Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-06-27
VOL. Xiv.
HOW MUCH DID HE LEAVE.
BY T. s. ARTHUR

" How much did be leave.
"A large amount ofmouev, sir; I don't know
how much. Some say half million of dol
lars"
His death is considered great loss to the
community, presume"
Loss sir?" The man TO whom was speak
ing looked into my face with the air of one
whose mind was not exactly clear as to my
meaning.
Yes; man of his wealth must have been
a very useful man."
Useful? don't know that he was partie-
ulary useful. He was rich and did not care
much for anybody but himself"
Still, with his ample means" said "even
though caring only for himself he must have
been the promoter Of large industrial enter
prises, through which many were benefit
ted?"
The man shook his head doubtfully.
What did be do with his money!"
Il never heard OF his doing anything with
it, particularly" was tie unsatisfactory an
swer.
money must be 1sed in order to make it
productive. Was he not in business?"
mo, sir
"What, then, did he do with hmself?'
"Oh, he was always about alter bits ofprop-
erty that had to be sold. He was sharp for
bargains in real estate"
"Ah, see how it was. Then be did find
use for his money!"
I'm that way he did. But when piece of
property came into mis- hands there was an end
to its Improvement He let other people i'm,
prove all around him, and thus increase the
value of what he owned; so that he grew rich
every day without putting his hand to anything
or beneftting anybody
This was your half million man! And so
all he has left are these property accumula-
tions?1
"An"
"Then his death is not regarded as pub
lie calamity?"
No indeed. sir 1t is considered a public
benefit. lie has couple of sons, and coup
le of sons in law. who will scatter much ids
ter than he saved. The moment they come
/ into possession of his estate, it will be divided
and lots of ground, which ought to have been
improved years ago. will be sold and covered
with handsome buildings, thus giving trade and
industry a new impulse Why, sir, lie has
been dead weight on our town for years;
growing richer and richer and richer through
other peoples enterprise, and yet not adding
a building himself, or in any way serving the
common good"
a l thought said I, from the long array OF
carriages, that death had taken, in this instance
a valued and now lamenied citizen"
"Mere ostentation, sir. But nobody is de
ceived. There are plenty of idle people vino
are pleased TO ride in funeral carriages. Old
Ellis will be put away with great flourish;
but chat will be the last OF him. The black
makes all the mourning"
But surely" said |, Ibis children are not
ilhouI Eatural affection, You do not mean
to say that theirs is only the scmblance of sor-
row.
%It is my opinion, sir. that theJ are glad in
their hearts. Why not? He stood hard ami
unyielding as ircn between them and the wealth
tley desired to possess. lie was cold, sonr
tempered and repulsve; crushing out, by his
manner and conduct, all natural Affection
They had too much policy to quarrel with
him Of late, though the time was when hot
words were said to have passed between them.
There are no CLEANS of light in your pic
turc,'' said l.
Il copy from nature, and can only give what
observe he answered. There are deep
valleys where the sunlight never comes, as well
as golden tinted landscapes" s
Il see another funeral" said looking to-
wards distant part oflhe cemetery. "There
are but two carriages, yet l see long line OF
mourners on foot. D. you know who they
are burying?"
"Ycs"
"Not a rich mau.@
There is no need of asking what he has
left. 1t is the burial of poor man"
"Yes, OF man poor in this worlds goods;
bnt, so far as his means went he was princely
/ in his muniicence. His death, sir, is public
| loss
The mans face frightened as he spoke.
You knew him?'
ayes sir, knew him well. He was rope
maker, working his ten hours every day, and
earning just nine dollars a week. But those
nine dollars seemed an inexhaustible fund for
good He had no wife and children of his
| own, to love and care for. They went, years
ago, to the blessed land where he is now fol-
lowing them. SO, after supplying his own
humble needs, the rope maker had FIVE dollars
every week left for investment. He did not
4 put this in the Savings Bank; nor buy tumble
down houses for the poor to live in at rent
of so per cent on their cost; nor take up bar
rem lots TO ho,d for an advance in price, con
sequent on neighboring Improvements. No;
his invest tnaents were made in 4 different spirit
as you shall see. First, he paid regularly, ev-
cry week, to poor woman in the neighbor-
hood who had two children to support, and
who could not leave them TO go out to work
4 III families, the sum Of three dollars, as teacher
of little boys and girls whose parents were un-
able to send them TO school. Two hours il
the morning, and two hours in the afternoon
these poor children received instruction. He
was their benelactor, and hers also; for it wa:
one of his sayings, that we must make tho
right hand help the left. His means of doing
good were small, and so he made them go as
far as possible"
"IIe was a noble fellow" said l. in admira
ton Of this rope maker.
"Tom Peters-yes; there was fine stuff il
his composition, if his hards were dark auC
bony, and if his clothes did smell of pitch anC
rosin."
:. ''He has left tender and fragrant memories
"He has, sir. The long line of funeral at
tendants are all true mourners. There is NJ
shafn there"
"And what else did he do with his money?
!, 1 asked, growing interested ia the rope ma
: ker,
; ale had two dollars week, still, for dis
pensation-"
1.-TWO dollars onlyr'
! "Yes. Let me see! For one thing, he pai
a boy half dollar week to read two hour
every evening to poor blind woman; and il