Washington telegraph., 1851-09-03


the New Orleans Delta narrates the fol.
lowing amusing passage in the life of
the millionaire John Nc Donogh in
which love and business were vainly
sought to be mixed up in the same trans
action. The legend runs thus;
MIR. McDonogh had reached mature
age. He was grave and sedate for his
years. His landed possessions were large
even then. He had commenced his
grand design of surrounding this city, as
he said, with his lines of decentralization.
But unfortunately, some lands belonged
to very wealthy and gay widow lady.
Mr.. McDonogh endeavored to purchase
these lots. He sent great many per-
sons, who offered the widow very large
price for her property, but she would not
sell l.-he in the meantime remaining Sc
cre., not allowing it to be known that he
was the person in pursuit of her property.
All his efforts proved aboriti7e. At last
one day, what was the surprise Of the
| widow, to be waited upon by the wealthy
Ohm McDonogh himself, dressed in a
bran new suit, with a spot!ess white vest
and cravat, and bearing under his arm
that Identical green umbrella, which
twenty years afterwards constituted one
Of the peculiarities of his appearance in
our streets. Shown into the lady's, parlor
McDcnogh, upon the appearance of the
widow, Immediately commenced to un-
fold the object of his visit. He stated
that he owned large possessions, and
hoped ere he died, to possess the greater
part of the landed estate in Louisiana
that this was the darling object of his
ambition, but, unfortunately, his own
means were not adequate to the attain
ment of his high aim. He only lacked
one thing-at the same time infusing all
the humanity of his soul into the big
basilisk eyes which glared upon the
handsome face of the widow. "What
was that!' "What could Mr.. McDon-
OCH want?" inquired the lady. With
his usual business-like promptitude, MIR.
McDonogh replied, ''your hand, Madam"
"My hand?" exclaimed the lady, burst
ing out into laughter. Together, add
ed Mr.. McDonogh. "with your swamp
lands in rear of the city, What follow
ell, the legend omits; but the result was
that MIR. McDonogh was seen to leave
the widows house with a countenance
denoting indignation and surprise. lie
vowed revenge and lived to execute it,
Years afterwards. this same widow,
having been otferd a large price for
piece Of city property, found that two
lots at the corner Of the square, which
was chiefly owned by her, were the pro-
perty of MIR. John McDonogh. 1t was
necessary that she should have these
lots to complete her sale. They had
cost Mr.. McDonough but few hundred
dollars. What was her surprise on
sending a broker to him, to be in
formed that he might take $4,000, but
nothing less. The widow determined 10
try the virtue of little personal persua-
sion; perhaps she could kindle the old
flame, and thus induce him to relax
Accordingly, she paid MIN visit She
found, him at his dreary old house at
McDonoghville. He was buried in mus
ty papers, surrounded by his negro clerks,
copying records. A single empty chair
sat in the room. The widow took this
and Immediately commenced the object
of her mission. Great was her surprise
to be informed by MIR. McDonogh. that
it was impossible for him to sell the lots
in question. He owned property no him.
SELF 1t was all God Alm:ghty's whose
agent he was, without the power to sell.
. At last, having exhausted all other arts
the lady thought she would try the effect
of old "reminiscences and associations,
to she blushingly and softly inquired of
she stern old millionaire how it was that
he should have once offered her his hand
and heart, and was now unwilling to
grant her this small privilege. "Ihat,
responded the hard hearted votary Of
Mammon, twas many years ago; then l
was thoughtiess and giddy, and you,
madam, were young and handsome"
AN ACCOMPLISHED MoRMoN.-A letter
from Paris, to the New York Observer,
gives the following notice of the Mormon
Missionary at that Dace.