WHAT BECAME OF A YOUNG PLANTER’S OUTFIT. 
store was very dark | it had only one door and no 
windows, but he perfectly well knew where the large 
box stood, and at once proceeded to the place : the box 
was there, seemingly all right. He felt it, and as his 
eyes got used to the partial darkness, there it stood 
covered with dust and cobwebs. The key is applied, 
hut it won’t go in. He sits down and blows into the 
key hole, until not a vestige of dirt or dust remains, 
but still the key is obstinate. He gives the lid or upper 
part of the box a good shake, and it falls off with a 
great rattle and noise ! Being quite at a loss to account 
for this he sends out to the nearest lines for a light, 
which a coolie brings and holds over the box off 
which the top had so easily fallen. Mr. Fresh gazes 
into the large trunk, the light shining into it over his 
shoulder, and gazes into an empty space ; there is 
nothing in it !1 
Even Mr. Fresh quite comprehends what has hap- 
pened. The box had been forced open with crow- 
bars, locks and hinges broken, and all the contents 
stolen ! Not a vestige left of any, except socks, 
and natives you know don’t wear socks ; they 
were no use to them, and they were too cunning to 
sell them ; that might lead to the discovery of the 
robbers. There must have been fifty pounds worth of 
clothes in that big box, all carefully arranged and 
selected by one of the principal outfitters of that 
period, who was Peter Scott, 9, South Bridge Street, 
Edinburgh. All enquiries and investigations as to who 
could have done this deed were fruitless ; the robbers 
escaped clean and clear with their spoil, and saved 
the rightful owner any more trouble and responsi- 
bility in giving presents. Probably it was just as well 
this extensive robbery took place for it saved the owner 
a great deal of after trouble. He was never asked for a 
present now ; even the lowest cooly could not have the 
impudence to ask his master for a coat, when he knew 
he had all his clothes stolen. If they had not been 
stolen in this wholesale manner they •would surely 
have gradually disappeared, and given the owner a 
great deal of petty annoyance, as to who had taken 
them. So here at one fell swoop Mr. Fresh was 
relieved from all further torments for presents ; after 
he had given the half of his clothes away he found 
out that the other half had been stolen! 
What an absurdity the old fashioned systein was of 
giving young men ongoing abroad very extensive and 
cApensive outfits. Their parents stinted themselves and 
very probably got into debt in order to supply the emi- 
grant with a large supply of clothes; little did they 
think what would be the ultimate fate of all these Mne 
clothes.’’ It is the same way with a large stock of 
