The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-06-10
McF Fadden's Masterstroke.

samuel Mcfadden was watcnman ln
q bank. He was poor, but honest, and
his life was withoutreproach. The troub-
le with him was, that he was not appre.
ciated. His salary was only four week,
and when he asked more. tho president,
cashier and the board of directors glared
at him through their spectacles, and ffown.
cd on him. and told him to 60 out and
stop his insolencc. when he knew business:
was dull and the bank could not meet It's
expenses now, let alone recklessly lavish
ing one dollar week moro upon such a
miserable worm rs Samuel McFadden
And then Samuel McFadden felt depress-
ed and sad, and the naughty scorn Of the
president and cashier cut him to the soul.
He would often 60 out in the ship-yard
and bow his venerable twenty four-inch
head. and weep gallons and gallons Ol
tears over his insignilicance, and pray
that he might he made worthy of tho cash
ier's and the presidents polite attention.
One night happy thought struck him
gleam OF light burst upon his soul, and
gazing down the dim vista of the years,
with his eyes all blinded with the mist OF
joyous tears, he saw himself rich. honored
and respected. So Samuel McFadden
fooled around and got jimmy, monkey
wrench, and cross-cut saw, and n cold
chiscl, and drill, and about half ton OF
gun-powncr and nitro-glycerine, and all
those things. Then In tho dead OF the
night he went to tho firc-proOf safe, and
after working at It while. burst the door
and brick-work into immortal smash, with
such perfect success that there was moi
enough of that safe left to make q carpet
tack. Mr.. McFadden then proceeded tc
load up with coupons and grcenbacks
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 one million dollars on him.
He then retired to an unassuming resi-.
daace out of town. and sent word to the
detectives where he was.
1t was all serene and beautiful for Sam.
uel McFadden now. He felt that 1t wa,
all right at last, and that the dark nigh,
of sorrow had passed, and tho br ight rays
of tho sun Of prosperity ut last Illuminated
his path. A detective called OH him next
day with n soothing note from the cashier
McFadden treated 1t with lofty scorn
Detectives called on him every day with
humble notes from the president. and the
cashier, ana the board of directors, and
clerks, and stock holders. At last the
bank officers got up magnificent ant
private supper, to which Mr.. McFadder
was invited. Ho came, and. rs the bank
officers bowed down In the dust before
him, he pondercd over the bitter, bttel
past, and his soul was filled with wild OK
ultation. Qt seems to me that tho las
sentence Is symmetrical and poetic! Il
strikes me so, anyhow)
Before he drove away In his carriag'
that night, II was fixed that MIR. McFad
den was to keep half q million Of tha
money, and to be unmOlcsted II he return
cd the other half. He fulfilled his contrac
like an honest man; but refused will
naughty disdain the oileI of the cashier b
marry his (NTcFadden') daughter.
Mac Is now honorcd and respected. Ill
moves In the best society ho browse
around In purple and fine linen and othe
good clothes, and enjoys himselffirst rate
And often now he takes his infant son up
OH his knee and tells him of his early life
and instils precepts into the child's mind
and shows him how, by industry, and per
severance. and frugality, andnitro-glycer
Inc. and monkey-wrcnches, and enterprise
and cross cut saws. and familiarity will
the detective system, even the poorest may
rise to aflluence and responsibility, in thi'
free country.