The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-06-04
The seven,shilling Piece.

L
Many true story has been told
to illustrate the sacred saying,
Cast thy bread upon the waters, .
etc Few things are more pleasant
in the history of life than the un-
expected reward of little and long
past kindness.
II was during the panic of 1886,
that gentleman, whom we shall
call Mr.. Thompson, was seated, witb
something of melancholy look, in
his drcary back room, watching his
clerks paying away thousands OF
pounds hourly. Thompson was a
banker OF excellent credit there ex-
listed, perhaps, in the city OF London,
no safer concern than that of Messrs-
| Thompson & Co; but at a moment
such as / speak of, no rdtionsl re-
aection was admitted, no former
disability was looked to; general
ldistrust was felt, and every one
rushed 20 his bankers 20 Withdraw
! his hoard, fearful tnss the nsxt in
stant would be too late, forgetting
entirely that this step, OF ali others,
was the most likely to insafe the
ruin he sought 20 avoid.
/ But 70 return. Tue wealthy citi-
zen sat gloopily watching Tue oat
pouring Of. his gold. ana with grim
smile listened TO the ciSrorous de-
mands or his cashier; for although
lie felt perfectly easy and secure as
to the ultimate strength OF his re-
sources, vet he couid nos represS 8
7 feeling of bitterness IS he saw con
stituent after constituent rush IN,
aud those whom be fondly imagined
10 he his dearesS friends, eagerly as
sisting in the run upon his strong
box.
Presently the door opened, and
stranger Was ushe-ed in, who, alter
gazing a moment at the bewiidered
banker, ceoIly drew a chair, and alb
rnptly addressed him:
"You will pardon me, sir, FOR ask
ing strange question but | am q
plain man, and like TO come straight
to the point
"Well, sir" impLtiently interrupt
ed the other
81 have heard that You have Q run
on your bank, sir. Is 5t tine -
"Realy, sir, ] must decline reply
ing to your very extraordinary que
ry. If, however, you have any
money in the bank, you hati better at
once draw it out, and so satisfy your
self; our cashier will instantly pay
YOU and the banker rose-ras a
hint for the stranger 20 withdraw.
"Far from it, sir; l have not one
sixpence in your hands,"
"rhen, may | ask, what is your
business here 2'' r
81 wish to know II = small sam
would aid you at this nlomel:t?'
''Why do you ask the question ~
'Because if it would / should
gladly pay in small deposit"
The money dealer started.
''You seem surprised ysu don't
know my person or my saotivc. III
at once explain. Do you recollect
some twenty years ago, when you re
sided in EsseX?'
Perfectly
"Well, then, sir, perhaps you have
not forgotten the turnpike gate thro'
which you passed daily. Ny father
kept that gate, and was often honor
ed by a few minutes chat with you.
One Christmas morning my father |
was sick, and l attended the toll-bar.
On that day you passed through. and /
l opened the gate for you. Do you
recollect, sir % |
"Not I, my friend"
"Ne, sir; few such men remember
kind deeds, but those who are bene-
fitted by them seldom forget them.
L am, perhaps, prolix; listen, how
ever, only few moments, and am
DONE" r I 5a
The banker, who began to feel in
terested, at once assented.
'Well sir, as I said before, thew
open the gate for you, and as ] con
sidered myself in dhtv bouud, !
wished yGd happy ChrstllaSs.-t
you, my lad,' you replies,
thank you. and the same 10 you:
here is trifle to make il So aud
then you threw me a seven-st Hing
piece 1t was the first laoaev 1 ever
possessed and | never shall loreeti
my joy on receiving it, or yo1r kind
smile ON bestowing it. long treas
ured it, and IS grew up added q
little to it, till | was able Ia rent a
toll myself. You left that part OF
the country, and lost sight OF you.
Yearly, however, have bea, getting
on, your present brought good for
tune with it; / am nOw comparative
ly rich, aad to YOU L consider | owe
it all. So this morning, hearing that
there was Il run ON your bank, col
lected all my capital, and have bro't
it to lodge with Won, in case it can
be of any use Here tits, sir--here
it is , and he handed bundle of
bank notes to the agita5ed THOMPSON
"In few days I'll call again. and
taking up his hat. the stranger,
throwing down his card, walked out