it
over to me and found himself perfect, he departed. That night he recited
it from the stage to a dense audience; and, during its delivery and at
its conclusion, I had the satisfaction of listening to the most
delicious music that an author's ears can ever know, the clapping of
hands, and deafening peals of applause.

CONCLUSION

_My Parting Bow._

Several years have passed since the date of the events last narrated.
Those years have been crowded with adventures full as extraordinary as
those already detailed; but alas! neither time nor space will at
present, admit of my giving them to the public. Perhaps, at some future
time, I may make up for this deficiency, if my life is spared.

The reader may rest assured of one thing:--that _not one single word of
fiction or exaggeration has been introduced into these pages_. Why
should I wander in the realms of romance, when there are more startling
facts at my command than I can possibly make use of? Is not truth
stranger than fiction? Every day's experience proves such to be the
case.

I cannot close up these pages without availing myself of the opportunity
to return my thanks in this public manner, to several gentlemen from
whom I have received courtesies and acts of kindness. First and
foremost, there is Jerry Etheridge, a man of great political influence
and historical learning. To this distinguished gentleman I am indebted
for an act of generosity that rescued me from a serious embarrassment. I
am not the only recipient of his bounty, for I know many others who have
applied to him in times of need, and who have left him, encouraged by
his cheering words and relieved by his liberality. He is one of those
true philanthropists who never publish their good deeds to others. I
consider that when one man befriends another and then tells of it, all
obligation ceases to exist between the parties, and no gratitude is due
the one who confers the benefit, which he bestows, perhaps just on
purpose to acquire a reputation for whole-souled benevolence, and not
out of any particular good-will to the other. I am also under obligation
to Mr. W.R. GOODALL, the promising young American actor, who will one
day, I predict, occupy a most elevated position in the profession which
he has adopted, and for which he is peculiarly qualified. Who that ever
heard his famous imitations, as Jeremiah Clip, will hesitate to admit
that he is a young man of the most extraordinary talent? NED SA