The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-12
l26

the next day came, and the next, and the next
tn man who always ate stale bread regu
larry pocketed his two humps of sugar, beat his
accustomed march, pulled up his Hessian boots
az did ali that he had been accustomed to do
wrh the exception Of paying his bills.
The charge in bis usual practice continued for
& week, a. the end Of which time the proprietor
of the cofee-house, ignorant of the name or
residence of his debtor, determined upon pre-.
seutiHg him with bill, the more especially as
the little man gave no explanation of his con.
d1ct, or made any ausion to this remarkable
change in his ancient habits.
Dominic, the chief waiter of the establish.
ment, had become attached to the old man, in
Consequence of the little trouble he gave, and
his quiet and gentle demeanor. Dominic i'm
sgined, from the circumstance of his not dimin
ishirg the expense of his breakfast, that the
god man was merely laboring under some
temporary embarrassment; 80 that, partly from
calculation, and partly from good feeling, Dom
inic determined to become responsible to the
proprietor for the past and future breakfasts
not doubling that the embarrassment would
shortly cease, and that the little man would
soon settle his arrears, and perhaps accompany
the settlement with gratuity for the accommo-
dation.
Bot Dominic was deceived in his calculation
of time ten months elapsed without any alu
zion to the matter, or offer of payment The
cofee-house keeper and his walters began to
shrug their shoulders and make long faces at
the risk poor Dominic was running. Dominic
himself, exposed to these daily doubts, began
TO think that he had acted too literally in be-
coming responsible for man whose debt
seemed destined to go on sccruing forever
when one day the old man, without any expls
nation, demanded bis account, settled it in full
and after q careful calculation banded to the
waiter, in addition, the sum of fifteen francs
six sous as his gratuity, at the rate of one sou
day for ten months, of which four contained
each thirtyo one days.
If interest alone had guided the conduct of
the head waiter, it must be confessed that he
bad lamentably failed in the result, for in
France the contributions to the walters are all
placed in one general cssh.box, and at the end
of a certain period the proceeds are divided
among all the servants of the house-the mas
ter first helping himself to the lions share; at
this rate, therefore, Dominic's recompeDse
would probably amount to a solitary sixpence.
Dominic knew this, but was satisfied with the
reward of his own heart; he thanked the old
man graciously for the payment, placed the
gratuiiy in the common receptacle, and trans
ferred the other moneys to his own stronghold,
for he had previously paid, day by day, the ex-
pense of the breakfast from his own pocket.
The little man IOlOWeO DOMINIC movements
with his eyes, at the same time beating upon
the table a march, somewhat longer and little
more vehement than was his wont but by no
word or movement did he afford an indication
of having understood the liberal conduct of the
waiter in his behalf
About the close of the same yesr-.hat is to
say, three or four months after the liquidation
of this singular debt-the proprietor of the cafe,
who had realized fortune, announced his
intention Of disposing of the establishment and
retiring from trade.
Hearing this intention announced in the
cafe, the old gentleman made sign to Domi-
mic, who was in attendance, to approach, and
began conversation. Dominic was as much
surprised at this sudden fiji of lcqaacity, as
though one of the stucco figures on the ceiling
had opened is mouth, and had asked for cup
of coffee. But Dominic was destined to be
even more surprised at the nature of the con.
versstion.
"My friend" said the little old gentleman to
the head waiter, you are a good fellow, and /
wish you we'll"
Dominic bowed, aud elevated his shoulders
with that slight movement which may be in
terpreted, al libuun, to mean, 81 sm much
obliged" or" 1t j. of little consequence to me-"
The cid man took the former explanation, and
continued
ical | know this, and much more of which /
do not speak, because am too well acquainted
with the value of words to throw them away.
know You have saved money"
Dominic bounded back step or two, and
the action hardly needed to be interpreted.
- "He is about to ask me to lend him money"
thought the head waiter.
The questiorer appeared to divine the
thoughts of the waiter; his visage was for an
instant distorted with grimace, OF which the
model may he seen in the fgares of the micdle
ages which decorate the porch of some Gothic
church.
"Dominic," he continued, al see that | am
right-you have money in the funds. This is
excellent; and now to reply to my question
shortly, and to the purpose. Do you think,
from your own knowledge, that an intelligent
man, DESTROYS of improving his circumstances,
would find this favorable speculation in which
TO risk capital so large as that demanded by
your master for his business?"
Dominic was pleased to have an opportunity
of talking on subject which entirely occupied
his thoughts If" said he, "the purchaser
understood the business SO as to be able to at
tend to his own interest, and if he was not
compelled TO borrow or purchase money on ex-
trsvaesnt terms, be would find the business a
fortune"
"Well and why do you not purchase i?
"Mercy, j with what?"
With your savings"
my ssvingsi they do not altogether amount
to ten thousand fsncs."
Ten thousand francs Row long have you
been in service, Dominica"
II have carried the napkin for twenty three
years | am now thirty nine"
"You are good fellow, as / said the man
who could amass ten thousand francs by add
ing sou 70 sou, would soon be worth million
at the head Of house like this. Decidedly, it
muet be So Dominic, know person who
could assist you with losu; how much do you
want y
"Nothipg. / would not incur a debt of two
hundred and twenty thousand francs-the risk
as too great, and the interest would probably
absorb ali the profit. l would rather continue
waiter a few years longer, and retire upon q
small annuity, than run the risk of marching to
prison in the shoes of q bankrupt"
"You speak sense, my friend but leave the
matter TO me-"
The old man then adjusted the folds Of his
boots, and Departed, without utterirg another
word. The next morning, he came to the cafe
half an hour earlier than was his custom. Dom
inic commenced arranging his table, but the
old man arrested his arm.
Where is the proprietor said he.
ain his cabinet" said Dominic.
conduct nae to him."
Dominic moved forward, to show the cid man
the way 4; his heart beat with violence, for, al
though he had passed the whole of the prece
ding dsy in trying to convince himself that the
good man was weak In his intellect, and was
trihing with him, stl his perplexity returned
when he beheld the air of assurance and
determination with which I" the man who ate