The Portland daily press., 1865-03-23
Thursday Morning, March 2s, 1865.
From the San Francisco Golden Era.
The Old Oartman.

v
The Old Oartman. sss si
i have little mind to tell story. That it
IS brief may be seen at q glance; that it is
true, most emphatically avow 81
About five years ago, or thereabouts, John
Ainsley--or Pap Ainsley,' as he was familiar
iy called-was the owner of a handcart and
earned a living by conveying miscellaneous
parcels from one section OF the city to anoth-
er, and receiving therefor the reasonable re-
muneration OF fifty cents per load. To desig-
nate the occupation in the prosiest language
possible, he was a handcart man, and when
not employed, could always be found during
the working hours at the corner of Montgom.
cry and California streets. His hair and long
beard were quite gray, and his limbs feeble:
and, II he could not shove as heavy a load
through the deep sand or up the steep grade
above him as the stalwart 1euton on the or
posite corner, thereby losing many a Job and
many dollar, all the light loads in the neigh
borhood fell to his lot, and kind-hearted men
not unfrequently travelled square or two out
OF their way to give an easy job to Pap Aims
ley.r 7s~1 H q
Four years ago last September, II recollect
the month, for | had note of four Thousand
dollars to pay, and was compelled to do some
pretty sharp tnanciering TO meet it,, hav
ing two or three dozen volumes to transfer
to my lodgings, gave Pap Ainsley' the task
of transportation Arriving at my room just
as he had deposited the last armful on the t.
BILE and observing that the old mau looked
considerably. fatigued after climbing three
flights OF stairs two or three times, invited
him to take glass of brandy bottle of
which usually kept in my room for medical
and soporifc purposes. Although grateful
for the Invitation, he politely declined. / urg-
ed, but he was in1exible was astonished
sDn v0u nnVpr drink 9, cold
Very seldom he replied, dropping into a
chair at my request, and wiping the perspira
ton from his forehead.
We'll, if you drink at ALL I insisted. you
will not find as fair an excuse in the next
twelve months for indulging. for you appear
fatigued and scarcely able to stand.'
TO be frank said the old man, 4 do not
drink now. l have not tasted Intoxicating
liquor for fifteen years, since
Since when !? inquired, thoug ghtlessly, OBJ
serving his hesitation.
The old man told me, Sixteen years ago
he was well-to-do farmer, near Syracuse, N.
X. He had one child, daughter. While at
tending boarding school, she formed an ia
tachment for young physician. Acquaint-
ing her father with the circunls tances, he fat
ly refused his consent to a union with man
whom he had never seen, and, removing her
from school, despatched a note to the young
gallant, with the somewhat pointed informa-
ton that his presence in the neighborhood OF
the Ainsley farm would not meet with favor.
The reader, of course, surmises the result
In less than month there was an elopement.
The father loaded his donble-barrelled shot
gun, and swore vengence, but failing to find
the fugitiyes, he took to the bottle. His good
wife implored him not to give way to despair,
but he drank the deeper, and accused her oi
encouraging the elopement. In three months
the wife died, and at the expiration of a year,
when the young people returned to Syracuse
from Connecticut, where they had remained
with the parents of the husband, they learned
that the old man had sold the farm, squander-
the proceeds, and was almost destitute.
Learning their arrival, Ainsey drank him
self into frenzy, and proceeded to the hotsl
where they were stopping, attacked the hus
band, wounded him la the arm by pistol
shot, and attempted the life OF his daughter,
who happily escaped uninjured through the
interposition OF persons brought to the spot
by the report Of the pistol. Alnsley was ar
rested, tried, and acquitted on the plea of in
sanity. The daughter and her husband re-
turned to Connecticut, since which time the
father had not heard from them.H He was
sent to a lunatic asylum, from which he was
dismissed after remaining six months. 70 In
1851 he came to California. He had followed
mining for two years, but finding his strength
unequal to the pursuit, returned to this city
purchased handcart, and-the rest is known
Since then,' concluded the old man bowling
bis face in his hands in agony, 4 have not
tasted liquor, nor have 1 seen my poor child ,
Iregretted that had been so inquisitve
and expressed for the sufferer the sympathy
which l really felt for him. After that, 1 sell
dom passed the corner without looking for
"PaD 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 op-
posite, proffered to the old man the Job oil
carrying it to his residence, on Stockton street
Not wishing to accompany the carrier, be had
selected the face, probably, giving the best as
surance of careful delivery of the purchase.
Furnished with the number of the house
the old cartman, after pretty trying strug.
gle. reached his destination, and deposited the
table in the hall. Lingering a moment, the
lady did not surmise the reason, until he po
litely informed her that her husband lfor such
he took him to be) had probably by accident
omitted to pay for the carriage. rasg bce
Very well, will pay you,' said the lady
stepping into an adjoining room. She return
ed, and, stating that she had no small coin in
the house, handed the man twenty dollar
piece.
AO NOoiN nOb ludhhC VIC CUGl1t. 81
Never mind, l will call tomorrow he said
turning to go. a39
mo, nov replied the lady, glancng plying
ly at his white locks and trembling limbs, !
will notput you to so much trouble and she
handed the coin TO Bridget, with instruction.
to see if she could get it changed at one O
the stores or markets in the neighborhood.
Step into the parlor until the girl returns
the air Is chilly, and you must be cold,' contin.
~. l.. r.. H. I.l
ed at his attire and hesitation, there is fir,
IN the CRATE, aud no one there but the chill
dren.' g.ae. 80 .r. .@9,.,s,
n 1T is somewhat chilly replied the old man
following her into the parlor and taking sea
near the fire. /. 49,,
Perhaps I may find some silver in tn
house. said the lady leaving the room, for
fear Bridget will not succeed in getting tn
twenty dollar piece changed
Gomez love little children and the child
who had been watching him with curiosity RAJ
behind the large arm chair and hesitattngi.
approached. What is your name, dear% in
quired the cartman. .ese-ri.5.gf slgi
Maria lisped the little one. "a b sro'e'e
Maria! he repeated, while great tears gath
cred in his eyes; i once had a little cir
named Maria, and you look very much lik,
she did, te g 1oQ 81 q IA
Did you? inquired the child with seemins
interest, and was her name Maria Eastman
toop g!fHffafHl IEf.4rfe4s
'Mcrciful GodP exclaimed the old man
starting from his chair and dropping into i
with his head bowed upon his breast sTbi
cannot be, and why not?'
he caught the child in his arms with ar
eagerness that frightened her, and, gazing in
to her face until he found conviction there
suddenly rose TO leave the house. canno
meet her without betraying myself and
dare not tell her that am that drunken fathe