Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-09-16
BOOK kEEPING;
OR, THE RICH MAN IN SPITE OF HIMsEL

! OR, THE RICH MAN IN SPITE OF HIMSELF.
! We are indebted 10 Il friend for the fol-
lowing authentic anecdote Of an old New
York merchant, whose name, were we
perm tied TO speak IL, would sound familiar
| ly in the ears of many Of our metropoli-
tan readers:-
In old times i: was The custom Of the
merchants of the city Of New York to keep
their accounts in pounds, shilings, and
pence currency. About fifty years ago
frugal, industrious Scotch merchant.
we'll known in the then small mercantile
community of that city. had by Gint Of
! fortunate commercial adventure, and econo
my, been able to save something like four
/ Thousand pounds.-a considerable sum Of
money al that period, and one which Sc.
cured 10 lis possessor an enviable degree
Of Independence His place Of business
and residence wee, as was Customary al;
hat time. uuGer the same roof lie tad
clerk In his employment whose reputation
as an accountant inspired the utmost CON
/ GIence Of his master, whose frugal habits
/ ne emulated with The true spirit AID feeling
of genuine CALIFORNIAN. Ii was usual for
the accountant 10 make an annual balance
sheet for the inspection Of his master, in
order that he might see what had been the
profits Of his business the past year. On
this occasion the balance sheet showed to
the credit Of the business six thousand
pounds, which somewhat astonished the
increduous merchant.
81. Gamma be-" said he, ''You had better
count up agen. ! dnna think ha had sac
profitable beesness as this representa-
The Clerk with his usual patience re ex-
amined the statement, and declared that
it was ga right" and tina. he was willing
10 wager his salary upon lis correctness.
The somewhat puzzled merchant scratch
ed his head with surprise, and commenced
adding up both sides of the accoun, for
himself. 1t proved right.
II did "a Think said he, sthat | was
worth over four thousand poonds; but we
ha' made me much richer man. WeeI,
weel, | ma ha been more successful than
| had ho't and I'll ma qulrrel WI m,seP
for being worth sax thousand instead.'
At early candle light the store was reg
ularly shut BY the faithful accountant; and
rs soon as he had gone, the sorely-per-
picked and increduluus merchant COM
meaced The painful task of going over and
examining all the accounts for himself.
Night after night did he labor in his soil
tary counting house, 10 look for the error;
but every examination confirmed the cor
RICHNESS of the clerk, until the old Scotch
man began to believe i: possible that he
was really worth '.sax thousand poonds."
Stimulated by this addition 10 his wealth,
he soon felt desire to improve the con-
dnion Of his household, and with that view,
made purchase of new furniture, carpets,
and other eleganc;es, consistent with the
! position of a man possessing the large for
tune of SIX thousand pounds. Painters and
carpenters were set to work 10 tear down
and build up; and in short time the
gloomy looking residence in Stone stree,
was renovated TO such degree as 10 at
tract the curiosity and envy of all his
neighbors. The doubts Of the man, how
ever. would still oblrude themselves upon
the mind and determ ned him once more 10
make thorough examination OF his &C
counts.
On dark aud stormy night he CON-
menced his la5ors with the patient, invesi-
eating spiri, of man determined TO probe
the matter 10 the very bottom. 1t was
past the hour Of midnight, yet he had not
| been able 10 detect a single error; but still
/ he went on. His heart beat high with
/ hope, for he had nearly reached the end of
his labor. A quick suspicion seized his
mind as 10 one item in the account
| Eureka! Tie had found it, with the fren-
| zy of a mailman. he drew his broad brm-
med white hat over his ewes, and rushed
into the street. The rain and storm were
nothing 10 him. He hurried 10 the resi-
denoe OF his clerk in Wall street, reached
| the door. and seized the handle OF the huge
knocker, wl'h which he raped uniil the
neghborhood was aroused with the cloud
alarm
/ The unfortunate CLERK poked his high,
cap oat of an upper window,and demanded,
.Nho's ,herel'
:. lis me, We dom scnundrel!" said the
frenziod merchant. .ye're aided ao the
gear of oar Laird among the pooads.r'