The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-11-21
From he Claremont Eagle.
A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

An Old fellow, whose name We veil under
that of Hunks, died 10 the adjacent town OF
ChaTlesiown last week, who would have
been a capital subject for Dickens, and
might have sat to Scott, for his nirni,able
character Of Trapbois IN The Fortunes OF
| Nigel. He was a misery, close listed old
hunks, real skibfnt, who il was supposed
10y bis neighbors, had scraped too ether as
such characters will, IN one way and aDoth
er, considerable amount Of money. This
was not known, however. Some said that
he had money concealed IN the earlh--olh.
ers, ndgIng from The slovenly manner in
winch he livedand dressed, that he had moth.
ing kut the few acres which he cultivated.
lie lived hike the poorest, shutting his door
upon every mtruder--til of last Death
knocked, and be was Obliged TO open. Do.
ring his sickness be was wont 10 send daily
Cor a small purse of SILVER and gold, bid N
the wall Of his cellar, which he would count
over with that feeling Of painful delight,
which Iuhabtis the bosom OF the mlscr alone.
Disease, however, wore down his frame rap
IDLY, aud at last he was unequal to the task
Of going through bis daily custom OF count
lng the pieces IN his purse, and could only,
as they we're displayed before him, pat them
softly Sllh his hands, as . lady pats her Ca
VorIte dog on the back. One day during
the lasl slages Of his disease, he sent for o
neishbor, aud expressed a wish TO lmpart d
secret TO hlm. go down cellar lsald he
aud 10 the further corner you Will 6nd a
tub. RAISE IT, and YOU will see single,
beneath which is bow" The individual
followed the directions, and found a Oox OF
specie. Nov go 10 another corner -
said The mser describing the place. A day
or two after, when be found he must soon
leave all has earthly treasure, he desired 10
be raised up IN hts bed. His request was
granted, when no Immediately reached out
his skinny hand beneath his pillow, and To-
another box was found cunmugly concealed.
containing about five hundred dollars 10
French gold pieces, which !, Is understood
be took from one OF the banks about The
uaie OF the suspension Of specie payments.
All these buried treasures were gwen tuto
the keeping u has ncighbor for The bencf,
OF others, Tie SAID there was one other
box, but that bo didn't like 10 tell where II
was, as he might sant /, himself. He how
ever consented TO write the place Of inter
meni on piece Of paper, SO that the secret
might not perish Sith hlm lie died soon
after, and ms hidden lrrasures--uu neon
siderable sum--were counted over at the
close OF the funeral ceremonies.
Thus died OF ga advanced age, ono whose
only aspiration, through q ung life, seems
- q h-aa.l
rSing u, where II could be- Of 90 earthly
b,ueti, TO any oue--a perfect n ssE--a ioy.
or o' money, not for the blessings which
u nigh, impari aud dlfiusc around hiui, but
for us own sake--not Tor the name OF pos
srssne l--tot be ic,gaed and was thought
poor-but because the mere bablt of &C.
QUESTION had become passion, and tue
bare consciousness OF possession was a Plies
sure-a phantom OF delight, which he couc
hug with rapture to his bosom. Wen ~
II be Tor such II they have laid up ttrasurt.
~ Heaven as on earth. Bu We viii NJ
serrn0Alzn the lesson conveyed by ID.
sketch Is lci, With the reader.