A FORTUNE OUT OF WAGES 293 



make room for fresh and more useless creatures. It was 

 with him an infatuation ; and though he knew he lost by 

 it, he could not resist the temptation to dabble in these 

 profitless animals of whose value he knew nothing. Thus 

 it came about that in the same ratio that his expenses 

 increased, his income diminished ; stnd ultimately he had 

 to seek the indulgence of his creditors, ending in every- 

 thing that he had being sold. Happily for his sake and 

 for that of his family, they had separate fortunes, and so 

 escaped engulfment in the wreck which his negligence 

 and his eccentric, not to say insensate, diversions brought 

 about. 



I have referred to the fact that his stud-groom was 

 paid a pound a week. He, Sturgeon by name, could 

 neither read nor write. An incident connected with him 

 will admirably show his master's eccentric way of view- 

 ing practical matters. He lived in a house neither com- 

 modious nor comfortable, had a wife, and ten children 

 besides, whom by some mystery he managed to send to 

 school and bring up on this liberal pay of one pound a 

 week, and out of it in a very short time was able to save 

 300. This for secrecy, safe keeping, and adding to his 

 store a little by way of interest, he placed in a bank in 

 the town, which very unfortunately for him suspended 

 payment, and he lost it. Mr. Simpson, seeing his name 

 on the list of creditors, condoled with him, and said he 

 should have placed the money with him, where it at 

 least would have been safe, and offered to take charge of 

 any other little sum the groom might have over and 

 above his weekly requirements. This offer Sturgeon 

 readily accepted, and began again to build up another 

 little fortune, which he accomplished speedily ; but that 

 also, like the first, and by a most singular coincidence 

 exactly the same in amount, was lost shortly afterwards 



