The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-03
mcEadden,s Master stroke.


Samuel NIcFadden was watchman in
bank. He was poor, but honest, and
his life was without reproaoh. The
trouble with him was, that he felt he
was not appreciated. His salary was
only four dollars q week, and when he
asked to have it raised, the President
and the Cashier, and the Board of
Directors glared ut him through their
spectacles, and frowned on him, and
told him to go out aud stop his inso-
lence, when he knew business was dull
and tho bank could not meet its expenses
now, let alpnc reclSlessly lavishing one
dollar week more upon such miseru
ble worm rs Samuel McFadden. And
then Samuel McFaddcn felt depressed
and sad, anu the naughty scorn of the
President aud Cashier cut him to the
soul. He would often go out in the
ship-yard and bow his venerable twenty
four inch head, and weep gallons aud
gallons OF tears over his insignificance.
and pray that lie might be made worthy
OF the Cashiers and the Presidents DO
lite attention.
One night, happy thought struck
hlm; CLEAN Of light burst upon his
soul, and gazing down the dim vista of
years, with his eyes all blinded with the
mist of Joyous tears, he saw himself
rich. honored and respected. So Samuel
Mct'addcn fooled around and got
Jimmy and monkey wrench, and q
cross-cut saw and cold chisel, and
drill, aud about half ton of gunpowder
@ ana nitro. o.glycerln, and all those things.
Then IN the dead of the night, he went
to the tire-proof safe, and, after working
at it awhile, burst the door and brick
work into immortal smash with such
perfect success, that there was not
enough of the safe left to make carpet
tack. Mr.. MoFadden then proceeded to
load up with coupons and greenbacks,
and currency and specie, and to nail all
the odd change that was laying around
anywhere, SO that he pranced out Of the
bank with Sl,000,O00 on him. He then
retired to an unassuming residence out
of town, and sent word to the detectives
where he was.
1t Was all serene and beautiful for
Samuel McFaddcn now. He felt that it
was all right ut last, and that the dark
night of sorrow had passed, and the
bright rays Of the sun of prosperity Mt
last illuminated his path. a detective
called Oh him the next day with sooth
ing note from the Cashier. NIcFadden
treated it with lofty scorn. Detectives
called on him every day with humble
notes from the President. and the Gu
shier, and the Board of Directors. and
clerks, and stockholders. at last the
bank officers got up magnificent pri-
vate supper, to which Mr.. NIcFadden
was invited. He came, and, as the bank
officers bowed down in the dust before
him, he )adered over the bitter, bitter
past. aud his soul was filed with wild
exnltation. Ut seems to me that the
last sentence is symm etrical and poetic
1t strikes me so, anyhow.)
before he drove away in his carriage
that night, it was all fixed that air.
Ictadden was to keep $4,000 of that
money, aud to be unmolested if he re-
turned the other half He fulfilled his
contract like an honest man; but refused.
with naughty disdain the offer of the
cashier to marry his (AIcFadden's 81
daughter.
Mac is now honored and respected.
lie moves III the best society; he browses
around IN purple and fine linen, and
other good clothes, and enjoys himself
first rate. And often now he takes his
infant son upon his knee and tells him
OF his early life, and instills holy pre-
cepts in the child's mind, and Shows
him how, by industry and perseverance,
anl frugality and nitro glyccrin, and
monkey Wrencles and ent .rprisc. and
crosscut saws, and familiarity with the
detective system, even the poorest may
rise to nilluencc and responsibility.
-Ns~ York Commercial -ldpe1isey.
Mrs. PARTISGToN on COSMETICS. =