reserved and
diffident. The latter peeuliari'.ies grew
out of the fact that lie was of poor paren
tage, while the other clerks in the house
were the sons of wealthy planters, whose
main end in attending to business was to
acquire a thorough, practical knowledge of
its details. Nelson, the junior clerk, felt
too keenly the disparity of condition be
tween himself and these, and by his diffi
dence prevented, rather than encouraged,
them to act and feel towards him as a com
panion in every way their equal.
It was about six months after Thomas
entered the store, than in the settlement of
the cash account one day, a deficit of one
hundred dollars became apparent. Some
how or other, perhaps from Nelson’s troub
led manner, which grew out of the passing
fear that he might he suspected of having
taken that sum improperly, suspicion fell
upon him. The suspicion was strengthen
ed by hints and insinuations from Thomas,
who, by this time, iiad been able to ingra
tiate himself fully into the confidence of his
employer. The result was, that young
Nelson was quietly informed that his ser
vices would be dispensed with. No posi
tive proof of his guilt existed ; nor was he
told that he was dismissed upon the ground
of a dark suspicion of dishonesty. Still, the
recent loss of the money, and the measures
that had been taken to discover who had
taken it, left no doubt upon his sensitive
mind in regard to the real truth. Timid
and shrinking as he was, he could not rest
under such an implied charge, and, there
fore, so soon as iie was informed by note
from Mr. Milford that his services would
be dispensed with, he went to him, and with
a degree of self-confidence and firmness
unusual to him, asked to be informed of the
ground of dissatisfaction.
‘I don’t know that you need enquire very
particularly in regard to that,’ Mr. Milford
said, with rather astern countenance.
‘As I know of no reasons why I ought to
be dismissed,’ replied Nelson, looking Mr.
Milford steadily in the face, ‘I cannot but
suppose that some misrepresentation has
been made in regard to me ; or some unjust
suspicion entertained of my uprightness.—
If such be the case, do not condemn me
without unequivocal proof.’
‘I am satisfied with iyown reasons,’ Mr.
Milford said, coldly turning away from the
young man. ‘I do not, as I have already
said, wish your services any longer.’
‘But; sir—’
‘Thomas, show this young gentleman
outa’ was the angrily spoken order to the
porter, who entered the merchant’s count
ing-room at the moment.
The hand of Thomas was upon the arm
of the young man as soon as the command
was given But in the next instant he fell
stunnned by a heavy blow from Nelson.
‘I am poor and friendless, I will not suf
fer myself to be disgraced,’the clerk said
firmly. Then, turning away, he walked
slowly from the store. Thomas upon ri
sing to his feet blustered a little, but did
not attempt further interference with one
whose hand had in it rather move power
than he had dreamed it possessed.
After several ineffectual attempts to get
another situation, Nelson, who since his dis
missal from Mr. Milford’s store, had been
11. J. K APPEL, Printer.
| looked upon by nearly every one with sus
i picion, left Mobile, and went —no one knew
! whither.
It was perhaps six mouths after, that Mr.
! Milford went on business to New Orleans,
to bo gone some weeks. Before leaving,
as many largo payments for cotton would
have to bo made while he was absent, he
signed about a dozen bank checks and left
them with the chief clerk.
Ten days after his departure, business
required the chief clerk to go iyto tho coun
try for a single day. He left at four in tho
afternoon, expecting to return at the same
hour on the next day.
After all the other clerks had gone home
leaving Thomas to put away the hooks, and
close and lock the store, that individual
commenced an examination in the fire clos
et. First he took down a lurge pocket
book, and opening it, displayed sundry pac
] kages of bank notes. These he handled
with the air of a man who seemed more
| than half inclined to appropriate all or a
j portion of them. But, after some indecision,
he replaced the money, and went on his ex
amination of tho contents of(he book. At
length he drew forth from one of it com
partments something that made his heart
j leap. It was the package of blank checks
; which Mr. Milford had signed ! After look.
I ing at them for some moments, as if deba-
I ting a question, he quietly abstracted one of
; them, and replacing The rest, returned the
! pocket book to the fire closet.
| In the morning, after re-opening the
| store, he filled up the check he had taken
j with the sum of fifty thousand dollars.—
! Half an hour after the bank opened he pre
j sented it and received the money.
With this in his pocket he took the first
| conveyance from Mobile, and in a few days
found himself metamorphosed in appear-
I ance, and with anew name, snugly quart
j ered in Cuba, from which place he soon
j embarked in a French vessel for Havre.
Among the letters which Mr. Milford, the
j older, received soon after this transaction,
’ was one which ran as follows :
j “My dear Father: —l am grieved to
communicate the most disastrous intelli
gence. Our house has been robbed of fifty
thousand dollars by a porter in whom, from
your recommendation, 1 was induced to re
pose groat confidence. His name is Thos.
j P . During my temporary absence at
, New Orleans, he got possession of a blank
! check, w hich I had signed and left, among
j others, with the chief clerk in our house
! here, and filled it up for the sum named.
| This was paid at the bank. Thus far I have
I not been able to obtain intelligence of his
j movements. As this takes away neat ly all
j my present means, and as a great many
I heavy payments are falling due, it will be
| necessary for you to place me in funds im
| mediately Connected with this matter is
a circumstance whioh gives me pain. A
bout six months ago one hundred dollars
were missed from the cash. Had it not
been for your recommendation of Thomas,
1 should have suspected him ; as it was,
suspicion fell on a poor young man, the
junior clerk in the house, who was dismiss
ed in consequence. He lingered about
here for some time, unable to procure em
ployment, and then went away, I know not
where. No doubt all suspicion in regard
to him was unfounded. 1 am pained ex
j ceedinglv when I think of this matter. I
|D
believe he had a poor mother here whom
l he supported—but who since that time, has
j died—periiaps with grief for her son’s dis
i grace. Again I must repeat in extenua
j tion of the confidence 1 placed in Thomas,
your recommendation of him. No doubt
i tiiis act of his will astonish you as much as
i it has me. Yours, &e.”
I No circumstance could have proved more
! conclusively to the mind of Mi Milford
j than this did his weakness and folly. He
! could not blame his son ; he did not at
j tempt to do so. He blamed oniy himself.
! Indignant as he was at the robbery.-—and
\ grieved at the heavy loss it occasioned, he
j could not but acknowledge the punishment
j to lie a just one.
Half an hour after the letter from Mobile
came to hand, a young man with rather a
rougii exterior, and a pale, subdued counte
nance, who had been engaged a month or
tw'o before as copying clerk, took it up and
read it, as he and the other clerks were in
the habit of reading all business letters that
were left upon the desks. Mr. Milford was
looking at him at the time, and saw that, as
he read his cheeks flushed, and that as he
closed the letter, his eyes glanced with an
expression of thankfulness, while the tears
stole out, and rolled over his face. A sud
den thought flashed upon his mind, and he
passed quickly to the side of the young
man.
‘ What is the matter, John ?’ he asked.
‘ I am the young man hero alluded to,’
replied the clerk, giving away to a free
burst of emotion.
I And you were innocent of the foul sus
picion against you ?’
‘As innocent as an unborn child,’ repli
ed tlie young man earnestly.
I I believe you, John,’ Mr. Milford said,
frankly.
‘ Justice has been tardy, but it shall be
done freely and fully. I fee! myself as
you may judge from my son’s letter, great
ly toblaine in this matter, and have been
justly punished for a weakness of which I
shall never again be guilty. As soon as I
have done all that I can towards recovering
my property, I will see that you are cared
for.’
Three weeks aftetwards-, the ship John
Gilpin arrived from Mobile with Thomas
safelv in custody. The vessel in which he
[VOLUME XXIX.