e, as nearly as he can
remember, the knave of clubs, the nine of spades, and the deuce
of diamonds.

The sage went on. "I'm comin' now to your marriage. You'se goin'
to be married, but you'll have some disappointment first--can't
help it, my son, must tell you. You see, here is a dark-complected
lady that you like, and she has a heart for you, but her father
don't like you--he prefers a young man of lighter complexion--see,
here you all are, my son. This is you," and he showed the king of
clubs--"and this is her." The "her" of whom he spoke so irreverently,
was the queen of clubs. "This is the heart she has for you," and
he exhibited the seven of that amorous suit. "This is her
father"--the obstinate and cruel "parient" here displayed, was the
king of spades--"and dis yer is de young man her father likes,"
and he placed before the eyes of the customer a hated rival in
the shape of the knave of diamonds. "You see how it is, my son,
dere is trouble between you--can't help it. You may possibly marry
de dark-complected lady yet, but don't you do it, my son, don't
you do it--now mind I tell you, don't you do it--she is not the
lady for you--can't help it, must tell you; if you marry dat lady
you will be sorry dat you ever tie de knot. See, here is the
knot," and he showed the ace of diamonds. "See, this is the lady
you ought to marry," and he produced the queen of diamonds; "and
she will be your second wife if you do marry de dark-complected
lady, but you'd better marry her first if you can get her, and
let de dark-complected lady go for ebber; dat's so, my son, now
mind I tell you."

He condescended no more, and the Cash Customer disbursed his
dollar and departed, all the grandchildren gathering on the bank
to give him three cheers as a parting salute.

CHAPTER XV.

How the "Individual" calls on Madame Clifton, of No. 185 Orchard
Street, and how that amiable and gifted "Seventh daughter of a
seventh daughter," prophesies his speedy death and destruction,
together with all about the "Chinese Ruling Planet Charm."

CHAPTER XV.

MADAME CLIFTON, 185 ORCHARD STREET.

Perhaps there is no class of men brought constantly and
prominently before the public eye, that is so great a puzzle to
that public, as the class popularly denominated "sporting men."
There is not a corner on Broadway where they do not congregate;
there is not a theatre where they do not abound, and there is not
a concert-room that does not