Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-03-01
VOLUME VI. NO. 9.
Incidents Related by a Clerk in
HeywOodS Bank, in 1870.
FROM MEMOIR OF THE REV. DIR. DuNcAN
THE FOUNDER OF SAVINGS BANKS.


as confidential messenger to carry parcels
OF gold coin to branch banks in neigbbor.
ing towns, and he used to relate several adj.
ventures that befeI him on such occasions.
two of which, as illustrating the manners Of
the tlme may be interesting to some read
ers. Ills duty one summer day led him IN
warrington, town about twenty miles
from Liverpool, to which he was cbarnaJ
= :, a. se'er1 hundred pounds in gold
thauroads swere not as vet invented. and
even a stage-coach was comparative rari.
W Inc mode OF travelling was thus left to
his own choice; and. as The morni,Is 80 ~
ia'r; ne hire riding horse for the occasion,
packed his money in roueaux of paper,
containing twenty guineas each, deposited
these III saddle-bags, which, according to
the fashion of the day, he slung over his
horse, and set out in the buoyant hope of a
pleasant and prosperous Journey. But alas!.
only few miles had been travelled. when
the roar of thunder awakened the echoes:
the gathering clouds began to drop, and the
ram soon fell in torrents, wcttng him to the
skIn, and what was worse, soaking his sad. :
aIe-D,ags, and loosening the paper envelopes
IN which his money was contained. The
guneas shook in their leathern Enclosures.
which at length yielded to the friction land
before the rider could arrest the mischief,
shower of gold poured down the smoking
sides OF his horse, and mingled wiaBathe
mud which already thckIy covered he road
lie instantly dismounted. Fastening his
horse to tree, he diligently set about re-
covering his treasure, and, having succeed
ed toleraby well, he had iustlbegun TO
make narrower scrutiny, whenfhe was ac-
costoted by an old woman, whose appear
ance showed her to be vagrant. She be-
gan, unasked, to aid him in the search, but
her assistance was not coveted, and the
bankers clerk gave her a civil but very in
telglbIe animation that her services could
he dispensed with. He then rode forward
a few hundred yards to a turnpike gate.
where he asked and obtained rom the gate
keeper the accommodation of private
room. Here he counted over his gold, and
found to his dlsmay that he still wanted
eleven pieces, In considerable agitation
he returned to the spot, but not 10 find mat
tiers as he had LETT them. Then or twelve
men had already mustered upon the road,
and were prosecuting a search after the
lost treasure with the greatest eagerness-
The mud had been literally raked with
their fingers for some hundred wards. and
he could not doubt that they were nlr..,,5
gold ne asked f.hey had made any dis
coyery, but the only reply he received was
a volIey of imprecations. He had lnsuIted
and maltreated, they affirmed, an old help
less woman, who only sought TO serve him;
and if he did not speedily leave the place,
they were ready to take signal vengeance.
Not knowing how to obtain redress, be re-
turned to his former shelter. While deIb-
Grating on his loss, six of his guineas were
brought by the finders, and offered to him
for trIhing reward which he gladly con-
sented to give, not questioning too narrow
Iy whether he had received faithful tale If
what they had gathered, and rejoicing that
his loss was no greater than he could easily
supply.
On another occasion he found himself
heavily laden with gold at Brkenhead-
The sun was down, and the night tide only
quarter full. The usual ferry boats had
ceased to ply for the day, and it was neces-
sary to hire one for his own accommoda-
ton. Carrying the saddle bags, in which
his money had again been slowed, over his
arm, he proceeded across the soft and Slip
perry beach to the point where he must en-
bark, but soon found to his annoyance that
he was not to be the only passenger, A
rough-looking man, Of powerful proportions,
Joined him on the shore, who accosted him
Familiarity, entered the boat with him unin-
vted, and took seat. Had it not been
for the lateness of the hour, and the value
of his charge this might not have disturbed
him; but the man had sinister aspect,
and the state of the tide made it necessary
10 land two miles above the town, at spot
made desoate by the vapors of chemical
abodes of men, The boat drew to land
5 The intruder leapt ashore and Henry,
5 shouldering his heavy baggage, paid his
+ fare and also landed. The two walked to-
gether towards the town for few hundred
yards, when, with great apparent politeness,
his companion remarked, that the load
seemed heavy, and he would be glad re-
leve him of it for a little. Now, thought
he. my fears are realised He held foe n
moment his treasure the tighter, and de-
clined The offer, remarking with constraln-
ed thanks, that he felt the weight no imcom-
brance. Come, come, was the rejonderi
don't make a mystery, man, of very
plain affair. know you very well, and
know the errand YOU are on; you are car
ryng gold to Heywood's, from Chester
II Give me the bags: am as honest as your
E, seef" The thought flashed through thu
If young mans mind-it was Characteristic o
i, the camness which in agitating circumstan
> ces he always exhibited, -" If l refuse, h
is much stronger than |, and can rob me il
an instant but if give up my load quiet
e w. shall have the advantage Of being in
;e better condition to pursue him and give al
! alarm, should find that he intends to max
W off with it," Thus nwardly satisfied, h
= accepted the offer apparently as frankl
as it seemed to be made. The dreaded bar
t. dit conveyed the ponderous load in safet
r. to the turn where their roads parted, an
n. then handed it over to him, and wished hi
x good night
In telling these anecdotes, he used to r
mark, that he never was called to such d.
on ties without an adventure more or less il
1g teresting; and though he was so fortuna
IA as never to be robbed, and never, except c
1t! the single occasion first mentioned, to lo
any of his money, these events, no doub
D. contributed to inspire saluary cautio
'at and to open to him new vista for the o
ms servatlon of men and manners thus pr