The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-12-20
The Old Cartmaalnn,. n !

y
John Ainsley- Pap Alnsley,.. a
he was familiarity called-was the eva,
er of hand-cart, and earned Twin,
fby conveying miscellaneous, parcel
from one section of the city to another
and receiving therefor the REASONABLY
remuneration Of EEtycents per1oad. Il,
designate the occupation in the prosi
hest Language possible he was a hand
cart man, and when not employed
Icould. always be found during working
hours at the cornersof Montgomerya ant
California streets. His hair and long
beard We're quite grayrand his limb
feeple; and if he could not shove a,
heavy n load through the deep sand OIL
mp the steep grade above him, as the
Stalwart Teuton- on the opposite corner
thereby losing many job and many a
dollar, all the light loads in the neigh
borhood fell to his lot, and kind-heart
ed men not ,ynfrequently Travelled 9
square or two out of their wayto give
an easyjob to "Pap Ainsley." -,
-Four years ago last September, q
.recollect the month, for had a note OF
four thousand dollars to pay, and was
compelled to do some pretty sharp fl
nanciering to meet IT'D having two or
three dozen volumes to transfer to my
lodgings, gave" Pap Ainsley" the
task oftransportation. Arriving nj my
room just as he had deposited the last
armful Oh the table, and observing that
the old man looked considerably fatig-
ued after climbing three flights of stairs
two or three times, Invited him to
take a glass 81. brandy-au bottle Of
which usually kept, in my room for
medicinal purposes. Although CRATE
ful for the invitation, he politely decli-
ned; T 4 urged, but he was ihAcxible
[ was astonished.
"Do you never drink ?Y said l
g. 4" Very Seldom, be replied dropping
into chair at my request, and wiping
the pcrspiration from his forehead.
"Well, fyou drink at al" insisted,
You will not have rs fair an excuse in
the next twelve months for indulging,
for you appear fatigied and scarcely
able to stand. d.,0ffsirTU rgfr9o
"To be frank said the old man, IL
do not drink now. have net tasted
Intoxicating liquors for fifteen years,
since" g, ~ sg.r,y q, a.xsvC
Y" Since when?" l inquired, thought
lessly, observing his hesitation. 49,
The old man told me. Sixteen years
ago he was well-to-do flrmernear Sy-
racuse, New York. He had oneAchild,
a daughter. While attending board
ing school in that city, then a girl of
sixteen years of age, she formed an at
tachment for young physician. .Ac-
quainting her father with the cireum-
stances, he fatty refused his consent to
a union with a man whom he had nev-
er seen, and removing Ler from school,
despatched note to the yonng gallant
with the somewhat pointed information
that his presence in the neighborhood
Of the -Ainsley farm would not meet
with favor. The reader Of course sur
mises The. result, for such IA Proceeding
could have but one result, In less than
a month there was an elopemcnt The
father loaded his double!barreled shot
gun, and swore vengeance butyfailing
20 find the fugitives he took to the bot
tle.s His goodwiie implored him not to
give way to despair, but he drank. the
leeper, and accused her Of encouraging
he elopement. H~threc months the
wife died /; and at We expiration Of
'ear, when the young people returned |
o Syracuse, from Cohileetie,,t, wbere
hey had remained with the parents Of
he husband, they learned that the old
nan had Sold his farm, squandered the
proceeds, and was almost destitute.
earning of their arrival, Ainsiey drank
into frenzy, and proceeded to
he hotel where thcywere stopping, at
acked the husband, wounded him in the
lrm by pistol shot, and attempted the
ife of his daughter, who happily csca-
,cdllininjured, througlthe interpoition
ST persons brought to The spot by the
'eport of the pistol. Ainsley wasa.-
'ested, tried, and acquitted on the plea
# insanity, The daughter and, herhns.
oand returned to Connecticut, since
which time the father had not heard
rom them. Hewas Sent to lunatic
asylum, from which he was dismissed
Ifter remaining six months. In 1851
le came to California, He had follow
ID mining for two year, but finding his
strength unequal totke pursuit, retu H.
ID to this city, purchased i handcart,
md Athe rest islknown. sSince then"
concluded the old man, bowing his face
n his haud in agony g have not tast-
d liquor, nor haYe seen MY poor
,hild." o1iiN oH' '''''''''
. regretted that had beer soSinodis.
tive, and expressed to the sufferer the |
really, felt, for. HIM. fter
hat l seldom passed the corner with
'ut looking for" Pap Ainsley," and ney7
r r sawIhiY but tt9tAiuH oftAsi sad sta-l
One chilly, drizzly day in the Decem-.
,cr following, a. gentleman having pur- |
hased small marbleltop table at an
Iactionroom opposite, ,profered to the /
I'D man the job of carrying it to his res-
dencc, on Stockton street. Not wish !
ng to accompany thecarricr, hehad Sc
ectei the face probably giving the best
'ssurance of careful delivery ofthepur.i
Furnished with the nlmborofo the
.ouse, the ,old1cartman, after pretty |
rying struggle with the steep ascent of |
California street, reached his destina- ]
ion, and deposited the table in the hall.
L.