Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1847-09-24
From the Syracuse Star.
TREASURE ON EARTH AND
TREASURE IN HEAVEN.

IIr. Bencdict feTcIYal, one OF the veal
thiest men in the city, sat reading news
paper, when three gentlemen entered his
counting room In the formal manner in
which committee men usually present
! themselves = especially committee men
appointed to raise a subscription for some
public charity. When Mr.. PercivaI open
ed his newspaper that morning, the first
paragraph that met his eye was the fol-
lowing:
AT the town meeting held yesterday,
a committee of three from each ward was
appointed to wait upon our citizens to re-
ceive their subscriptions in aid of the suf-
ferers by the late fire in our sister city
This duty will be entered Upon at once.
We trust that the gentlemen who have
the matter III charge, viii meet with a
hearty reception from our liberal minded
and benevolent townsmen. We may lead
the van in this noble work, if we will
Let us do it,
Over this Mr.. Perciyal pondered for
some time, with his forefnger upon his
lip and his eyes fixed upon the ceiling
/ At length, as if his action on the matter
were definitely settled, he resumed the
reading of his newspaper, and was en-
gagged in that agreeable occupation when
the committee alluded TO above, called in
at his counting room.
Good morning, Mr.. Perciyal,' said the
/ spokesman.
Good morning, gentlemen responded
| Mr.. Perciyal, rising.
We need hardly state our business
said the spokesman. You presided at
the meeting yesterday, and having assist
ed in the appointment of the committee
for the several wards, are aware that cur
duty in this one is to wait upon our fellow
, citizens for their subscriptions. We have
called upon you to get your name at the
head of the list. Having that TO lead off
with, our task viii be an easy one, and
/ the results equal to our best hopes. Your
subscription we of course know will be a
/ liberal one, and that will induce other men
4 ofample means, upon whom we shall wait,
in succession, TO put down large sums,
BY this plan we hope to make our ward
double the amount subscribed by any
other ward in the city
We can easily do that returned Mr..
Percival. We have wealth enough But
must decline heading the list. Let Mr..
R lead of. lie viii do it handsomely,
without doubt. Or Mr.. s. will start
your subscription lberaIly.'
The committee men urged Mr.. Perez
val to- comply with their request, but he
was firm in declining and ultimately told
them that he had made up his mind to
place his name last on the subscription
paper.
a week after this interview, the rich
merchant was again waited upon. The
list needed only his name to complete it,
How much have you got 2 he asked.
We have not done as well as we ex-
pectcd, was replied. If you had led off,
we should no doubt have done much bet
ter
WHO headed the list E?
Mr.. r.
With how much 2
One hundred dollars
Ilumph! Let me see the paper.
I 1t was handed TO the merchant. He
ran his eye over it, saying, half aloud,
\ as he did So
One hundred; one bundled; moi hing
/ above one hundred. What does it all a.
mount TO?
Five thousand dollars
The merchant took up his pen and
wrote his name with flourish. Opposite
10 II he placed a numeral and three cy-
pliers, with the dollar mark before them
thus - $4,000. Then, with bow and a
glow OF dissatisfaction upon his face, he
handed the paper back 10 The gentleman
Who had waited upon him.
NobIy done, Mr.. Perciyal said the
Spokesman. You have saved the credit
Of our ward. have strong hopes, now,
that We shall lead any two Of them put to-
gethcr.'
Two or three days after this, the
newspapers announced the result of the
subscription raised in the various wards
Of the CRY. The particular instances OF
iIborah,y were named, conspicuous among
which stood The fact that Benedict PEREZ
val. Esq, who was ever foremost in act