-five; turkey, thirty-five cents a pound, and eggs sixty cents a
dozen. There was plenty of work, with high wages.

I still kept my situation and was gradually working my way up. My
associates were very different from those I came in contact with while
a sailor. Knowing as much as I did about the Havana Lottery, I had great
faith in it. By very little persuasion, I got six young men to go in
with me to co-operate in the purchase of tickets, each one paying a
certain sum weekly. Every month tickets would be bought for the full
amount. The bankers, Taylor & Company, in Wall Street, were the agents.
For several months it was the same thing---no prizes. In the month of
April, 1862, there was rejoicing in the club. We had drawn a fifty
thousand-dollar prize! Taylor & Company cashed it for us at a small
discount. The seven sharers received the money---a little over seven
thousand dollars each. Then we all went to the devil. No use working
with all that wealth, so we left our situations.

At first a silver watch costing thirty-five dollars was good enough for
me, then I changed it for a gold one worth one hundred and forty. A
diamond ring came next, for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. And of
course I must have a diamond breastpin, one hundred and twenty-five
more. I got to be very particular about the style of my clothing. A
bottle of wine with my suppers was just the thing. How I did lie back
and contrast the present with the past while on board a ship!

Not feeling very well, I concluded to spend a few weeks at a summer
resort. My friends recommended me to Teller's Pavilion, at the
Highlands, Navesink, N. J. My expenses there were quite heavy:
twenty-five dollars a week for a nice room, one bottle of wine for
dinner, two dollars and a half extra. To be well waited on called for
liberal tips to the waiters. As my money had come easy it went easy. I
made a lot of friends, and usually paid all the bills for boating
parties and other amusements. I became acquainted with Miss Tillie
Teller, and with us it was a case of "love at first sight." Finally, we
became engaged. I presented her with a fine diamond engagement ring. The
season ended and I returned to New York.

Having spent a large share of my money, I concluded to start in some
business with the remainder, make a good living and marry Tillie. A
saloon on Broadway seemed a good investment. Well, as a saloon
proprietor I was a dismal failure. It was nothing but woe an