Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-12-14

u Undoubtedly. tIO and select a pub
lie square from anv of my unappropria- "a
ted land on the West side of the city.
and will pass you the tile. as free gift
tomorrow, and feel pleasure in doing So
That is public spirit, said the Coun-
Gilman.
Call il what you will | am pleased
in making the offer.
Now. let il be supposed that Mr.. Jones
was snrewdiy calculating the advantage
which would result TO him from having a
park AT the West side Of the ciry No
such thought had yet entered his mind
lIc spoke from the impulse OF gener
Gus feeling.
Time passed on, and the session day of
fthe Council came round-a day 10 which
Smith had looked forward with no ordl-
nary feelings of interest, that were touch
ed at times by the coldness Of doubt. and
the agitation Of uncertainty. Several
times he had more than half repented of
his refusal 10 accept the liberal offer of
five tnous and dollars. and Of having fixed
50 positively upon six thousand as the
lowest figure.
The morning Of the day passed. and
Smith began 10 grow uneasy. lie dad not
venture to seek Tor information as to the
doings of the Council. for that would be
10 expose the anxiety he felt in the result
Of their deliberations. Slowly the alter
noon wore away. and il SO happened that
Smith did not meet any one OF the COun-
ciltn"n' NOV did he even know whether
the Council was still In session
As to making al.u>ion 10 the subject Of his
anxious interest 10 any one. that was
carefully avoided; for ne knew that his
exhorbitant demand was the town talk
and he wished 10 atiec, the most perfect
Indifference on the subject
The day closed, aud not a whisper
about the town lot had come 10 the ears of
Mr.. Smith. What could il mean lad
MS offer TO sell at SIX thousand been re-
}acted / he very thought caused his
heart 10 grow heavy IN his bosom. SIX,
seven. eight o clock came. and still all was
dark with Mr.. Smith. lie could bear the
suspense no longer, and so determined
10 call on his ne4hoor Wilson. vino was
a member of the Council, and learn from
him what had been done
50 he called on Mr. Wilson
An. friend Smith, SAID the latter;
how YOU this evening
W ell. thank YOU returned Smith,
feeling certain oppression Of the chest; !;
How are YOU
On. very we'll
Here then was pause. After which.
e'mi said
About that ground Of mine. What did
YOU do >
Nohinr.' replied Wilson. coldlv
Nothing did you say Smiths voice
was little husky
No. You declined oar offer Or.
rather. the high price fixed by yourself
upon the land
on refused to buy il at five thousand,
when II was offered said smith
/ i know we did, because your demand
was exhorbitant.'
% no, not at all returned Smith
quickly.
In that we only differ replied Wilson.
= However. the Council has decided not to
pay YOU the price you ask
| unanimously
There was not a dissenting voice.
Smith began TO feel more and more un-
comfortable.
: might take something less he ven
tured 10 say in low. hesitatng voice
4 II is TOO late now,' was Mr. Wilson 5
prompt reply.
90 late How so
We have procured lot
\ Mr. Wilson = Poor Smith started TO
his feet in chagrn and as,onishnent
\ es; we have taken one Of Jones
lots on the West side Of the city. A beau
ttul ten acre lot
ou have Smith was actually pale.
we have, and the title deeds are now
being made out
Il was some time before Smith had suf
fciently recovered from the stunning ei
fec, of this unlool<ed-for intelligence, 10
TO make the inquiry,
And prav how much did Jones ask for
his ten acre lot !
He presented it to the city as gift, :
replied the Councilman.
a gift What folv,'
No. not follv--but true worldly wis
dom; replied Mr. Wilson; though |
believe Jones did not think of advantage
TO himself when he generously made the
offer. He is worth twenty thousand dol :
lars more to-day than he was Yesterday
in the simple advanced value of his land
for building lots. And know Of no man
in this town whose good fortune affects
me with more pleasure
Smith stole back to his home with
mountain of DISAPPOINTMENT on his hear.
In his cuPidity he had entirely overreach-
ed himself. and he saw that the conse-
quences were 10 re-actupon sli his future
prosperity. The public square at the
West end of the town would draw i'm
provements in that direction. all the while
increasing the wealth OF Mr.. Jones, while
lots at the North end would remain Al,
present prices. or, it Nigh, be. take q
downward range
And SO il proved. In ten years. Jones
was the richest man in town. while half
of Smiths property had been sold for tax
es. The five acre lot passed from his
: hands. under the hammer. in the foreclo-
sure Of mortgage, for one thousand dol