The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-04-30

Samuel McFadden was Waterman in a
bank He was poor, but honest, and his life
was without reproacb. The trouble with him
was, that he ielt he was not appreciated. His
salary was only four dollars a week, and W hen
he asked to have it raised, The president and
the cashier and the board of directors elared
at him through their srectacles, and frowneG
on him, and lold him to 60 out and stop bi:
insolence, when he knew business was dull
and the bank could no meet its expenses now
let alone reel lessly lavishng one dollar week
more upon such miserable worm as Samuel
McFadden. And then Samuel McFadden felt
depressed 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 -Iour-inch bead, and
weep gallous and gallons ottears over his in
significance, and pray that he might be made
worthy OF the cashiers ami the president
polite attention.
One night happy thought struck him; a
CLEAN 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, bonored and respected. So
Samuel McFadden fooled around and got a
Jimmy, and monkeywrench, and a cross
cut saw, and cold chisel, and drill, and
about halt ton of gunpowder and nitro
glycerine, and all those things. Then
in the dead OF the night he went to the fire.
proof safe, and after working at it while
burst the door and brick-work into immorta
smash, with such perfect success that there
was not enough of that safe lett to make 9
carpet tack. Mr.. McFadden then proceeded tc
load up with coupons and greenbacks, and
currency and specie, and 10 nail all the ODD
change that was laying around anywhere, SC
that be pranced out of the bank with one
million dollars on him. He then retired to
an unasuming residence out of town, and sent
word to the detectives where he was.
1t was all serene and beautiful for Samuel
McFadden now. He felt that it was all right
at last, and that the dark night of sorrow had
passed, and the bright rays oil the sun of pros
perity at last illuminated his path. A detec-
tive called on him next day with a soothing
note from the cashier. McFadden treated il
with lofty scorn. Detectives called on him
every day with humble notes from the presi.
dent, and the cashier, and the board of direc.
tors, and clerks, and stockholders. At last
the bank officers got up magnificent and
private supper, to which Mr.. McFadden was
invited. He came, and, as the bank officers
bowed down in the dust before him, he pom
dered over the bitter, bitter past, and his soul
was filed with wild exultation. 1T seems to
me that the last sentence is symmetrical and
poetic! 1t strikes me so, anyhow Before he
urOVe away Ill MS carflaSe InaL nlSnt, IL was
all fixed that Mr.. McFadden was to keep half
a million OF that money, and to be unmolest-
ed if he returned the other halt. He fulfilled
his contract like an honest man; but refused
with naughty disdain the offer Of the cashier
to marry his (McFadden's) daughter.
Mac is now h0rrorcd and -respsete1- uo
moves in the best society he browses around
in purple and fine linen and other good
clothes, and enjoys himself first rate. And
IL AoIro 4, 81, .,,f,, IL
knee and tells him of his early life, and in
stIs holy precepts into the child's mind, and
shows him how, by industry, and persever-
ance, and frue atty, and nitro-glycerine, and
monkey wrenches, and enterprise, and cross
cut saws, and familiarity with the detective
system, even the poorest may rise to afflu-
ence and responsibility.