ollars, amount
loaned, by return mail. If not convenient, five dollars will do as
instalment." Pshaw! (Throws letter aside, and takes up another.) "Dear
Sir: I invite your attention to enclosed circular for a proposed Home
for Dissipated and Anonymous Gold-Miners. Your well-known reputation for
liberality, and your late valuable experience in the reformation of your
son, will naturally enlist your broadest sympathies. We enclose a draft
for five thousand dollars, for your signature." We shall see! Another:
"Dear Sir: the Society for the Formation of Bible Classes in the Upper
Stanislaus acknowledge your recent munificent gift of five hundred
dollars to the cause. Last Sabbath Brother Hawkins of Poker Flat related
with touching effect the story of your prodigal to an assemblage of over
two hundred miners. Owing to unusual expenses, we regret to be compelled
to draw upon you for five hundred dollars more." So! (Putting down
letter.) If we were given to pride and vainglory, we might well be
puffed up with the fame of our works and the contagion of our example:
yet I fear that, with the worldly-minded, this praise of charity to
others is only the prayerful expectation of some personal application to
the praiser. (Rings hand-bell.)

Enter JACKSON.

(To JACKSON.) File these letters (handing letters) with the others.
There is no answer. Has young Mr. Alexander come in yet?

Jackson. He only left here an hour ago. It was steamer day yesterday: he
was up all night, sir.

Old Morton (aside). True. And the night before he travelled all night,
riding two hours ahead of one of our defaulting agents, and saved the
bank a hundred thousand dollars. Certainly his devotion to business is
unremitting. (Aloud.) Any news from Col. Starbottle?

Jackson. He left this note, sir, early this morning.

Old Morton (takes it, and reads). "I think I may say, on my own personal
responsibility, that the mission is successful. Miss Morris will arrive
to-night with a female attendant and child." (To JACKSON.) That is all,
sir. Stop! Has any one been smoking here?

Jackson. Not to my knowledge, sir.

Old Morton. There was a flavor of stale tobacco smoke in the room this
morning when I entered, and ashes on the carpet. I KNOW that young Mr.
Alexander has abandoned the pernicious habit. See that it does not occur
again.

Jackson. Yes, sir. (Aside.) I must warn Mr. Alexander that his friends
must be more careful; and yet those ashes were good for