Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-08-25
The Seven-shilling Piece.

1t was during the panic of 1926, that gem
tleman, whom We shall call Mr.. Thompson, was
seated, with something of melancholy look,
In his dreary back room, watching his clerks
paying away thousands Of paands hourly
Thompson was {, BANKER Of excellent credit !;
there existed perhaps, in. the city Of London,
90 safer concern than that of Messrs. Thomp-
son y 70. f; but at inoMent such as / speak
OF, no rational reheetion vas admitted, no for
mer stability was looked to; general distrust
was felt, and every one rushed to his banker s
to withdraw his hoard, fearful that the nexti in
slant would be too late, forgetting entirely that
this step was of all others the most likely to
ensure the ruin he sought to avoid = 4.''''2 5
But to return. The wealthy citizen sat sad
ly watching the outpouring Of his sold, and
with grim. sr3llS R ateNjns to the clamotous de-
jnands en- his cashier for although he felt per-
fecty easy and SECURE as to the ultimate strength
Of his resources, yet he could not rspress feel
constituent rush in, and those whom he fondly
imagined to be his dearest friends eagerly as
sisting in the run upon his strong box.
Presently the door opened and stranger
was ushered ill., who, after gaz.ilpss sor q moment
at the bewiaaerea haeksgGr, 9oo.iy drew q chair,
and abruptly add9esssd him You viii par
don me, for asking a strange question; but l
am plain man. and like to come straight to
"Well, sir?' impatieutyinterrupted the 9TH
II have heard that you have run on your
bank, sir. Is it true2H As q;
Really, sir, hust e.cellne replying to your
very extraordinary query IF, however, you
have any money in tie bank. you had better at
once draw it out, and so satisfy yourself; our
cashier will instantly pay you;'' and the bank
er rose, as a hint for the stranger to withdraw.
Far from it, sir; | have not one sixpence
in your hands, a.tJ 1.
Then, may ask, what is your business
here ?" o. g4a9 s. ,9t
Il wished to know if a small sum would aid
you at this moment?'
Why do you ask the question: p '4
Because if it would, should gladly pay in
a small deposit aj
The money dealer started. ia q a9a1
You seem surprised you don't know my
person or my motive LII at once explain DC
you recollect some twenty years ago when you
resided in Essex 2" fta ~
Perfectly"
''Well, then, sir, perhaps you have not for.
gotten the turnpike gate which you passed thro
daily My father kept that gate, and was otter
honpred with afew minutes chat with you.
One Christmas morning my father was sick
and | attended the toll bar On that day, you
passed through, and | opened the gate for you
Do you recollect it, sir?' aat a;s4-ale.
mot |, my friend = sr9 81 saat !
mo, sir; few such men remember kino
deeds, but those who are benefited by them
seldom forget them. | am, perhaps, prolific
listen, however, only few moments, and
have done: " ~ sr.gs.s9 u &
ha ho,, .txl int tod n
once assented. au u .att IS yre4y.
well, sir, as said before, threw open
the gate for you, and as [ considered myself II
duty bound, wished you happy Christmas
Thank you, MY lad, replied you thank you
and the same to you here is a trlhe TO- max,
it so and you threw me q seven shilling piece
1t was the first money ever possessed; ane
never shall ! forget ss.y joy on receiving it, O.
your kind smiles in bestowing it. L long treas
ured it, and as grew up, added a little to it
till was able to rent toll myself. You lief
that part of the country, and lost sight Of you
Yearly, however, have been getting on you
present brought good fortune with it; L an
now comparatively rich, and to you | conside
owe all. So, this morulng, hearing ,aoelden1
| tally that there was sAn 9? your bank, l col
| leeted all my capital, aud have brought 1t t.
| lodge with you, in case 1t can be of any use
| E0T0 II Is, SlE-llCIC IL "uu hO HouuCd
bundle of bank notes to the agitated Thompson
''In few days Ill call again" and, snatchinl
up his hat the stranger, throwing down hi
| card, walked out of the room.
Thompson undid the roll. It contained
e3O,OOO The stern hearted banker burst int
tears. The firm did not require this prop; bu
the motive was so noble that even millionair
sobbea-he could not help it, The firm is still
one of the FIRST in London.
The Gao, 1000 OF the turnpike boy is now grow
into some 100000. Fortune has we'll dispo
sed Of her gifts.
| USELESS SLAUGHTER. GRANT.-It is fnall
understood what y. S. stands for in the nam
of U. S. Grant.
"A soldier who fought under Grant and wa
severely wounded, relates the following e.
Soon after one Of those terrible butcheries t
| which opr men were SO frequently subJecte
through the superintendent OF Grant, in hi
Virginia campaign, an Irish soldier was see
reading an order with the name Ulysses S
Grant attached. t
What, . he exclaimed, lis the S, for?"
''Slaughter!' cried one. =. :,
And now, by iabers,e" exclaimed Pat. ="
have his whole name-Gen. Useless Slaughte
/ Grant
+ The disloyal shout in camp which followe
was suppressed by the officers as soon as the
heard it. 1 9,ae
/ tsW;ll von have some cranes Monsipur q