On a Christmas morning, ten years after the scenes recounted in the
last chapter, Mr. Bright was surprised to receive a letter addressed in
"Dodd's" well known characters. He broke the seal without comment,
wondering what story of destiny he held in his hand. A thrill of joy
suffused him as, on unfolding the sheets of the bulky manuscript, a
bill of exchange fell upon the table. It was the most favorable sign
he could have desired. It augured all that followed.

[Remark (as reads the foot-note in Scott's bible): The first sign of
regeneration in a man who has been a dead-beat is the payment of his
honest debts.]

Mr. Bright opened the letter and read as follows:


New York City, December 22, 188--

Mr. Charles Bright.

Dear Sir:--Enclosed I hand you exchange, payable to your order, to the
amount of $237.45, the sum due you for money advanced to me years ago,
with legal interest on the same. Respectfully, D. W. Weaver.


This was the first page of the epistle, brief, business-like, and to
the point. But having thus entered a voucher for his manhood, and, as
it were, won the right to speak further, on the second page there was a
continuation as follows: