The Washingtonian., 1845-06-14

From this moment shall speak only of your
Order with admiration and affection
From the Knckerbocker.
BOOK-K EE PING;
OR, THE RICH MAN IN SPITE OF HIMSELF.
We are indebted to friend for the following
authentic anecdote of an old New York mer-
chant, whose name, were we permitted to mem
ton it, would sound familiarly in the ears Of
many of our metropolitan readers.
In old times it was the custom of the mer-
chants Of the city Of New York, to keep their
accounts in pounds, shilings and pence, curren-
cy. About fifty years ago, a frugal industrior
Scotch merchant, we'll known to the ther s
mercantile community of -ty, -. 5r DIM
Of fortunate commercial ag tH 2ri sccao-
my, been enabled to gsbag AXE four
thousand pounds a -lapi, ,dm OF money
at that period, and 1hicn secured to its
possessor degre enviable independence.
His places of b,,sas and residence we're, as
was customsTy U hat time, under the same
roof. He hs 3erk in his employment, whose
reputation accountant inspired the utmost
confider y ns master, whose frugal habits
he en- ~ 4 with the true spirit and feelings Of
| a gcr HE IaledoDian. 1t was usual for the ac-
casan. 20 make an annual balance sheet for
! II .ction of his master, in order that he
irag} see what had been the profits of his bn-
fas the past year. On this occasios the
Ance sheet showed to the credit of the bus-
.ess six thousand pounds, which somewhat as
tonished the ncreduous merchant. alt Gamma
be,'' said lie, 'sye had better count up agen.,
dinna think ha' had sac profitable beesiness
as this represents The clerk, with his usual
patience, re-examned the statement. and de-
clared that it was "a' right" and that he was
willing to wager his salary upon it's correctness.
The sor at puzzled merchant scratched his
he wit rise, and commenced adding up
I7. Of the account for himself. Improved
81 did ma think" said he, that was
:, over four thousand pounds; bu' ye ha'
lg 5 much richer mon. Weel,weel, !
may mair successful than haa thoh,
and II, rel WI myself for being worth
six thousa, -
At early ca. g he store was rkyularly
closed by the faitl ,tant and as soon
as he had gone, the. . -plexed and in
credulous merchant comp,es 'tha painful
task Of going over and exam, ~. Se ac-
counts for himself. Night after :. he
labor in his solitary counting -house 9ne y
look for the error; but every examination
firmed the correctness of the clerk, until Il.
old Scotchman began to believe it possible that
he was really worth "sax thousand pounds.
Stimulated by this addition to his wealth, he
soon felt desire to improve the condition of
his household; and, with that view, made pur-
chase Of new furniture, carpets, and other ele-
gancies, consistent with the position of man
possessing the large fortune Of six thousand
pounds. Painters and carpenters were set to
work to tear down and build up; and in short
time the gloomy-looking residence in Stone
street was renovated to such degree as to at.
tract the curiosity and envy Of all his neighbors.
The doubts oS the old man would still, however,
obtrude themselves upon his mind; and he de-
termned once more to make thorough exam
nation of his accounts. On dark and stormy
night he commenced his labor, determined to
probe the matter to the very bottom. II was
past the hour of midnight, yet he had not been
able to detect a single error; but still ne went
on. HIS heart beat high with hope, for ne had
nearly reached the end of his labor. quick
| suspicion seized his mind as to one item in the
account. Eureka! He had found it. With
the frenzy of a mailman he drew his broad
brimmed white hat over his eyes, and rushed
| into the street. The rain and storm were no.
thing to him. !. He hurried to the residence o.
his clerk in Wall street; reached the door, and
i seized the handle of the huge knocker' WIN
which he had raped until the ne'ghborhood
was reused with the "loud alarm" The un-
fortunate clerk poked his night cap out OF an
upper window, and demanded, "Whas there
I"It's me you dom scoundrel !"said the fren-