Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-07
McF adden'S MaSterstroke.

Samuel McFaddcn was a watchman
in bank. He was poor but honest
and his life was without reproach.-
The trouble with him was, that he felt
he was not appreciated. His salary
was only four dollarS a week, and
when he asked to have it raised, the
president and the cashier and the
board of directors glared at him thro'
their spectacles, and frowned on him,
and told him to go out and stop his
insolence, when be knew business was
dull and the bank couldn't meet its
expenses now, let alone recklesSly
lavishing one dollar a week more up
on such a miserable worm as Samuel
McFadden. And then Samuel Nc
Fadden felt depressed and sad, and
the naughty scorn Of the president
and the cashier cut him to the soul.
He would often go out in the side yard
and bow his venerable twenty-four-
inch head, and weep gallons and gal
Ions of tears over his insignifcance,
and pray that he might be made wor-
thy of the cashiers and presidents
polite attention.
One night happy thought struck
him; gieam 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 teers, he saw
himself rich, honored and respected.
So Samuel McFadden fooled around
and got jimmy and monkey wrench,
and cross-cut saw, and cold chisel,
and drill, and about half a ton of
gunpowder and nitro-glycerine, and
all these things. Then in the dead
hour of night he went to the fre-proof
safe and after working at it for awhile,
burst the door and brick-work into
immortal smash, with such perfect
success there was not enough of that
safe left to make carpet tack Mr..
McFadden then proceeded to load up
with coupons and greenbacks, and
currency and specie, and to nail all
the odd change that was lying around
anywhere, SO that he pranced out of
the bank with one million dollars on
him. He then retired to an unassum-
ing 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 of the sun of prosper
ity at last illuminated his path. A
detective called on him next day with
a soothing note from the CASHIER
McFadden treated it with lofty scorn.
Detectives called on him every day
with humble notes from the president
and the cashier, and the board of d.
rectors, and clerks, and stockholders.
At last the bank officers got up
magnificent private supper, to which
Mr. McFadden was invited. He came,
and as the bank officers bowed down
In the dust before him, he pondercd
over the bitter, bitter past, and his
soul was filed with wild exultation.
(lt seems to me that the last sentence
is symmetrical and poetic 1t strikes
ME so, anyhow Before he drove
away in his carriage that night, it was
all fixed that Mr.. McFadden was to
keep half million of that money, and
, to be unmolested if he returned the
other half. He fulfilled his contract
like an honest man; but refused with
naughty disdain the offer of the cash
ier to marry his (McFadden's daugh-
; ter.)
Mac is now honored and respected.
| He moves in the best society; he
browses around in purple and fine
linen and other good clothes, and eG-
joys himself frst-rate. And often
now he takes his infant son upon his
knee and tells him of his early life,
and instills holy precepts into the
child's mind, and shows him how, by
: industry, and perseverance, and fru.
gality, and nitro-glyccrine and mon
key-wrenches, and enterprise, and
' cross-cut saws, and familiarity with
' the detective system, even the poorest
: may rise to affluence and respectable
3 ity.