Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-10-23
HORAOE's SPECIMENS.
What the Philosopher Had to show for His
10000.
(from the New York SUM-

Tother day, while scrambling out
OF the great hole in the ground near
the Sun office, which the Tribune
people are filling up with costly
orlck md granite, as monument 10
the lolnder OF that paper, we pick :
cd up a piece of copper ore. The
bit OF green rock recalled TO mind
an amusing incident in the life of the
late Mr.. Greeley. 1t occurred many
years ago, long before the great war
began, and before even the Philoso-
pher of Spruce street had dreamed
of being the Democratic candidate
for President.
The interior third-story editorial
room on Nassau street, so long oc.
cupied 3y Mr.. Greeley, had become
exceedingly dingy. It's furniture
was Ia the las. ages of dilapidation
Various propositions to improve it
bad been vetoed by the occupant,
who feared that any attempt to
change would derange the order OF
his papers and books of reference.
But one Saturday, while the sage
was chopping wood at Chappaqua,
the burly engineer, Patrick O'R0nro
Ike, came up with host of helpers
and pretty soon had rything top,
sy-turvy. The carpet was torn up
by the roots and the subsoil shovel>
cd out from under it. The furniture
was hustled aside, the walls were
scraped aud papered, the woodwork
painted, q new carpet laid, and by
nlghttall Patrick, as he surveyed the
wholesome change, congratulated
himself on the wondrous achieve
ment.
Next day Mr.. Greeley, coming in
Il esh from the serene influence of
DR.. Chapin's sermon, was struck
with DUMB wonder at the metamor.
phosis. Without word, he slump.
ed down into his easy chair and
thrust his feet under the desk, ap-
parently in fine mood to DO justice 70
bleeding Kansas or castigate the
rascally free traders. Hardly had he
touched his seat, however, when be
sprung up as though stung, and
pointing under his desk, shrieked in
his squeakiest tones:
What - thief has stolen nv
specimens VIII ores my speci-
mons ?"
The people from the outer office
rushed in at the row, and pretty
soon Mr. Greeley was apprised that
Patrick O'R)urke was the leader of
the vandals who had despoled his
sanctum.
Send him up here, yelled Horace;
"send him up !'
SO Patrick was summoned from
the vaults of the establishment,
good Deacon Smiths wicked part
ners, IN getting up steam on Sunday
for Mondays paper. O'Rourke
came in, expecting to complimented
fer his thorough work. Slowly
wiping the perspiration from his
forehead on his bare, brawny arm,
he drew up to the editor, bis face
wreathed in smiling anticipation.
But the sight of Horace's angry
countenance warned poor Patrick
that u storm was imminent.
What is it, Mr. Greeley ?" he
mildly queried.
pat, where's my specimens 2"
screamed Horace, pointing TO the va
cant spot under his desk.
Specimens Mr.. Greeley ? Speci-
mens!' meekly respondC d Patrick.
CI"Yes; the specimens | kept under
there" said Horace.
"Well, Mr.. Greeley" blurted out
Patrick, 81 don't know anything
about yer specimens but if ye name
that ould type-box full of rocks ye
KEEP there, why they only Uttered up
the place, and | threw EN- into the
street"
"You damned fool" screamed
Horace. Didn't you know that
box of specimens was all had to
show for twenty thousand dollars
worth of copper stock ?" and the
good man sank Historically back in
his seat to ponder on his misfortune,
while poor Pat, thoroughly hum bled,
hurried out to recover what he could
of the lost treasures. He succeeded
in finding some of them, and put
them in the cellar for safe keeping.
This was long, long ago, and here
now is a solitary fragment of that
time turning up under the laborers
mattock, and testitying to the gem
erous nature of one who might been
a Cresus had be been less credulous;
who might, had he been more world
ly>minded, have built IN his own
lifetime, out of his own hardrearn-
ed wealth, the stately structure it
was the dream of his life to found,
but whose erection he was never de-
signed to witness. The dreamer is
now dust the busy life but recoI-
lection. OF that great fortune which
he won there remains to his children
but crumbling fragment, compare
lively as inconsiderable as this bit of
copper ore.
rS- A hard.shell Baptist minister in
Indiana, who married a fortnight af-
ter his wife's death, made the follow
| iDp satisfactory exnlunation in the