Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1868-01-18


q house which seems neither tho abode of I, 4
rich nor of Q poor man, a Asingle ray oflight
CLEANS through the emassiye shutters Of this
lower room in the rear. Lot us enter the
house. You see all the rooms are we'll fur,
nished, and that an afro wealth peryades the
whole. The occupant is rioh, though the
outsideof his house is old and plain: Heis the
owner and landlord Of numerous tene,nents
Both tho rich merchant and the poor echan-
ic arc his tenants. He has only himself and
vito and both havo one mind land ono heart
in getting together gold, and mover spending
pennies. Ga
Lot us enter the CLOSELY shut room, from
which the light streams forth 1t is small
and narrow 10 dimensions, and heavily guar
ded with bars on the windows and across tho
DORIS You see, as its occupant, an old grey
h h'adod man, with cold eye and on unfcelinq
aspect. He is seated bcforo an open iron
chest, with tho lamp by whioh he sees stand
ing upon the corner Of it. He is, you per
ccive, busy counting his gains; for the da,
before Thanksgiving is his settling day
There are piles of gold and piles Of silver be-
foro him; and numerous parcels Of bank
notes, labelled with the names and occupa
tions of the tenants who have paid them in
are. you see, arranged upon table by his
side There are poor mems names there
and some Of those little piles he is gloating
over, we're gathered by sweat and tears Bu
what hceds he, 80 that his reuts are paid how
hardly the money came! Flo speaks IIca,
him.
."Jamcs Norton is the only delinquent
lie pays to night, or tomorrow ho goes into
the street. 1t is after ten o'clock. There i.
the door,hcll It may be ho, for he knows
how strict am, and give no man any fa
vor
Here you SEQ, now comes poor man into
the room. 1t is the delinquent. l!e has
good face, but ho looks as if he worked hard
as he does. Hear his landlord
We'll, James, was about giving yor
up"
Yes, sir, know I am late. But I have
had very great difficulty to get along. 1t has
been too cold to lay brick for some days, and
tho workmen arc dismissed I saved up most
Of the money for the rent but none coming
in, had to take a little at one time, and lit
tlo at another, out of it-for there was fire to
warm tho children and the food TO put in their
little mouths, and clothes to put on their backs
and shoes and stockings to their little feet for
the cold has been perishing y
"That is enough. Have you my rent p
Not but half of it, sir"
Then the other half which you confess
you had laid up for me, and then pilfered from
was as bad as stealing from my own money
chest"
81 couldn't let them perish, sir"
Your first thought should be your land
lord! How dare you come to! me with only
half2" a -
1t is all could bring you, sir; and il
leaves me without cent for the morrow's
bread"
Z" Your quarters rent is eighteen dollars
You have brought me nine! Go buck and
get the whole by tomorrow, at ten o'clock, o,
1 disfrain This which you have brought
will keep till then"
The poor man sigLcd bitterly, and sadly
left the roof of the man who had power to
cast him and his little cncs forth :o perish
He had turned the corner of thorouehfare.
and was hurriedly vending his way in the d.
rcction of home, when, before him, glittering
in the moon rays, he bchcld purse of rich
materials, evidently well lined with money
10 stoop down and secure the treasure was to
Norton the work of an instant; the next,
however, virtue triumphcd over temptation,
and he turned to discover, if possible, the
owner. He heard the soand of footsteps in
the distance, and rushed eagerly in the dircc.
tion from which it proceeded. After chase
of some moments he succeeded in coming up
with tall gentlemanly man Of middle age,
who seemed to be eagerly pressing forward as
if on some important business.
F" Have you lost purse, sir; inquired the
honest working man, on oycrtaking tho way.
farcr.
The traveller turned pale for an instant,
and the next having in the meantime r,n;d