Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-26
From the San Francisco Golden Era
THE OLD CARTMAN.
THE BLUNDERBUss

Inas IL IL OIiels Hldy Oe seen at a glance
that it is true most emphatically avow
If the reader despise it because of the |
first, or the editors of the Era reject it |
for reason of the last, then / will eschew
truth in the future, and devote myself to
the elaboration lies into chapters and the
Purest fictions into volumes of seventeen
hundred pages each.
With this understanding, proceed at
once to remark, that FIVE years ago, or
thereabouts, John Ainsley,-or Pap
Ainsley,' as he was Familiarity called
was the owner of hand cart, and earn
ed living by conveying miscellaneous
parcels from one section of the city to
another, and receiving therefor the reas-
enable remuneration of fifty cents per
load To designate the occupation in the
prosiest language possible, be 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 through the deep sand or
up the steep grade above him, as the
stalwart Tenton on the opposite corner,
thereby loosing many job and many
dollar, all the light loads in the neighbor-
hood fell to his lot, and kind hearted
men not unfrequently travelled square
or two out of their way to give an easy
Sob to Pap Ainsley.'
-Four years ago last September, q
recollect the month, for I had a note of
four thousand dollars to pay, and was
compelled to do some pretty sharp fnan-
ciering to meet it,) having two Or three
volumes to transfer TO my lodgings, /
gave Pap Ainsley' the task of trans
portation. Arriving at my room just as
he had deposited the last armful on the
table, and observing that the old man
looked considerably fatigued after climb
ing three flights of stairs five or six
times, invited him to take a glass of
brandy-a bottle of which usually kept
in my room for medicinal and soporifc
purposes. Although grateful for the in
vitation, he politely declined. i urged,
but he was infexible. was astonished
Do you never drink 2 said |. Very
seldom he replied, dropping into chail
at my request, and wiping the peFsPira
tion from his forehead. Well, if yor
drink at ALL insisted, you will no
find in The next twelve month as fair al
excuse for indulging, for you appear ia
tigued, and scarcely able to stand Il
be frank said the old man, do no
drink now. l have not tasted intoxica
ting liquor for fifteen years-since -
Since when ? l inquired, tboughtless
ly, observing his hesitation.
The old man told me. Sixteen year
ago he was well-to-do farmer near Sy
racuse, New York. He had but on
child, a daughter. While attending
boarding school in that city, the gir
then but sixteen years of age, formed a
attachment for young physician. A
uuainting her father with the circun
stance, he fatty refused his consent
her union with man he had never see
and removing her from school, dispatc
ed note to the young gallant, with Il
somewhat pointed information, that
presence in the neighborhood of q
Ainsley farm would not meet with fave
The reader of course surmises the J
suit, for such proceeding could and C
have but one result. In less than
month there was an elopement. I
father loaded his double-barrelled 81
gun, and swore vengeance, but ia
ing to find the fugitives, he took to
Octblc. Lis eOo0 WIG iin pioACu hAo
70 give way to despair, but he drank !
deeper, and accused her of encourage
the elopement. In three months
wife died, and at the expiration o
year, when the young couple returned
Syracuse from Connecticut, where q
had remained with the parent of the b
band, they learned that the old man,
ter the death of his wife, of which 4
had of course been apprised, had sold
farm, squandered the proceeds, and
almost destitute. Learning of their
rival, Ainsley drank himself into f
~, and proceeding to the hotel wi
they were stopping, attacked the
band woUnding him in the arm wi
pistol shot, and then attempted the
of his daughter, who, happily, escs
uniniured through the interpositiol
persons brought to the spot by the re
of the pistol. Ainsley was arrested I
and acquitted on the plea Of insanit