The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1873-07-19
Making a Fortune.
BY MARK TWAIN.

Samuel NICE duuel WIS a NdlCil-
ION in a bank. He was poor, but
honest. and his life was without
.nsnroach. The trouble with him
as that he felt that he was not
annreciated. His salary was only
fanr dollars a week and when he
asked to have it raised the presi-
dont cashier, and the board of
directors glared at him through
their spectacles, and frowned on
him. and told him to 60 out and
stop his insolence, when he knew
business was dull, and the bank
eould not meet its expenses now,
LET alone lavishing one dollar on
such a miserable worm as Samuel
NcFadden. And them Samuel
McFadden felt distressed, sad,
and the naughty scoru of the
President and Cashier cut him to
tbe soul. He would often 60 into
tbe side-yard, and bow his veneer
able twenty -fourinch head, and
weep gallons and gallons of tears,
over his insignifcance, and pray
that he might be made worthy of
the Cashiers and presidents po-
lite attention.
One night a happy thought
struck him; a CLEAN of light burst
upon him, and gazing down the
dim vista of years his eyes all
blinded with Joyous tears, he saw
himself rich and respected. So
Samuel McFadden fooled around
and got a jimmy, monkey wrench,
across cut saw, a cold chisel, a
drill and about a ton of gunpow-
der and nitro-giycerine, and those
things. Then, in the dead of
night, he went to the fire-proof
safe and after working at it for
while, burst the door and brick
into such an immortal smash,
with such perfect success that
there was not enough of that safe
left to make carpet sack. Mr..
McFadden then proceeded to load
up with coupons, greenbacks, cur
rency and specie, and to nail all
the old change that was lying
anywhere, so that he prauced out
Of the bank with over a million of
dollars on him. He then retired
10 an unasuming residence out of
tosh, aud then sent word to the
detective where he was.
A detective called on him the
next day, with a soothing note
from the cashier. McFadden
treated him with lofty scorn.
Detectives called on INN every
day with humble notes from the
president; cashier, and board OF
directors. At last the bank off
GERS got up a magnificent private
supper, to which Mr.. McFadden
was invited. He came, aud as
the bank officers bowed down in
The dust before him, he pondered
well over the bitter past, and his
soul was filled with exultation.
Before he drove away in his
carriage that night, it was all
fixed that Dir. McFadden was to
Keep half million of that money,
and to be.dnmolested if he return.
ed the other half. He fulfilled
his contract like an honest man,
but refused with naughty disdain
the offer of the cashier to marry
hls daughter.
Mac is now honored and re-
spected. He moves in the best
society. He browses around in
purple and fine linen, and other
good clothes. and enjoys himself
hrst-rate. And often now he
takes his infant son on his
knee and tells him of his early
life, and instills holy principles
into tn. child's mind, and shows
him how industry, and persever
ance, and trnga!ity, and nitro
glycerine, and nonkey-wrenches
and cross cut saws, ard familiari
ty with the detective system, even
the poor may raise to affiuence
and responsibility.