The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-08-20
COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA. SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1859.
From the San Francisco Gall Golden Era.
THE OLD CARTMAN.

From the San Francisco (Cal) Golden Era.
THE OLD CARTMAN.
l Ihave a mind to tell little story. Tha
it is brief, may be seen at glance that i
is true, most enphatically avow. If tn,
reader dsspise it because Of the first, or tn,
editors Of the Era reject it for reason Of
the last, then will eschew truth in the fu
ture, and devote myself to the elaboration
of lies into chaptersl and the purest fictionl
into volumes Of seventeen hundred page,
each.
With this understanding, proceed o,
once to remark, that FIVE years ago, or there.
abouts, John Ainslcy-or "Pap Ainsley,' .
as he was familiarly called-was tho owner
Of handcart, and earned living by con.
veying miscellaneous parcels from one sec.
ton OF the city to another, and receiving
therefor, the reasonable remuneration Of
fifty cents per load. To designate the oc.
cupatlon in the prosiesb language possible
he was hand -cartman, and when not EN-.
ploye ,could always be found during ork +.
ing hours, at the corner of Montgomery and
California streets. His hair and long beard
was 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 Teuton, on the opposite
corner, thereby losing many job and many
a dollar, all the light jobs in the neighbor-
hoed fell 10 his lot, and kind hearted men
not unfreTently travelled square or two
out of Their way, to give an easy job to
"Pap Ainshy."
Four years ago last September, (I recol-
lect the month, for l had note of four
thousand dollars, to pay, and was compelled
to do somepretty sharp financiering to meet
it,) having two or three dozen volumes of
books to trasfer to my lodging, | gave
"Pap Ainsley" the task of transportation.
Arriving at my room just as he had depos-
tied the last armful on the table, and OBJ
serving that the old man was considerably
fatigued after climbing three flights of stairs
five or six times. l invited him to take q
glass Of brandy-a bottle of which usually
kept in nv room, fer medical and sopori6c
purposes. Although grateful for the lnvi-
tation, he politely declined. l urged, but
be was infexible. was astonished.
"Do you never driuk ?" said |.
every seIdom," he replied, dropping into
chair, a: my request, and wiping the per-
splratlon from his forehead. s~
"Well, if you drink at ALL" insisted,
"you will not find in the next twelve eim onths
as fair an excuse for indulging, for you ap-
pear fat.gued and scarcely able to stand"
"To be frank" said the old man, 81 do
not drink now. have not tasted intoxi-
eating liquors for fifteen years-siuce-''
"Since when ?" Inquired, thoughtle,sly,
observing his hesitation.
The old man told me. Sixteen years ago
he was a WELT to-do farmer near Syracuse,
New York. He had but one child-a daugh-
ter. While attending boarding in
that city, the girl, then but sixteen years of
age, formed an attachment for a young
physician. Acquainting her father with the
circumstances, he fatty refused his consent
to her union with man he mad never seen,
and removing her from school, dispatched
a note to the young gallant, with the some
what pointed information that his presence
in the neighborhood of Ainsley farm would
not be met with favor. The reader of
course surmises the result, for such pro-
ceeding could and can have but one result.
In less than a month there was an elope-
ment. The father loaded his double barrel
shotgun, and swors vengeance, but failing
to find the fugitives, he took to the bottle.
His good wife implored him not to give
way to dlspar, but hs drank the deeper,
and accused her Of encouraging the elope-
ment.
In three months the wife died, and at the
expiration of year, when the young couple
returned to Syracuse, from Connecticut,
where they had remained with the parents
of the husband, they learned that the old
man, after the death of his wife, of which
they had of course been apprised, had sold
his farm, squandered the proceeds, and was
almost destitute. Learning OF their arrival ,
Ainsley drank himself into frenzy, and pro-
ceeding to the hotel where they were stop
ping, attacked the husband, wounded him
in the arm with the pistol shot, and then
attempted the life of his daughter, who
happily escaped uninjured, through the
interposition 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 to Connecticut, since
which time the father had not heard from
them. He was sent to a luuatic asylum.
from which he was dismissed after remain
ing six months. In 1851 he came to Cali
fornia. He had followed mining for two
years, but finding his strength unequal to
the pursuit, returned to this city, purchased
a hand cart, and-the rest is KNOWN
"Since then,r concluded tho old man, bow
ing his face in his hands in agony, 81 have
not tasted liquor, nor have seen my poor
child" regretted that had been so in
1uisitive and expressed to the sufferer the
sympathy really felt for him. After that,
l seldom passad the corner without looking
for "pap Ainsley," and never saw him but
to think of the sad story he had told me.
One chilly, drizzling day in the December
following, gentleman having purchased
small marble top table at IN auction room
opposite, proffered to the old man the job
Of conveying it to his residence on Stockton
street. Not wishing to accompay the car
rier he selected the face, probably giving
the best assurance of tho careful delivery
Of the purchase.
Furnished with the number of the house,
the o.d cartman, after pretty trying strug-
gle with the steep ascent Of California steet.
reached his destination, and deposited the
table into the hall. Lingering moment,
the lady did not seem to surmise the reason,
uutii ne pOliteiy iii vi hSu het tH"s 'S. H"'
band (for such he took him to be) had
probably, by accident, neglected to settle
for the carriage. "Very we'll, l will pay
you," said the lady, stepping into m ad-
joining room. She returned, and stating
that she had no small coin in the house,
handed the man twenty dollar piece. He
could not make the change. ''Never mind
i will come morrow" said he, turning
to 60. "No, mol" replied the lady, glancns
pityingly at his white locks and trembling
limbs; 81 will not permit you to put your
self to SO much trouble !" and she handed
the coin to Bridget, with instructions to
see if she could get it changedat one OF the
stores or markets in tho neighborhood.
"Step into the parlor until the girl re-
turns; the air is chilly, and you must be
cold," continued the lady, kindly. "Come," i"
she added, rs he looked at his rough attire,
and hesitated; "there is good fire in the
crate, and no one there but the children y
sit is somewhat chilly" replied the old
man, following her into the parlor, and
taking q seat near the fire. ''Perhaps may
find some silver in the house," said the lady
leaving the room, .for fear Bridget will
not succeed in getting the twenty changed
SsGomo hasa l;f.i, ono - soi1 fho o1d m n IN.