The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24
MY WESTERN ESTATE.


have just returned from visit to my West
ern E:tate.
How do come to have an estate at the West?
The question is q reasonable one, and proceed
o answerit
About q year ago. my good aunt Deborah
bless her generous soul-being under the ne
cessity of leaving the world, bequeathed me in
her will the sum of Eve hundred dollars.
Let that serve as q nest egg" recommend
ed one of my prudential friends; "yOur salary
is quite sufficient to support you. There is no
reason why this should not be invested, SO that
by the time you have occasion to use it. instead
of paltry five hundred dollars, you will have
twice or thrice the sum-"
ent use for the money, and there was some
thing exhilarating in the idea of being CAPT
talist-with money to invest
MY friends were very kind in the matter.
No. less than twenty-five. al the smallest cal
culation. offered to take charge of the money
for me and Jay legal interest. But, after all,
at six per cent, or even eight. some years must
elapse before my money would even double.
accordingly thanked my friends for their con-
siderate kindness. but told them / had other
views-that regretted exceedingly not being
able to avail myself of their generous propos-
ais as under other circumstances / should
promptly have done. When pressed upon tile
lence-for the very good reason that they were
not defined as yet in my own mind. [ was
waiting, like MicaW be-, for something to
turn up" Something did turn up.
One morning, on entering my place of bust.
ness, found waiting for me sick parsonage
with sharp, restless eyes.
''Mr. lint 2" he inqui ed.
THAT ia my name"
And mine is Lynx. I am happy to make
your acquaintance, SIR" and he grasped my
hand with fervor.
THANK you replied. In some surprise al
this cordiality from stranger.
After a few preliminary remarks about the
weather. which if | remember rightly. were
not particularly original, Mr. Lynx gravely
remarked:
Il am informed, Mr. Flint, that you have
some money which you arc desirous of in
vesting."
but small amount" I answered mod.
esty.
1t is precisely those sm,ll sums which sc
often serve as the foundation of large for.
tunes, returned MIR. Lynx with great anima.
ton.
But really five hundred dollars" I con-
tinued being desirous of drawing out my new
visitor
Five hundred dollars, sir! Think of Whit
tington and his venture What il Il cat to five
hundred dOllars2 And yet we are told, sir,
that he made colossal fortune and even be-
came Lord Mayor of London"
Il always regarded that story as apOcry.
phaf." said l, Sailing.
Possibly it may be So But what of that
Is it not the illustration of a great principle
Since you object to this illustration. however,
let tne give you another which came under my
own ob servatiOn. A friend of mine had two
hundred dOilars-a mere baga:elle. He came
TO me and asked my advice as to the mode OF
investment. gave it. What is the result
Two years have passed, and he is worth to-day
twenty thousand dollarS-all through lucky
investment"
Indeed. said l. prcking mp my ears, and
considering that at any rate my fifty hundred
dollars would have become fifty thousand
May inquire how the money was invested
to produce such happy return?"
Certainly; was about 10 tell you. With
the two hundred dollars l purchased TO,
him. q quarter sectiOn of land, N one of oul
Western towns. Of course YOU have heard o
their astonishing growth. This land was cen
trally located, and was required for building
lots. 1t rose in value asiunishngly, and my
friend made snug little fortune, as have
said"
Nv imagination was fired at once No more
chauce OF letting out my money at a paltry si2
per cent, when such golden harves:s were t
be had for the gathering.
:" suppose" said hcsitatingly, " that sucf
opportunities are of rare occurrence"
''Rtrc occurrence, my dear sir. Not all
admit that it requires tact ard Judgment t6
make choice of such as are most eligible. d
course, one who Is familiar with the business
has great advantages"
Bat am not"
Certainly not. Permit mo to say. howev
er, that am and that / shall be happy to as
sist you to the best of my ability In fact
devote the chief part OF my time to an agency
OF this description and have the great salts.
faction of knowing that have placed more
than one young man of small means on the
road to fortune"
1 began to have high ide, of the abilities
and benevOlence of MIR. Lynx, which was no,
materially diminished when he acknowledged
that he was in the habit of receiving certain
cOmmissiOn-say ten per cent-tor etfecting or
investment.
Have you any favorable chances for invest
ment now ON Land?" inquir Cd 18th some
anxiety.
Tempting sir, tempting" was the reply O
Mr. Lynx. Il have some lots now in Con
stantinOple."
Constantinople!" repeated in some un
certainty. The associations which the nam,
recalled were of certain city lying between
the Sea of MarmOra and the BO>phorus o
course Mr. Lynx could not mean that, or If b,
did, | had too little confidence in the Turks tt
venture my money there. My doubt wa
now removed by the further remarks OF Mr
Lynx.
Constantinople," said be, sis town il
MINNESOTA, which, venture to say. in cOurst
of ten years will contain twenty-five Thousand
inhabitants"
II do not think ever heard of it."
That is not surprising Thirty years since
Chicago was mere trading post. amid th'
wigwams Of the Indians. Now it bids fair t.
rival our largest eastern cities. l might pOin
you TO many 'ther examples, but it is needless
fou sir, DO not need to be informed of the al
most magical 'owth of our Western town
ana clues. Never was a tiuer stanza penne(
than this by Bishop Berkely:
westward the course of empire takes its way
he four first acts already passed,
Inc MIN snaii close the drama with the day
Times nobiess offspring is its last