Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-12-24
END OF A MIsER--HE DIES COUNT
ING HIS WEALTH.

We copy the following account of the
death of miser from the Troy (NY. Times
of December 10th:
We learn from General Miller, one of the
most popular of the members of the Board
Of Supervisors, the particulars of the death
of rich beggar in the village of Greenbush,
named Frederick W. Rowhl, which exceeds
in dramatic interest anything we have read
for long time. Rowhl came to Greenbush
a few weeks ago, clothed in rags, thin, ema-
ciated and apparently half starved, looking
the very picture of poverty and wrstched-
ness. HIS appearance was enough to excite
the sympathy and charity OF every beholder
He was an old man, bent with age, Ills hair
whitened with the frosts OF many winters;
sorrow, poverty and misery had evidently
been his companions through life.
The miserable wretch secured room in
tenement for time by charitable lady
who brought him food and otherwise minis.
tered 10 his wants. Almost every day the
old man would beg in the streets, and with
such good fortune that as often as he sought
aims, he returned to his hovel with we'll
filled pockets
Nothing was known by the villagers of
the history of the old beggar, but it was
supposed by all that he was what be seemed,
and to relieve the distress OF fellow.crea-
ture was believed to be their highest duty.
But little more than week ago the old man
Disappeared; the door to his room was las-
tened, and even the kind lady who had given
him food knew nothing of his whereabouts
Thus matters went on until Sunday morn.
ing last, when the landlord who had allowed
Rowhl to occupy room IN his tenement
concluded to burst open the door, little sup.
posing, however, that in doing so he would
come upon tho corpse of the old beggar.
But such was the case. Stretched at full
length on little pallet of straw lay the
dead body of the old man.
! He had been dead apparently more than a
week, and from the manner in which bank
notes, bonds, deeds and bank books, were
lying upon the floor about him, it was evi-
dent the beggar and miser had died in q
struggle counting his boarded wealth. In
his bony fingers he held bank book show
ing a deposit of $500 In banks at NORTH
Adams and Pittsfield, while two $50 billt
served as pillow for his head, and deedi
of property in Pittsfeld and government
bonds to considerable amount were lying
upon the floor beside him. .n
The scene could not have been more dra
matte if presented upon the stage. The
ghastly, repuIslve features, the tattered habi
of the miser, and the wealth for which HI
bartered his soul lying around, formed I
picture which not even the mimic scenes o
the stage could rival in intense dramatic
force. 1t exceeded anything the imagina
ton almost can conceive.
The news of the discovery of the deaf
man passed rapidly from mouth to mouth
and large numbers visited the apartment Il
gaze upon the dead miser surrounded by
his wealth. But as if in mockery of tn
life he led, the money left by the old wretcl
secured him decent burial, and he wen
down TO the grave attired more respectabl
than he had ever known when alive. Kin,
hands, forgetful of the past, laid him ten
derly away in the tomb, there to sleep il
oblivion until the last great trump shal
sound and he shall then learn whether th
treasures of earth are counted among til
treasures of Heaven.