Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-12-31


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49, ehessvt9g TIT - - - Iee1ss
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y - et1trs two ~ e lnyie
~ - kee g'oss anoy&A eu9s
"a oooNy ~ iuOy rqD0 meoi-
el1eA - eopossdc porpoDeo. ATtuougn
1saseeu Iof the inviteoon, he politely de-
eunoo l urged Uus ne Was 1ooex10le.
~ sseeeashed.
1. 70 you never Drink =
very SELDOM. ne replied, dropping in-
% enears eoo wspang we PeTsphassoo IRON
III: loreneaa.
wen, you drink q ALL insisted,
10Y VIII NOT ma = laif an excuse ~ tne
uexs swsvs mensne Ior aDougne, sof you
appear iatigued and scarcely able 10 stand:
10 ne rank, eaio the old man, DO
not drink now. l have not tasted intoxica-
ting liquor Tor fifteen years, since.
since when =. Inquired thoognucssiy,
Observing his hesitation.
The old man told me. sixteen years ago
ne was wei.to.do farmer near syracuse,
New YORK. lie had but one child, dangn-
Ter. While attending a boarding scnooI IN
that city, then girl OF sixteen years Of age,
she formed an attachment Tor young phy-
stefan. Acqua,nt'ng her father with the
circumstances. ne natiy refused MS consent
70 : union WITH q man whom no nad never
seen. aLo removing ner from sonooi, as
patcned = note 70 the gallant, with the
somewhat pointed information that his pres
cnce ID the ncignuornood OF the Alnsley
iarm wouio not meet with favor. Inc
resaer o. course snrmlses the result, tor
sucn proceeding could nave but one re-
SUIT In less than = month there was an
c'opement. Inc iather Loaded ms double
oarre'!ed snot gun, ana swore vengeance,
but failing TO lind the tugltives, he took to
the bottle. Ills good wife implored him
not 70 give way 70 despair, OUT ne Drank
tne deeper' ana accused her Of encouraging
the eiopement. In three months his wife
died, ana ut the expiration OF year, when
the young people returned to Syracuse from
Connecticut' wnere they nad renamed with
the parents Of inc husband, they learned
that the oid man had sold his farm, squan'
oered the proceeds, and was almost desti-
tnte. Learning their arrival, Ainsley drank
himself into frenzy, and proceeded to the
hotel where they were stopping, attacked
the husband, wounded him in the arm BY
pistol shot, and attempted the life of his
daughter, who happily escaped uninjured
througn the intoSpositlOno 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
ncr husband returned to Connecticut, since
wnicn timc the iather had not heard from
them. ne was sent to a lunatic asylum,
from which he was dismissed after remain
ing SIX months. In 1851 he came to Cali
fornia. lie had followed mining for two
years, but. finding his strength unequal to
the pursuit, returned to this city, purchased
hanacart' and-the rest Is known. "Since
them, concluded the old man, bowling his
lace in his hands IN agony, 81 have not
tasted liquor, nor have seen my poor child"
regretted that had been SO inquisitive,
and expressed to the sufferer the sympathy
really felt Tor him. After that seldom
passed the corner without looking for "Pap
Ainsley." and never saw him but to think
Of the sad story he had told me.
One chilly, drizzly day in the December
following; gentleman having purchased a
small marble top table at an auction room
opposite, proffered to the old man the Job
OF carrying it to his residence, GU Stockton
street. Not wishing to accompany the car
rier, he had selected the face probably Civ
ing the best assurance Of careful delivery Of
the purchase.
Furnished with the number OF the house,
the old cartman, after pretty trying strug
gle With the steep ascent Of California street,
reached his destination, and deposited the
table in the hall. Lingering moment, the
lady did not surmise the reason, until he
politely informed her husband (for such he
took him to bc,) had probably by accident
omitted to settle for the carriage.
VERY well, will pay you" said the lady,
stepping into an adjoining room. She re-
turned. and stating that she had no small
com IN the house, handed the man . twenty
dollar piece.
He could not make change. "Never mind,
| will call to morrow" he said, turning to
60.
mo, no" replied the lady, glancing pity
ingly at his white locks and trembling
limbs, II will not put you to SO much
trouble" and she handed the coin to Bird
get. with instructions to see if she could get
it changed at one of the stores or markets
in the neighborhood.
''Step into the parlor until the girl re-
turns; the air is chilly, and you must be
cold" continued the lady. s'Comc." she
added, as he looked at his attire and hesita.
ted; s.thcre is a flre in the grate. and no