Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-12-08

to its possessor degree Of enyiable independ-
ence. His places of business and residence
were, as was customary at that time, under the
same roof lie had clerk in his employment
whose reputation as an accountant inspired the
utmost confidence Of his master, whose frugal
habits he emulated with true spirit and feeling
Of genuine Caledonian. II was usual for tho
accountant to make an annual balance sheet, for
the inspection Of his master, in order that no
might see what had been the profits Of his bust
ness for the last year. On this occasion the
balance sheet showed to the credit OF the bust
ness six thousand pounds, which somewhat as
tonishod the ncrcdulous merchant
III Gamma be- said no we had better count
up agen. dinna think ha' had sle profta-
bic beesness as this reprsents.'
The clerk with his usual patience, re-oxam.
ned the statement, aud declared that it was ga
right" and said no was willing to wager his
salary upon its correctness The somewhat
puzzled merchant scratched his head with sur
prise, and commenced adding up both sides of
the account himself. Ii proved right.
Il did ma think, said no that was worth
over four thousand pounds, but ye ha' made me
- hhHSh AiNN'i NSNlg NNNlf -"
been mair successful than tho't, and I'll ma
quarrel wi myself for being worth six thous-
and instead.
| AT early cande-lipLt the store was regularly
closed by tho faithful accountant and as soon
as he had gone, the sorely perplexed and incred-
ulous merchant commenced the painful task OF
going over and examining all the accounts for
himself. Night alter night did he labor in his
solitary counting house alone to look for the
error but every examination confirmed tho cor
rectness Of tho clerk, until the Scotchman be-
gan to believe it possible that he was really
worth sax thousand pounds.
Stimulated by the addition to his wealth, he
soou felt desire TO improve the condition Of his
household and with that view he made pur-
chase Of furniture, carpets, and other elegancies
consistent with the position Of a man possessing
the large fortune Of six thousand pounds
Painters and carpenters were set 10 work t.
tear down and build up and in short time
the glOomy-looking residence in Stone streei
was renovated 10 such degree as to attract the
curiosity and envy Of all his neehbors. The
doubts Of the old man would still, however, OBJ.
trude themselves upon his mind and he deter
mined once more 10 make thorough examina
ton Of his accounts.
On dark and stormy night 10 commenced
his labors, with the patient investigating spiri
Of man determined to probe the matter to the
very bottom. Il was past the hour Of midnight
yet he had not been able TO detect a single err.
ror; still he went on. His heart beat with
hope, for he had nearly reached the end Of hi;
labor. A quick suspicion seized his mind a.
10 one item in the account. Eurekai lie had
found it. With the frenzy Of mailman he
drew his broad-brimmed white hat over his eye,
aud rushed into the street. The rain and storm
were nothing to him. lie hurried to the resi-
dence Of his clerk, in Wall stree, reached the
door seized the handle Of the huge knockor
with which he raped until the neighborhood
was reused with the loud alarm
The unfortunate clerk poked his night-caT
out of an upper window, and demanded
What's there =
It's me, you scoundrel = said tho frenzied
merchant; 'ye're added up the year Of our Lara
among the pounds /"
Such was the fact. The addition ofthe yeal
of our Lord among the items had swelled the
fortune OF the merchant some two thousand
pounds beyond the amount.