The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-05-06
From the Baltimore Transcript, ipril :.
a PRIZE.


Yesterday an aged aud respectable clti
pen Of Baltimore, met with an incident Of
good luck OF rare and singular nature.
Passing along Baltimore street al his usual
slow pace, his eyes fell on a small package
tina, Iay immediately 10 his path. lie turn
ed II over and over with bis cane-moved
j. this sav aud that, and at length, after
Casting a look around, TO see whether any
one observed him, picked II up, and exam
med i. 1t was directed 10 the Bank OF Bal.
iimore, closed With red sealing wax, and
stamped with a peculiar kind Of seal. HIS
heart bea; at rapid rate he had been
happy IN his poverty but now that wealth
was within his grasp, he felt that his days
Ct lov we're completed, and that he must be
miserable. As be passed along with his
treasure, he began 70 question himself as TO
the proprety Of keeping the money II was
directed to the Bank OF Baltimore, and should
be returned to IFS rightfuI owners. Yet
ayarlce that slly serpent, twined around his
heart, and want breathed eloquently IN his
ear tales Of impoverished old age, beds Of
sickness, cold and dreary winters, and above
all a scoldlng wife. " Besides" SAID he,
"nobody will be bit the wiser, and one
family at leas, will be made comfortable"
Pooderng over the doctrines Of Jerry
Beulham, and accommodating circumstan-
ces admirably to MS conscience, he arrived
home With the treasure 10 his pocket; but
a. he entered the door, conviction again
came upon him; be thought he had nest
Of upers in his pocket; the package ap-
peared to have troubled spirits within IFS
envelope each spirit seemed TO speak out IN
terrible tones TO his conscience, aud he trem
bIed all over. as If he had committed an act
which would forever blast his reputation
and his happiness. Poor man all bis dreams
Of bills had now flown; be entered his good
old ady's apartment with eyes glarng and
limbs trembling from JOINT to JOINT. HIS
wife, alarmed at his unusual appearance,
placed hin upon chair, and began chat.
ing his temples with vinegar, repeatedly
asking him what had occurred to agitate
him 81
80, wife wife !" at length muttered he,
clam miserable old man. The devil has
been tempting me, and | have slnned large.
ly."
"tlow my dear p tenderly asked the old
lady, beginning to suspect that her husband
had sat too long at the tavern ire-she
was sure she smell brandy.
" Put your hand IN my pocket, and take
from thence ten thousand scorpions tina
have been singing me for this half hou
past. Take them on, wife"
4" Indeed | will, said she, drawing thc
package from his pocket "bless my soul
what's thus 7"
=" Bank notes. found them IN the stree
---but,hey belong TO the Bank of Baltimore.
"Why now-how lucky but what pit,
that we should have to return them; the
would make US comfortable for the rest {
our lives"
"Ah WIFE" said the old gentleman sol
rowlully, "don't tempt me again; AdaI
sinned through Eve, and eve through the az
cursed one. wonder how much money
IN that package :"
"Ten thousand dollars, I'll be bound
would be no harm TO open IT, would II! 70
know we can give the money back when
reward is offered"
The husband said nothing and the o
lady, taking silence for consent, proceeds
10 break the seals, one by one-when 10 4
stead Of ten thousand dollars aud as mar