The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-08

ing when the Rev. Mr.. Steele, from the rural
districts, came in.
"My dear Mr.. Steele said Roe show do
YOU do? How's your wife? and Fred and
Betsey? and all the little ones?"
He huddled his questions on the poor par
son as if he would deprive the man of making
any inquiries himself. But that couldn't last
long
"Mr. Roe," replied the clergyman, without
taking any notice of Roe's questions, II have
at much Inconvenience come down to New
York to get from you in person some infOr
nation which have failed to obtain from you
by correspondence.
s'My dear Mr.. Steele, began Roe, reproach-
fully.-But Mr.. Steele went OH.
"My family are suffering, Mr. Roe, for want
| of the July interest on those Balderdash bonds.
| The coupons were returned to me, and wish
to know what is the matter"
my dear Mr.. Steele, replied Roe, sympa-
thiziDgly, THAI company has failed"
"Failed!" shrieked the poor clergyman;
"why, Mr. Roe, you told me these bonds were
as good as wheat"
MY dear Mr.. Steele" continuedhMr. Roe
for he my deared everybody whom he victim
ized-"I thought they were."
but sir, persisted Mr.. Steele, what am
| to do. You know these bonds were purchased
with my wifes inheritance, and the remainder
from my own hard-earned savings; and that
the sum total ten thousand dollars. is all my
living since ill health forced me to give up my
profession"
"Pray don't speak of it Mr. Steele" said
Roe; Il feel much worse about it than
you do"
'Mr. Roe," replied the clergyman, with
some severity, II have heard you make that
remark to other people, ard would like to
know what you mean by it. You feel worse
than do, when am in poverty and you are
man of wealth? But this is trifing Let me
| hat m la VT
| your own bonds, and may then judge what to
| do with mine."
"Why." answered Roe, "the fact is, my
dear sir, l sold out my bonds in April"
You sold out, sir! and left me TO be ruined
| by holding on !" cried Mr. Steele.
at was the result of a mistake, my dear Mr..
| Steele a" cried Roe, ''Mr. Burns of Albany,
| wrote me to sell his bonds: and promised to
| send them to me by express. made the sale,
and to Oblige the purchaser, delivered my
bonds ad interim. The next day he counter
| manded the Order-but my bonds were gone" I"
And pray, sir, inquired Mr.. Steele s. how
could you fail to notify INC, and at least give
me the option of parting with securities which
your volunteered recommendation induced me
to purchase? But, at any rate, you must make
them good to me. The amount, trifing to
You, is to me absolute ruin"
my dear Mr.. Steele !" exclaimed Roe, ''you
cannot expect me to do that"
resolutely ''You know that had that mo
rey invested in o safe mortgage; you wrote
me to sell the mortgage and send you the mo-
ney. to b, more profitably invested. knew
nothing of the bonds you proposed to buy;
| trusted you, and ysu have ruined me. And if
| my curse and the curse of my family shall rest
| on yOu."
| Next Mr.. Burton appeared
Mr.. Burton is foreigner He came to
America about year previously, with his fam
| iiy. his worldly goods and fifteen thousand
dollars in gold; which latter commodity, by
virtue of an Introductory letter, he had the
Roe. with his usual urbanity, undertook to
do good thing for Mr.. Burton. He advanced
| him q small sum by way of anticipated inte-
rest and soon after informed him that he
(Roe) had managed to reserve for him (Burton)
a fat slice of the TuscarOra convertibles. pay
ing ten per cent. per annum interest, at the
Og-cncap rate of ninety-five on the hundred.
This gave Mr.. Burton an income of one thou
| sand five hundred dollars, and surplus in hand
of seven hundred and fifty dollars. The agree
able intelligence was communicated to Mr.
Burton ut ROe's dinnertable. after the ladies had
withdrawn Roe. having thrown in mOdicum
| Ofsignificant smiles and hems unfOlded the tale
of happiness, and magnitcently tossed down
on the red cloth check for the seven hundred
| and fifty dollars, less the small amount previ-
ousy advanced to Mr.. Burton. He had not
even charged Mr. Burton commission for do
| ing the business! Burton was SO elated that he
made straight wake through an extra bottle
| of green-seal.
| III the month of January thence ensuing
Burton was made glad by another check for
seven hundred and fifty dollars, being six
| months interest on the Tuscaroras. But in
the following July there came hitch-a delay
"a disappointment. Nothing permanent, of
| Is@
| it was disagreeable. Days rolled on as they
always will do, Tuscarora or no Tuscarora
| They bee me weeks They strongly resembled
months. And still no funds! A rumOr of fail
ure began to pernmbulate.
Things were at this pass. when Mr.. Burton
| called on Mr.. Roe as aforesaid. Mr.. Burton
had heard the rumor, and his cheeks were
| slightly blanched as he inquired what 1t
meant
II really do not know what to think of 1t, I"
said Mr.. Roe; "at any rate 1t Is only tempo.
rary."
you can advance the money on these cou-
pons?
"That-s thing never do" replied Roe,
maeisterially, and as if such thing were sim
full Holders must walt
"It is easy to say that, Mr.. Roe" Burton re-
piled; "but this interest Is my entire income,
and may wait till my family"-his voice trem.
bled as the consequence rose to his mind-''till
my family Daati"
my dear Mr. Burton" replied Roe, don't
give way to that sort of thing. assure you,
my dear friend, I feel much worse than you do
| about it."
Roe was kind hearted man! He always
felt much worse than his swindled customers.
IF you feel so much for my predicament,"
| reioined Burton. "have the goodness to re-
lieve me by giving me the money for these cou-
pons or" he added, with natural suspicion
as to the security of the whole transaction,
ssrestore to me my principal, and let me dis
pose of it elsewhere"
II can do neither Of these things, Mr.. Bur-
ton" said Roe
"Then, SIR" continued B1rton, in alarm,
make an immediate sale Of my bonds and
let me know the worst"