The St. James's Magazine (Volume 6) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863. Excerpt: ... 345 SECRETS OF MY OFFICE. BY A BILL-BitOKEit. PART I. MY FIRST STEP IN LIFE. I. Andrew Lovegold, as I choose to re-name and re-baptize myself, Iiave in my time been a singularly successful gold-gatherer. Solid city;ne: i regarded the financial eminence to which I attained with quite reverential admiration, habitually quoting me as a shining example of an incontrovertible fact, that any one in this great country, possessed of a dear business brain, may--industry and integrity helping--though starting from the lowest social level, reach the loftiest monetary position, and (he worth a million--possibly two or three. When I retired from active life, abont nine years since, the partners, chief clerks, customers, and friends of the establishment presented me with a magnificent silver dinnerservice. Upon that occasion a very worthy and very wealthy alderman, not long since deceased, dwelt with unctions emphasis upon my great but -eil-merited good fortune, in being able, at the comparatively early age of wenty, to retire with a princely income to the tranquil repose and serenity 01 rural life, to which nothing that helps to swell the sum of human happi: .ess would be wanting; concluding his harangue by exclaiming, with 'special reference to the younger portion of his auditory, "Go ye and do likewise." Now I, as emphatically, and speaking from experience, would tell them never--should they have the chance--to go and do likewise. Of course, don't mean they shouldn't accumulate a princely fortune if they are able to do so; that would be absurd: but what I do say is, Don't--having got die princely fortune--don't go in to enjoy it as a great county mansion and park proprietor, county magistrate, and the rest of it. Such tranquil serenity wouldn't agree with you, m...