as Mr. P. Lofin, whose experience was something, and who suggested a
plan which could not but succeed, if his advice was followed. The plan
was, that they should advertise for three thousand men and several
hundred horses, and on the strength of their advertisements, and their
certificate of having obtained such a respectable contract, try to
borrow some provisions on three months' credit.

In a few days, the public places of the cities of T---- and A---- were
posted up with large placards, and advertisements were inserted in all
the daily papers, which read thus:--

WANTED.

Three thousand men to work on the Northern Railroad at one dollar
a day of twelve hours. Men who wish to work extra time will
receive extra wages.

Wanted, also, six hundred horses to hire, at three dollars a day
for every team, on the same work.

P. LOFIN,
VAN STINGEY,
KITCHINS, & CO.

In a few days, not only did the three thousand men make their
appearance, but twice that number were now located on the site of the
proposed line. But how were so many men to live? There was some delay in
proceeding with the works, and Van Stingey and Co., having represented
themselves as very independent and wealthy contractors, said that, as
they did not like to be hard on the men, they would give them free sites
for their shanties, which the men could afterwards have without the
necessity of having to pay so much a month for their use, as was the
custom with other but less honorable contractors than Van Stingey,
Purse, Lofin, & Co.

This bait took "capitally," as Van used to say, and not only were two
hundred shanties built, but the praise of the "ginerous contractors" was
in every mouth; and "Hurrah for Lofin, Van Stingey, & Co.," became a
regular toast among the men, as they went to spend a shilling in the
company's grocery store. The shanties were now up, and the horses, three
hundred in number, all ready for work; but a week, and another, and a
third passed on, and not a sod of ground was broke on the ten miles of
our independent company's contract. Here was now a sad and alarming
spectacle. Thousands of men, women, and children, seduced into a
wilderness by the specious promises of these vile knaves; and now, after
having spent every penny they had earned for years, brought to the very
verge of starvation. Some were obliged to trade off and sell their
clothes for food; others had to open small retail groceries to keep
themselves