New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-26
THE MAN WHO STRUCK HIMSELF.

Jason Elder belonged to that rather large
class of persons who find pleasure in the suffer
ings or misfortunes Of their fellow men. This is
stating the case rather broadly, and we do not,
in the least, doubt that Jason, should he ever
chance to discover this introduction of himself to
the public, will eject our classification, so far
as he is concerned. We make it understanding
ly, however. The fault we have indicated is
usually the companion of another. The man
who feels pleasure in the ll-fortune of his neigh
Dor will hardly hesitate to infiict an injury, if
it can be done with impunity.
Men Of the class to whom Jason Elder be-
longed rarely pass far on their life journey with
out misunderstanding with some OF their fellow
passengers. Of course, they are always in the
right, and their fellow passengers in the wrong
And, as they are the injured and the oppressed,
it is the most natural thing in the world for
them to feel indignant and quite, as natural to
notwithstanding blow for blow.
The man who wrongs me, neither forgive
nor forget" This was one of Jason Elders say
ngs, and very bad saying we cannot help de-
claring it to be-particularly SO in Jason's case,
for he quite lived up to his principles OF
course, judgment as to wrong was always rem
dered by himself, and on evidence wholly er
pdrfe. If he believed that another meant to do
him wrong-and he could believe, sometimes, on
very slight evidence-an evil purpose was as
quickly born in his mind as if positive testimo-
ny were DeIOTe MS eyes
In fact, Jason Elder was very bad sort of n
man, and often very troublesome to those who
had any dealings with him.
Among those who were favored with the
hearty dislike of Elder, was master mechanic
in small way, named Martin Lee, who, by in
dustry and economy, had accumulated enough
| to buy himself house of moderate size as a
home for his family. Elder also owned house
in the same neighborhood. These houses were
built on piece Of ground that originally be-
longed to the same estate.
MIR. Lee was a very upright man-too upright
| and independent to have much intercourse with
| man like Elder, and not mortally offend him
He had SO offended him, and the offence was
neither forgotten nor forgiven. In more thar
one instance his enemy had sought to do hin
injury, but the poisoned arrows, flung from his
bow, had flown harmlessly by him.
One day, while in conversation with one Of
those idle gossppng individuals, who give more
attention to other peoples business than they
do to their own, the latter said, in responding
to some ll-natured remark uttered against Mr..
Lee: Sc learned a fact yesterday that, may
| be, you would like to hear %
about that Lee !" eagerly inquired Elder.
"les, or, might better say, about the ground
on which he has built that snug little house"
"lndeed" Our gentleman was all alive
now, and commenced rubbing his hands in de-
lighted expectation. "What about the ground %
Iie'o uVlSoelNcs Wus Vic AdCOulC ANSWER.
"Nop
" Fact. Had it from old Larkin and rather
| think he ought to know something about it,"
"Well, that is news! Got a bad title, eh
wonder who's on the hip now, Mr.. Martin Lee''
"But surely, Mr.. Elder" said his informant,
"you will not take advantage of this informa-
| tion to in jure our friend Lee ~
"Won't /, indeed Wait and see. If don't
deal him staggering blow, my name is not
Jason Elder-thats all always said I'd bide
my time. Ha ha! A flaw in his title. But
| that's just his way of doing business I'd like
to see any one pick flaw in mine''
| True to the evil purpose declared, Elder took
the first opportunity to search out the party to
whom the property owned by Lee would revert,
in case a defect really did exist in his title, and
| communicated the fact alleged. This individual
whose name was Earl, seemed at first ncredu-
lous; but when Larkn was mentioned as au-
thority, seemed to feel quite an interest ia the
matter.
81 am really indebted to you," he said, with
bland smile - should it prove true that there
is defect, ! shall have quite windfall and it
could not have reached me in better time. l
| will have the matter investigated at once.'
.' That blow will tell hard, surely. have
planted it below the fifth rib said Elder TO
himself, in tone of cruel exultation, as he left
the presence of Mr.. Earl.
Throug much self-denial and hard labor,
continued trough many years, had Mr. Lee
been able to provide modest homestead for
his family. He had been the more anxious to
accomplish this, from the fact that declining
health warned him of the approach of day
how speedily it might arrive, he knew not
when the beloved ones who leaned on him so
| conhdingly, would have none to care for them.
If he could secure home, into which they might
cluster together, he felt that much would be
gained. And this he had accomplished; but
the effort cost too dearly. He had taxed his
| physical system to an extent that produced a
serious reaction; and, though he secured
dwelling for his family, he permanently weak
ened his constitution.
| One day, in making sudden effort, he rup-
tured blood vessel, and was taken home in a
dangerous condition. This was on the very day
that Jason Elder made the unfortunate discovery
of a defect in the title of the property Little
dreamed he, as with death knocking at his
door, he found consolation in the thought that
his family, even if he were taken from them,
would not be left without home; that at the
very time, there was a movement on foot to de-
prve them of their little patrimony. And well
for him was it that the veil of ignorance was
before his eyes; for, had he known of the threat
ened danger, the knowledge would surely have
cost him his life
| the house of Mr.. Lee, to notify him that pro-
ceedings were about being instituted for the
purpose of testing the validity of his title; but
learning that he was dangerously i'll. he went
away without leaving any word as to the pur-
port of his business.
In the meantime, Elder, who had not heard
of MIR. Lees illness, was awaiting, with some in
terest, to see the ultimate effect of the blow he
had struck There we're times when, in a r.eas-
ure, he repented of what he had DONE But the
repentance was not very deep; and his ili-will
towards Mr.. Lee soon obliterated all traces
thereof
On the third day Elder received a brief note
from Mr.. Earl, desiring him to call at his ONCE
as he wished to see him on particular business;
There was something in this note that affected
Mr.. Elder unpleasantly. What it was, however,
| he could not discover, although he read 1t over
and over again, at least hall dozen times.
81 wonder what he wants with me p he said,
uneasily, as he started off promptly, to obey the
summons. a. Il. -. i.
"Ah, Mr. Elder I'm glad TO zee you" Mr..
! Earl smiled, and offered his hard: But there