The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-08-03
From The San Francisco Golden Era.
THE OLD CARTMAN.
By BLURDERBUsS.

future, and devote myself TO the elaboration
of lies into chapters and the purest fictions
into volumes of seventeen hundred pages
each
With :his understanding, proceed at
once TO remark, that five years ago or there
abouts, John Ainsey-or "Pap Ainsley," as
he was familiarly cal.ed--%as I,fe owner OF
handcart, aud earned living by convey
ing miscellaneous parcels from one section
of The city 10 another, ,and receiving therefor
The reasonable remuneration of fifty cents
per load. To designate the occupation in
the prosiest language possible, he was
hand cartman, and when not employed,
could always be found during working
hours at the corner of Montgomery and
California streets. His hair and long beard
were quite gray and his limbs feeble and
if he could not shove as heavy load thro'
the deep sand or up the steep grade above
him as the stalwart Teuton on the opposite
corner, thereby losing many al Job and many
a dollar, all the light loads in the neigebor-
hood fell 10 his lot, and kind hearted men
not unfreqeently travelled a square or two
out of their way TO give an easy Job TO Pap
Ainsley.
-Four years ago last September, q recol-
lect the month, for had note of 81, 900 10
pay, and was compelled TO do some sharp
hnanciering to meet it,) having or dozen
volumes of books to transfer TO my lodging
gave Pap Ainsly the task of transportation.
Arriving al my room just as he had deposit
ed the last armful on the table, and observ-
ing that the old man looked considerably
fatigued, after climbing three flights of
stairs five or six times, invited him TO take
glass OF brandy-a bottle of which US
ually kept in my room, for medical and
soporific purposes. Although grateful Tor
the invitation, he politely declined. urged,
but he was inhexibe was astonished.-
"Do you never drink ?" said |. every sell
dom," he replied, dropping into a chair, and
wiping the perspiration from his forehead.
"Well, if you drink at all,' insisted, "you
! will not fluid in the next twelvemonths as
fair an excuse for indulging, for you appear
fatigued and scarcely able to stand" "To
be frank" said the old man, "I do not drink
now. have not tasted intoxicating liquor
for fifteen years-since-" 'Since when 2n
| inquired thoughtlessly, observing his hes.
itaton.
The old man told me. Sixteen years ago
he was a well-to-do farmer near Syracuse
MY. He had but one child, daughter-
! While attending a boarding school in
that city, the girl, then but sixteen years
of age: formed an attachment for young
physician. Acquaintng her father with the
circumstances, he fatty refused his consent
10 her union with man he never had seen,
and removing her from school, dispatched
note 10 the gallant, with the somewhat
pointed information, that his presence in
The neighborhood of the Ansley farm would
not meet with favor The reader of course
surmises the result, Tor such proceeding
could have but one result. Iii less than a
| month there was an elopement. The father
loaded his double barrelled shot gun, and
swore vengeance, but failing TO find the fu.
gitives, he took to the bottle. His good
wife implored him not 10 give way TO dis
pair, but he drank the deeper, and accused
her of encouraging the elopement. In thre 9
months the vile died, and at the expiration
of year, when the young couple returned
10 Syracuse from Connecticut, where they
had remained with the parents of the hus-
band, they learned that the old man, after
the death of his wife, of which they had oil
course been apprsed, had sold his farm,
squandered the proceeds, and was almost
destitute. Learning of their arrival, Ainsley
drank himself into frenzy, and proceeded
TO the hotel where they were stopping, at.
tackled the husband, wounding him in the
arm with pistol shot, and then attempted
The life of his daughter, who, happily,
escaped uninjured through the einterpostion
of persons brought TO the spot by the report
OF the pistol. Ainsley was arrested, tried
and acquitted on the plea of insanity. The
daughter and her husband returned 10 Con.
necticut, since which time the father had
not heard from them. He was sent TO lu.
natic Asylum, which he was dismissed af.
ter remaining SIX months. In 1851 he came
to California. He had followed mining fol
two years, but finding his strength Unequal
TO the pursuit, returned TO this city, pur.
chased kandcart, and-the rest is known
"Since them" concluded the old man, bow.
Ing his face in his hands in agony, III have
not tasted liquor, nor have Tseen my pool
child" lregretted that had been SO in
quisitive and expressed to the sufferer the
sympathy really felt for him. After that,
seldom passed the corner without looking
for "Pap Ainsley," and never saw him bu
to think of the sad story he had told me.
One chilly, drizzling day in the Decembe
following, gentleman having purchased {
small marble top table at an auction room
| opposite, proffered 10 the old man the jol
of conveying it 10 his residence on StocktoI
street Not wishing 10 accompany the car
rier, he had selected the face, probably
giving the best assurance Of the careful de
livery OF the purchase.
Furnished with the rumber of the house