The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-05-14
NM Seren.ShlIinr plece.

MANY n true Story mas beeh tOld 10 Mus
tRte the sacred saying, Cast thy bread
upon the waters, - etc. Few things are
more pleasant in the history Of a life than
the unexpected reward Of little and long
past kndnesses.
II was during the panic Of 1896, Thai q
gentleman, whom we shall call Mr.. Thomp-
son, was seated, with something of "a mel
ancholy look, in his dreary back room,
watchingShis clerks paying away thousands
OF pounds hourly. Thompson was a banker
Of excellent c~redit-there existed, perhaps,
in the city OF London, no safer concern
than that Of Messrs. Thomson & Co; but
at a moment such Ak l speak OF, no ration
al reflection was admitted no former sta
bility was looked to; a general distrust
was felt, aud every N rushed TO his bank
er's 10 withdraw his hoard, fearful that the
next instant would DO too late, forgetting
entirely that this step, of all others, was
the most likely TO insure the ruin he sought
to avoid. .. =.
But to return. The wealthy citizen sat
gloomily watching the o%utpouring of his
gold, and with n grim smile listened To the
clamorous demands ON his cashier; for al
though lie felt perfectly easy and secure as
to the ultimate strength of his resources,
yet he couldnot repress a feeling of bitter
ness as he saw constituent after constituent
rush in, and those whom he fondly
imagined 10 be his dearest friends, eagerly
assisted in the run upon his strong box.
Presently the door opened, and a stranger
was ushered in, who, after gazing a mo-
ment at the bewildered banker, coolly
drewa chair, and abruptly addressed him
"You will pardon me, sir, for asking n
strange question; but / am a plain man,
and like 10 come straight 10 the point.
"Well, sirf" impatiently interrupted the
other.
'Ihave heard that you have a run on
your bank, sir. Is il trueY"
"Really, sir, / must decline Ireplying 10
your very extraordinary query. II, how
ever, you have any money in the bank, you
had better Mt once draw IL out, and so sat
isiy yourself; our cashier will instantly pay
you and the banker rose as q hint for
the stranger TO withdraw.
Ear from u, sir; ! have not one six
pence in your hands"
"Then, may | ask, what is your business
here?'
81 wish TO know il a small sum wonld
aid You at this moments p
"Why do you ask the question 2"
because If it would ! should gladly pay
in q small deposit"
The money-dealer started.
"You seem surprised; you don't know
my person or my motive. I'll at One OK
plain. DO you recolloct some 20 years ago,
when You resided in Essex?"-
Perfectly"
"Well, then, sir, perhaps you have moi
forgotten the turnpike gate through which
you passed daily. My father kept that
gate, and was often honored by a few min
utes' chat with you. One Christmas morn.
ing my father was sick, and | attended the
toll-bar. On that day you passed through,
and ! opened the gate for you. Do You
Tecollect, sir 2"
mot l, my friend"
NO, sir; few such men remember kind
deeds, but those who are benefited bythem
seldom forget them. am, perhaps, pro
lixi listen, however, only n few moments
and / have done"
The banker, who began to feel interested
at once assented.
''Well, sir, as 1 said before, l threw oper
the gate for you, and, as / considered NV.
self in duty bound, / wished You a happ,
Christmas. Thank you, my lad YOU re-
piled, thank you, and the same 10 Won
here il n triile TO make it So, and you threw
me a soven-shilling piece. II was the fra
money ever possessed; and never shall
forget my joy on receiving it, or your kline
smile on bestowing 1t. Hong treasured il
and as l grew up added q little to it, till
was able TO rent a toll myself. You left
that part Of the country, and l lost sight o
you. Yearly, however, l have been getting
on your present brought good fortune witt
il, l am now comparatively rich, and tc
you / consider | owe it all So this morn.
ing, hearing that there was a run on youl
bank, l collected all my capital, and have
brought II to lodge with you, in case il can
be Of any use. "Here it is, here il is;
and he handed q bundle of bank notes 10
the agitated Thompson.
"Ina few days I'll call again, and TAX
ing up his hat, the stranger, throwinedown
his card, walked out of the room.