Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-01-14


of Indignation.
a Il couldn't have believed il of him. said he
six thousand dollars! Preposterous! Why
j. ! would gice the city lot twice that size
and do il with pleasure
Would your said member fthe Coun
d oil, who happened to hear the remark.
Certainly would
j You are really in earnestr
Undoubtedly. Go and select public
g square from any of my Incorporated land
on the West side of the city, and will pass
you a title as a free gift tomorrow, and feel
pleasure in doing so
That is public spirit said the Council
man
Call it what you will, am pleased in ma
, king the Offer
Now. let it not be supposed that Mr.. Jones
was shrevdly calculating the advantage which
would result to him from having park at
the West side OF the city. No such thought
had yet entered his mind. lie spoke from
the impulse Of generous feeling.
Time passed on. and the session day OF
The Council came round--s day to which
Smith had looked forward with no ordinary
feelings of interest, that were touched Al
times by the GOODNESS of doubt, and the agi-
tation of uncertainty. Several times he had
more than hail repenIed of his refusal TO
accept the liberal offer of five thousand dol
lars, and Of having fixed so positively upon
six thousand dollars rs lhe 'lowesl figure
The morning oflhe day passed, aud Smith
began TO grow uneasy, He did not venture
| to seek tOf information as TO the doines OF
! the Council. for that would be TO expose the
/ anxieiy he felt 10 the result vi their dellber-
] atoms Slowly the afternoon wore away,ahd
II so happened thst Smith did not meet any
one OF the CouCcilmen; nor did be even
Know whether the Council was still in
session or not As to making dllusion TO The
subject oi this anxious interest 10 any one, |
that was carefully avoided for he knew that
his exhorbiant demand was the- town talk
aud he wished TO effect the most perfect in
difference on the subject.
The day closed and not whisper about
the town lot had come 20 the ears of Mr.. (
SmIlh. What could il meant Had his Of I
ler TO sell al six thousand been rejected
The very thought caused has heart to grow
heavy in his bosom. Six, seven. eight
O'Clock came and still it was all dark with
Mr. Smith. He could bear he suspe nse no
longer, and so determined TO call upon his
nelghbor Wilson, who was a. member Of The
Council. and learL from him what had been
done.
oo TIC CdlItu on VII. WllSon.
Sah, friend Smith said the latter; how
are YOU this evening z
We'll, th&k you returned Smith. feel
ing certain oppression Of the chest How
are you ,
Oh, very WELL
ae'e then was a pause. After which, :
Smith said
'About that ground Of mine. What did
you do 2 i
Nothing replied Wilson, coldly. i
Nothing did you say = Smiths voice
" as little husky.
No. You declined our offer or, rather b
he high price fixed by yourself upon the y
and
You refused to buy it at FIVE thousand, :.
when it was offered said Smith. y
u know we did, beccuse your demand was n
Ia
20 no, not ALL returned Smith quickly ii
'ln that we only differ said WILSON
However the Council has decided not to pay .
ou the prceyou ask II
Unanimously "
There was not a dissenting voice q,
Smith began TO feel more and more un- -
comfortable. q
i might take something less he ventuIed ol
o say IN a low hesilaling voice. W
III IS too late now was Wilson's prompt O,
epy.
Too late How so 2 ="
We have procured lot
Mr.. Wilson, Poor Smith started to his yt
'ei IN chdgrin and astonishmeut IN
Yes: we have taken one of Jones' lots o.
n the West side Of the city. A beautiful
- acre lot. ir'
You have! Smith was actually pale. sa
we tava and tho tit la Had. 80 -. -!
6 made OUT :
IL was sommetime before Smith had suffi-
emily recovered from the stunning effect of pr
us unlocked for intelligence, TO make the in
lqury. nj,
And pray how much did Jones ask for his "a,
u acre lot
He presented ii to the city as gih, re- oo'
led the Councilman. fru
"A Gilt What fullyP tru
mo, not folly--but true worldly wisdom bis
ough l believe Jones did not think of ad- -
ntage TO himself when he generously made "''
e offer. He is worth twenty thousand dol- see
IS more to-day than he was yesterday, in ad,
e simple advanced value Of his aud for tin
ildiog lots. Aud know of no man in this '
WI whose good fortune affects me with w
Dre pleasure ere
Smith stole back to hIs home with noun lac
a OF disappointment on his heart. In his the
pld;ty he had entirely overre eached himself and
he saw that the consequences were To -.
act upon all his future prosperity. The cup
bile square al The west end OF the town sell
uld draw improvements in that direction, rug
Tue wni'e increasing tue wealth OF Mr.. imp
mes, while lots st the north cod would re-
'in at present prices, or, II might be, take =
downward range.
Il so proved. 10 ten yens, Jones was the age
hest man in town, while hall Of Smth's mar
'periy had been sold for taxes. The five ;e,l,
e lot passed from his hands, under the :.
miner, Ia the foreclosure Of a mortgage. '"e
one Thousand dollars cult
Thus IL is that uordrnate 'selfshness aud will
1idry overreach themselves while the svm
'ral man dsy.selh liberal things, sud is UI.,