The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-03-23
= y }. oTFUMWA IOWA, THURsDAY MARCH 2s 1865

We'll, now for the pickings,, said the rel
der what tshall-ve BE- At firstYsw ~
S9iWhy first.. said theoyounger, g let a
have something tor eatand sdrink where
the-key Of ofthescellAr, Sally f,,g- saa,st adi
|tesHere's the key, sir; 4 II go and fetch 20,
something wann;yosrtbis cola Christmas
weather.,Fai;f,is aaaw ed9 .ssYsesoz 4uo
har" Offshe went; but when she was, hal
way dawn the cellar stairs she seemsd 4,
recollect something and scrambled i'up into
-myfbed'room where my body was lying
then she 1fumbled over the waistcoats and
truhscrs ! had last ~orn. and ransacket
thsmyof all the loose silver they contained
Having done this she hnrried again to TIN
cellar and took out three, ,botfl es cf INV hes,
wine; one she put away fcr hersek, and the
Other two she brought into tfe psrao.. .aAftss
jovial feast my nsphews began to turn
over my goods s"Well,n said the elder
'he was an excellent fellow for saving all
the better for us; hegrew the crop, and we'll
gather it, AIS
"fAye, and spend Il too, I hope,' ans
wered the other, well soon give his money
some wheels; it's been like the green pool
IN the village, all stagnant; !; we'll make Il
move now. They sayihe worked hard, got
up early, and, wasn't ia bed till midnight: !.
was very kind of him; he was an excellent
laborer for his heirs Il he was a good faiehful
slave for those who are to come, after him.
1t must have been great pleasure to him
to have toiled 80 hard for US, and if he could
but see us now, would be a great pleasure
TO him to see us getting hold of all he scrap
ed together; his was the trouble ours is
the gain. I'm sure we're much obliged to
him." g,;g. -.t4..f....
AT this they both laughed aloud, ,.g-,
81 wonder said the younger, ,"whether
he. thought to carry away his money he
loyed It 80, itmust have been hard to- part;
did he think he could pack up his, ledgers
and his bank notes, and, bis gold and his
goods? However, it's, no use lining his
coffin with bank-notes, Or putting bag of
ssuineas in his hand ,na t.,..,~...t.
So !" No, indeed, there's no sending his mon
ey. after him, and to say the truth I'm not
disposed to part with 4, He, thought him
self, dare say, very wise and prudent
man. To my mind he was fool. for what
be has got p .,..u.,.... -
- Why. said the younger, Il don't sup,
pose his money does him much good now
he took deal of labor however, it's al, the
better for US, Just come. and look at this
ledger, made, up, to Christmas, declare !;
beautifully written excenently cast up ;
what hours be must have spent upon it ! He
didn't thick weiwere going to pocket. the
result; well, Mr. Benjamin Sharply he CON.
tinted in mocking tone, let's see what
you made last year ;,youi have beer just like
bankers S clerk, lots Of money passing
throngh your hands, but precious little, for
Yourself Lets see here's the last line,
1858 2s, 3d., very pleasant profits last
year, and very pleasant pickings; thank you,
Mr.. Sharpley; you,1id pretty well last year;
YOU must have worked hard; much good
may it DO you we are greatly Indebted, for
having 1t all copied so fair; 1858, 2s., 3ad.,
what say you to that. Wen to IS up about
the three farthings, we can't divide that.
"They then proceeded to look over the
shop; the shutters were closed for sake of
decencv, but they made Sally fetch light,
and with that they inspected all nv stock,
searched all the drawers, rummaged every
desk, and made themselves masters Of the
state Of my affairs; my bankers book, nv nv
account Of money in the stocks, all my bus
mess letters were in their hands. 'ofls'e st3
"'After an. said the elder, as they sat
down to q good dinner in the parlor, we
must not complain Of your slaving, drudginig,
covetous dogs, as far as we are concerned |;
Z is true they have dismal life Of it them
selves. and what becomes ofthem afterwa rds
its better MOTTO think money isn't much
good beyond, | should guess this shrewd
old fellow has outwitted himself; it appears
he's got nothing in this world and nothing
for the next be has beggared himself by his
savings and hoardings. However, he shan
have decent funeral; and as Ee never gave
awav here, or did any good that I
ever heard Of, 7 suppose aftef the mob has
stared at his coffin, nobody will think any
more Of Mr.. Benjamin Sharply ''''r
"'I think we ought to put up a ma rble
slab, for don't believe he had thought
beyond the debtor and creditor account
"At this point the ledger somehow or
other slipped from his hands and fell heavily
on the floor. I suddenly awoke, and found
that by some unconscious movement Of nv
arm had really shaken the ledger from The
table, and the noise had startled me nv
dream was at an end; but the impression ia
which i made viii. I trust. never be effaced,
every word pierced my conscience as with
sharp swords, saw the wretchedness and
wickedness of my whole life; all the imagi-
nary speeches Of my nephews seemed 50 full
81 truth. thatI was for long time doubtful
whether alter all II was but I dream they
haunted my memory day An d night; my
'hop, my ledger, my stock, all cried Oh,
against me that I was covetous wherever I
vent in the course Of my business, the
words Of the dream rung in my ears aToo
rue, too trus.'I would exclaim to myself,
is the picture which 1 have thus seen Of
lAHaIs A. III 4. % Il u ~