The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-07
The Turnpike Boy and the Banker.

1ns turnpike Boy and the Banker.
IL was during panic some years since
that gentleman whom we shall now call
Mr. Ihoinpson,was seated with something
OF II melancholy look, in his back room,
watching his clerks paying awav thous,
anIs of pounds hourly. Mr.. Thompson,
was a banker of excellent credit; there
existed, perhaps, in the city of London No
saler concern than that Of Messrs Thomp
son ~ C1, but at u nom :nt such as |
speak OF, no rational reflection was admit.
tel; no former stability was looked to {;
general dlstrust WAS felt and every one
rus.e 10 his bank " Withdraw hi, hoard
fearful that the next instant would he to-
Late, forgetting entirely that this step was
OF all others, the most likely to ensure the
ruin he sought TO avoid.
Bat to return. The wealthy citizen sat
gIoomiIy watching the outpoaring of his
gold, and with grim smne listened to
clainorous demands to his cashier for al
though he felt perfectly easy and secure as
70 the ultimate strength Of his resources,
yet he could not repress a feeling Of bitter
ness aS he SAW constituent after consttu-
ent rush IN, and those he always fon lily
imagined to be his friends eagerly assist
ing III the run Upon his strong box.
Presently the door was opened and Il
stranger ushered in, who, after gazing a
moment ut the bewilIerc banker, cool
~ drew chair and abruptly address
| him:
You will pardon me, sir, for asking
rather strange question:; but | am a
plain man, and like to come straight to
the poiut."
"Well, sir, mpa.ica,ly Interrupted the
other.
81 have heard tha. you hive run Oh
your ban'i."
"Wellp
"ls it true Z"
'aca!ly, sir, ma't do;Iinc replying to
your very extraordinary query. 1t. how.
ever you have any money in the bank
you had better AZ once draw it out, aud So
satisfy yourself; our cashier will instant
ly pay you; and the banker rose rs a
1 hint Tor the stranger to withdraw.
"FAr from it, sir; Ihaye not u sixpence
in your hands"
Then may ask yoa wha: is yoar bu
sincss hero ?"
Il wish to know il a small SUN will aid
you at this mo n.ntt"
why do You ask that question 7"
"BecanSe if it wou!d, would gIa lily
pay in Il d"positc."
The money dealer started.
"You seem surprised; you don't know
my person or my motive. I'll at once ey
plain. Do you recoIloct m. twenty yeus
ago, when you resided il Essex!"
Perfectly"
swell, then, sir, perhaps you have moi
forgotten the turnpike gate through which
you passed dailyf My father kept that
gate, IN was very often hoa ,rcl with "A
few minutes chat with you. One Christ
mas morning my father was sick, and
attended the toll bar. On that lay rot
passe | through and opened the gate.
DO you rccoIleA it, sirl"
Not |, my friend"
mo, sir; few such men remembe
their kind deeds, but those benetittc by
them, seldom forget them. am perlrap,
Prolix; listen, however, few momcnr
anl | shall have done"
The Banker, who began to feel nteres
tel at once asscnted.
"Wcll, sir, rs said before, | threw
open the gate for you, and as con siderec
myself in duty bound, wished you hap
py Christmas. Thank yon, my Iad,' re
plied you-'thank you, aud the same L
you; here is II trihe to make it so;' and
you threw me seven shilling piece; i
was the first money ever possessed, anC
never shall | forget my joy on receiving
It, or your kind smile in hestowing it.
long treasured it, and as grew up addec
a little bit to il, till was able to rent .
toll myself You soon after left that par
Of the country, and lost sight of you
Yearly, however, | have been gaining
your present brought good fortune; Ian
now comparatively rich, and to you con
sidcr owe all. So this morniny, hea.fn.
accidentally that there was run on you
Bank, ] collected all my capital, and hav
brought it to lodge with you in case it cal
be Of any use: here it is; and he hande,
bundle Of bunk notes to the ayitaie,
Thompson. In few days will call q
gain; "nl snatching up his hat, the stran
ger throwing down his card, immediateI
/ walked ont Of the room.
, Thompson opened the roll, it containe
f8o,000l The stern Binker--.for all baL
ers must be stern-5urst into tears. TIL
firm did not require this drop; but III
, motive was so noble, that even million
: arc sobbcl -he could not help it. III