Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-11-28


my part. Six hundred dollars, with a
vengeance Why, if had ten dollar
bill, I'D 60 about town and exhibit It rs
raree show"
Bah ~ said to myself, 81 must
try a third" So hurried TO my nc
quaintance, Mr.. c., and made the same
request of him.
Six hundred dollars :" said he, Gin
these hard times. Why, every body is
failing, and the banks won't discount. "
Horrible words ! had as lieve hear il
thunder as "the banks ront discount"
Not quite dishearened at these re-
bufs, | hastened to Mr.. d. and Nr. E.
and MIR. +. All the same song
Z" Hard times people failing f; banks
won't discount"
So much for my borrowing scheme I!
There was only one resource left, and
that was to go to a worthy gentleman by
the name Of Solomon Sharp. He was a
money broker, and lent cash TO gentle.
men in distress, out Of pure charity.
The crafty old fox saw me approach
as he stood at the corner Of Congress
street, in conversation with a broken
merchant aud briefless lawyer. He
saw me coming, and knew what l want
ed. These fellows can scent the sp-
proach Of pennyless dog at the penul
innate hour as quick as vulture will
snuff a carcass. But he pretended not
TO see me. He knew ] haG not half an
hour to lose, and knew he had no par
tcular interest in the matter he was dis
cussing with his worthy friends !; yet
dared not accost him and he siudiously
avoided catching my eye. Ten long
minutes did l wait, wishing his compan-
ions, with their tattle about nothing, a
thousand leagues off and every ten
seconds stealing look upward to the
dial over the City Hall, watching the
progress Of the minute-hand, which ad-
vanced with fearful rapidly towards
that poit beyond which there was no
salvation Of credit. 1t was strange he
could not see me /; or rather should
have said il was strange he ,could not (;
bu, | was too much in perturbation to
think that men, especially money-Iend-
have in their power. The ten minutes
seemed endless, all and singular ofthem;
but at last my gentleman pretended sud-
denly to discover me. "Ah Mr..
Lackpenny, how dye do ?"
My heart by this time was up TO my
ihroa' for in a small fraction Of an hour
the bank would be shut, and my note
unpaid-a consummation not at all de-
vOutly to be wished BY a man who de.
sires to be in good name and fame upon
Change. Twas hardly collected enough
to state my necessity, but old Sharp can
understa and such matters from half q
word.
"Lend money 7" he exclaimed "I
never do such things"
You don't, indeed :" said l.
"No," returned he, taking out his
snuf-box with an air Of the greatest
nonchslance "bnt, for a proper consi-
Geration, | think / know somebody that
will. !"
What is the mans name 7" asked ],
with an equal degree Of pretended seri-
BUSINESS, though knew the mans name
was Solomon Sharp, and that he was
standing that moment before my face.
"I'll see him, and let you KNOW"
said my honest friend. "CaIl here in
n quarter Of an hour-possbly it may be
done"
"A quarter Of an hour Oh, Mr.
Sharp but if you think it can be done
in n uuarter of an hour-D
Mr.. Sharp looked rs composed as If
the whole affair had been nothing more
than the picking up Of a straw. He
walked out, and so did !. We separa-
ted, and ! saw him 60 up State street,
pass round the post office, and return To
his den, without speaking to soul on
the way. When the ten nil,.tss had
expired, | went to him.
Well, Mr.. Sharp"
"l have called on the man." said he,
1" but he is not at home"
"This," thought !, "is to demand
ten per cent more from me. Mr.. Sharp"
said imploringly.
Il shall see him in five minutes, with
out Doubt" returned he. "Wait here,
and ! will step out again"
ooh, for stone bow :" thought |, ,
"to hit this fellow in the ego! With
the money in his pocket all this time
to tease his gudgeon to death before he
hooks him ~
My veracious friend went out again,
walked round the post Office, and came
back. II was almos, three O'Clock, and
! was ready to fly out Of my skin eve
ry moment seemed an hour.
"WelI, Mr.. Sharp, what does the man
say 7"
"Say'" replied the conscientious gen.
tlsman, shaking his head why he
says that money is money now"
Very well, Mr.. Sharp, ] knew that
before but will lie do The note for
heavens sake :"
/" lie thinks he-nighl," drawled out
my tormentor with an air Of the utmost
unc concern.
Well, Mr.. Sharp, and for how
much Z"
"Can't do it for less than fly per
cent"
|" Fifty per cent, Mr.. Sharp surely
you mistake. Fifty per cent, for four
months Oh, monstrous ~
But Mr.. Sharp never moved muscle
OF his count enance at these exclamations