arrival. I close my letter here, before going forth "to spy out the land."

CHAPTER XI.-SEVENTY YEARS AGO.

1. One day, as Eddie Wilmot and his sister Lulu were turning over the many bundles of papers found in the old oaken chest, Eddie held up a package tied with a faded red ribbon, and labelled, in a writing scarcely legible, “The Old Men's Stories."

2. They carried the package to their mother, and, on opening it, they found within six numbered papers, dated back in their grandfather's time, and from their grandfather's residence seventy years ago in the city. But, although the papers were all in the same handwriting, Eddie and Lulu saw nothing at first to indicate who wrote them, unless the mystery was to be solved by an "Explanatory Paper" that was found in the package.

3. After Mrs. Wilmot had read this and examined the entire package, she said the papers were suitable to be read at the Monthly Saturday Evening Readings. They were accordingly read from time to time, beginning with the "Explanatory Paper" and "The First Narrative," which are as follows, and which were read by Mr. Agnew.

Explanatory Paper; by a Sexagenarian.

23 Murray Street, New York, May 12, 1795. 1. Some dozen years ago, five of my intimate friends and myself formed an "Old Men's Society," that was to meet annually at my house on the evening of the last day of the year, and, after a frugal supper, spend a few hours in friendly chat, talking over old times, the news of the day, and telling stories.

2. At one of these meetings, while our number was still

unbroken, it was proposed that each one should tell the story of his life, or of such portions of it as he might think most interesting to the company. This was readily agreed to, although the condition was made that none of the circumstances related should ever be spoken of outside while a single survivor remained, the member proposing this condition referring, as he pointed to the door, to that good old Athenian rule, often posted over door-ways in Athens,-"Let nothing that is said here go out there."

3. It was proposed that I, being the host, should begin the series, which I did in a plain and truthful narrative, the substance of which I have here written out in full. I have also written out the stories told by the others, for, as our society is now broken by death, and I am the only survivor, no harm can come from now breaking the seal of secrecy that we imposed upon ourselves; and I fancy that, if any of my descendants should chance to read these papers, they may derive from them lessons of some moral value.

I.-The First Narrative.

STORY OF A DAY'S REVERSES AND REVERSALS.

1. Passing over the scenes and incidents of my youth, which were confined to the city in which I still reside, I will narrate the history of only that small portion of my life which can be of any special interest to any one, and it will be seen that the time embraced is less than a single day. But the acts of a day, ay, of a single moment, may mould, for weal or for woe, the character of a lifetime.

2. I will introduce my subject by saying that, at the point when my story begins, I was the happiest of men. I was in perfect health; my heart beat lightly; my pulse was quickened by the exercise of the morning; my blood flowed freely through my veins; my apartments in Barclay Street were delightful; and what signified to me the

inclemency of the weather without on this cold November evening?

3. I thrust my hands into the pockets of my dressinggown, which, by the bye, was far the handsomest piece of old brocade I had ever seen,—and, walking slowly backward and forward in my room, I said to myself, "There never was—there never can have been-so happy a fellow as I am." Then, taking one or two turns more, I continued. almost aloud,

4. "What on earth have I to wish for more? Maria adores me; I adore Maria. To be sure, she's detained at Tarrytown; but I hear from her every morning by the post, and we are to be united for life in a fortnight. Then, again, there's John Fraser, my old school-mate. I don't believe there's anything in the world he would not do for I'm sure there's no living thing that he loves so much as myself,—except, perhaps, his old Uncle Simon and his black mare."

me.

5. I had by this time returned to the fireplace, and, reseating myself, began to address my noble, black Newfoundland, who, having partaken of my dinner, lay sleeping on the rug before the fire. "And you, too, my old Neptune! Are you not the best and handsomest dog in

the universe?"

6. Neptune, finding himself addressed, awoke leisurely from his slumbers, and fixed his eyes upon me with an affirmative expression, to which I responded, "Ay, to be sure you are, and a capital swimmer, too!"

7. Neptune raised his head from the rug, and beat the floor with his tail, first to the right hand, and then to the left. "And is he not a faithful fellow,-and does he not love his master?" I asked. Neptune rubbed his head against my hand, and then, stretching himself at length, again sunk into repose.

8. "That dog's a philosopher," I said. "He never says a word more than is necessary.-Then, again, I am not

only blessed in love and friendship, and in my dog,—but what luck it was to sell, and in these times too, that old lumbering house of my father's, with its bleak, bare, hilly acres, up in the northern part of the island, for two hundred thousand dollars, and to have the money paid down on the very day the bargain was concluded!

9. "By the bye, though, I had forgotten :-I may as well write to Messrs. Drax and Drayton about that money, and have them pay it in at once to Middleton Bros., my bankers in Wall Street. Capital fellows the Middletons are, too: old friends of the family.-Honest people, and all that, Drax and Drayton are;-but, faith, no lawyer should be tempted too far. It's a foolish way, any time, to leave money in other people's hands-in anybody's hands; and I'll write about it at once."

10. As I said, so I did-ordering Messrs. Drax and Drayton to pay my two hundred thousand dollars, at once, to Middleton Bros. After ringing my bell, and requesting that my note might be forwarded immediately, I took my candle, and, accompanied by Neptune, who always keeps watch by night at my chamber door, proceeded to my room, and then to bed, just as the watchman was calling "past twelve o'clock," beneath my window.

11. The visions that filled my imagination during sleep were no less animated than those of my waking hours. I dreamed that it was my wedding morning; the marriage ceremony had been performed; as we returned from church, Neptune seemed to walk by my side; and my friend John Fraser seemed, in some unaccountable manner, to act as the father of the bride.

12. I dreamed that, on returning to my house, I found a quantity of money-bags, each marked two hundred thousand dollars, ranged in rows on a marble table, and these I was beginning to empty at the feet of the bride, with an appropriate compliment, when my dream was interrupted by the hasty entrance of my servant, who stood pale and

trembling by my bedside, and informed me, with an agitated voice, that he had carried my note, as ordered, to Messrs. Drax and Drayton, the first thing in the morning, and he had seen Mr. Drax; but that Mr. Drayton had absconded during the night, taking with him my two hundred thousand dollars, and two thousand dollars of his partner's money!

13. I was horror-struck!-I was ruined!-The clock had not yet struck eight; but, early as it was, I was determined to rise immediately, and see Mr. Drax himself upon the subject. I dressed hastily, and, in less than an hour, I stood in the presence of Mr. Drax.

14. "Oh, Mr. Ladowski!" he exclaimed, with a look of bewildered paleness, and wringing his hands,-“I beg pardon, Mr. Roger Ladowski, you've received intimation, then, of this most strange occurrence!-What will the world think?—What will they say?-The house of Drax and Drayton! Such a long established, such a respectable house!-and one of the partners-Mr. Drayton I meanto abscond!"

15. "Ay, Mr. Drax, but think of my two hundred thousand dollars!"

"Went away, sir,"-he continued, without seeming to notice my words," without leaving the slightest instruction where he might be met with, or where his letters might be sent after him!-A most extraordinary proceeding!" "You'll drive me mad, Mr. Drax!" I said. implore you to inform me what's to be done about my money."

"Let me

16. "Your money, Mr. Ladowski ?-Here has the same party taken off with him two thousand dollars of the common property of the house, all the loose cash we had in our banker's hands;-drew a draft for the whole amount -and never took the ordinary measure of leaving me a memorandum of the transaction! Why, sir, I might have drawn a bill this very morning-many things less