History of the Prophet Joseph, by His MotherSmith, Lucy
History
History of the Prophet Joseph, by His Mother
Smith, Lucy
Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
It appears, from circumstances that afterwards transpired, that the
ginseng was taken to China, and sold there to good advantage, or at a
high price, but not to much advantage to us, for we never received any
thing, except a small chest of tea, of the avails arising from this
adventure.
When the vessel returned, Stevens, the younger, also returned with it,
and when my husband became apprized of his arrival, he went immediately
to him and made inquiry respecting the success of the captain in
selling his ginseng. Mr. Stevens told him quite a plausible tale, the
particulars of which I have forgotten; but the amount of it was, that
the sale had been a perfect failure, and the only thing which had been
brought for Mr. Smith from China was a small chest of tea, which chest
had been delivered into his care, for my husband.
In a short time after this, young Stevens hired a house of Major
Mack, and employed eight or ten hands and commenced the business of
crystalizing ginseng. Soon after engaging in this business, when he
had got fairly at work, my brother, Major Mack, went to see him, and,
as it happened, he found him considerably intoxicated. When my brother
came into his presence, he spoke to him thus, "Well, Mr. Stevens, you
are doing a fine business; you will soon be ready for another trip to
China." Then observed again, in a quite indifferent manner, "Oh, Mr.
Stevens, how much did Brother Smith's adventure bring?" Being under the
influence of liquor, he was not on his guard, and took my brother by
the hand and led him to a trunk; then opening it, he observed, "There,
sir, are the proceeds of Mr. Smith's ginseng!" exhibiting a large
amount of silver and gold.
My brother was much astounded at this; however, he disguised his
feelings, and conversed with him a short time upon different subjects,
then returned home, and about ten o'clock the same night he started for
Randolph, to see my husband.
When Mr. Stevens had overcome his intoxication, he began to reflect
upon what he had done, and making some inquiry concerning my brother,
he ascertained that he had gone to Randolph. Mr. Stevens, conjecturing
his business--that he had gone to see my husband respecting the ginseng
adventure, went immediately to his establishment, dismissed his hands,
called his carriage, and fled with his cash for Canada, and I have
never heard anything concerning him since.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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