Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography; Leland, Charles Godfrey, 1824-1903
It was settled that my cousin should return from Marseilles to the United
States, while I was to go on alone to Italy. It was misgivingly
predicted at home by divers friends that I would be as a lamb set loose
among wolves, and lose all my money at the outstart. Could they have
learned that within a week after my arrival I had been regarded by
Spanish smugglers as a brother, and tripped up a spy of the police, and
been promised a situation as a slaver's and pirate's assistant, they
might have thought that I had begun to learn how to take care of myself
in a hurry. As for losing my money, I, by a terrible accident, _doubled
it_, as I will here describe.
Before leaving home, a lady cousin had made for Samuel and me each a
purse, and they were exactly alike. Now by a purse I mean a real
_purse_, and not a pocket-book, or a porte-monnaie, or a wallet--that is,
I mean a long bag with a slit and two rings, and nothing else. And my
cousin having often scolded me for leaving mine lying about in our room,
I seeing it, as I thought, just a few minutes before my departure, lying
on the table, pocketed it, thanking God that Sam had not found it, or
scolded me.
I went on board the steamboat and set sail towards Italy. I was sea-sick
all night, but felt better the next day. Then I had to pay out some
money, and thought I would look over my gold. To my utter amazement, it
was _doubled_! This I attributed to great generosity on Sam's part, and
I blessed him.
But, merciful heavens! what were my sensations at finding in the lower
depth of my pocket _another purse_ also filled with Napoleons in
rouleaux! Then it all flashed upon me. Samuel, the careful, had left
_his_ purse lying on the table, and I had supposed it was mine! I felt
as wretched as if I had lost instead of won.
When I got to Naples I found a letter from my cousin bewailing his loss.
He implored me, if I knew nothing about it, not to tell it to a human
soul. There was a M. Duclaux in Marseilles, with whom we had had our
business dealings, and from him Sam had borrowed what he needed. I at
once requested Captain Olive, of the steamer, to convey the purse and its
contents to M. Duclaux, which I suppose was done _secundem ordinem_.
Poor Sam! I never met him again. He died of consumption soon after
returning home. He was one of whom I can say with truth that I never saw
in him a fault, however trifling. He was honour itself in everything, as
humane as was his grandfather before him, ever cheerful and kind, merry
and quaint.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account