The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-02-24

That it is brief, may be seen at glance;
that it is true, most emphatically avow
About FIVE years ago, or thereabouts,
John Ainsley--or Pap Ainsley" as he
was Familiarity called--was the owner OF
a handcart, and earned living by con-
yeying miscellaneous parcels from one,
section of the city to another, and receiv-
ing therefor reasonable remuneration OF
fifty cents per load. To designate the
occupation in the prosiest language pos
sible he was handcart-man, and, when
not employed, could alwaysbe found dur
ing working hours at the corner OF Mont
gOiuery and California streets. His hair
aud long beard were quite gray, and his
limbs feeble; and if he could not shove
as heavy load through the deep sand or
up the steep grade above him as the stall
wart TeutOn on the opposite corner,
thereby losing many a job and many
dollar, all the light loads in the neighbor-
hood fell to bis lot, and kind-hearted men
not unfrequently travelled square Of
two out of their way to give an easy job
to Pap Ainsley."
-Four years ago last September, l re-
collect the month, for had note Of four
Thousand dollars to pay, and was COM
PEELED To 10 some pretty sharp tinancier-
ine to meet it, having two or three dozen
volumes to transfer to my lodging, gave
Pan Ainsley' the task of transportation.
Arriving ut my room just as he had de-
posted the last armful Oh the table, and
observing the old man looked consider
ably fatigued after climbing three flights
of stairs two or three times, invited
him to take Il glass of brandy-a bottle
of which usually kept in my room for
medicinal and sOporiiic purposes. AL
though grateful for theinvitatiOn, he po-
liteiy declincd | urged, but he was in
flexible | was astonished
DO YOU never drinkP said /.
Very seldom he replied, dropping i'll
to n chair at my request, and wlping the
peIspiratiOr from his forehead
We'll, if ypu drink at ALL" | insisted,
'yor will not find as fairan excuse in the
next twelve months for indulging, for
you appear fatigued and scarcely able to
stand
"ro be frank" said the old man, Il do
not drink now. have not tasted intON-
icatmg liquor for fifteen years, since
"oinco wheu" | inquired, thoughtiess-
ly, Observing his hesitation.
The cid m1u told me. Sixteen years
ago liz was wcll-ro-dO farmer, near Sy-
Iacuse. New York He had one child, a
daughter. While attending a boarding
school in that city, then a girl OF sixteen
wears IT ace, she formed an attachment
lor a yo.mg physician. Acquainting her
father with the circumstances he tiatly
refused his consent TO union with Il
man whom lie bad never seen, and re-
moving her from school, despatched n
note To the gallant, with the somewhat
pointed information that his presence IN
the n:lghborhoud of the Ainsley farm
void not meet with favor. The reader
of Caurs' S.umises the result, for such
Il proceeding could have but one result.
In less than Il month there was an elopc-
ment. The father loaded his double bar
relied shot gun, and swore vengeance;
hui failing 10 ind the fugitives, he took
to the bottle, His good wife implored
him not 10 give way 10 despair, but he
coulaging the clOpement. In three
months his wife died, and at the eXpira-
ton Ola year, when the young people re-
turned 10 Syracuse from Connecticut,
where they had remained with the pa
rents of the husband, they learned that
the old man had sold his farm, squan-
dered the proceeds. and was almost desti-
tute.
Learning their arrival Ainsley drank
himself into a frenzy, and proceeded to
the hotel where they were stopping, at
tacKed the husband wounded him in the
arm 10y pistol shot, and attempted the
Ii foot his daughter, who happily escap-
,Cuninjured through the interposition
persons attracted by the report of the
pistol Ainsley was arrested, tried and
acquitted on the plea of insanity.
The daughter ahd the husband return
ed to Connecticut, since which time the
father hadnot heard from them. He was
send IT, a lunato asylum, from which he
was dismissed III six months. In 1851 he
came to California. He had followed
mining for two years, but. finding Ills
health unequal To the pursuit, he return
ed t. this city, purchased hardcart,
aud-ihe Test is known. Since then"
concluded the old man, bowling his face
i'll agony in his hands, II have not tasted
liquor nor have Seen my poor child"
lregrctted that had been so inquisi-
tive, and expressed to the sufferer the
syn,"athy ] really felt for him After
that, seldom passed the corner without
looking for Pap Ainsley," and nor saw
hin but TO think of the sad story he had
told me.
One chilly, drizlly day in the Decem-
Der following, gentleman having pur-
chased Il small marble-top table at an
auction roo"l opposite, protfered to the
old NAN the job of carrying it to his
residente.' Not wishing to accompany
thsrarr:"r. lie had selected the face prob
ably giving the best assurance of careful
delivery OF the pUrcdhse
Furnished with the number of the
house. lac Old ,lttnan, after pretty
trying struggle Win the steep ascent of
California street, reached his destination.
and deposited the table in the hall
Lingering a rlomeit, the lady did not
sucmise the reason, until he politely ill.,
forrled her thIt hex husband (for such
he tool hin to he,) had probably by ac-
.ils,:5 omitted TO settle for the carriage
"Very we'll, will pay you," said the
lady stepping into an adjoining room-
She returned and, stating that she had
10 small coin in the house, handed the
man twenty dollar piece.
Ee could not make change. Never
mind, Il will call Tomorrow" he said,
tnning to 50. o.. VA -p