Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-02-07
MAKING 4 FORTUNE.
BY MARK TWAIN.

Samuel McFadden was a watchman
IN a bank. He WIS poor, but honest.
and his life was without reproach. The
trouble with him was that he felt that
he WAS not appreciated. His salary
was only four dollars a week, and when
he asked 10 have 1t raised, the presi-
dent. cashier and the board Of Girec-
tors glared at him through their spec
taoles, and frowned on him, and told
him TO so out and stop his insolence,
when he knew business was dull, and
the bank could not meet it's expenses
now, let alone layishing one dollar on
snch 4 miserable worm as Samuel Nc
Fadden. And then Samuel IcFadtlen
felt depressed. sad, and the naughty
scorn of the president and cashier cnt
him to the soul. He would often go
into tine side-y.rd and bow his vcnera-
BILE twenty -four inch head, and weep
gallons and gallons of tears over his
insigniticance, and pray that he might
presidents polite attention.
One night a happy thought struck
him; CLEAN of light burst upon him,
and gazing down the dim vista of years
with his eyes all blinded with joyous
tears. he saw himself rich and respect
ed. So Samuel McFadden fooled
around and got a Jimmy, monkey
wrench. q cross cut saw, a cold chisel,
a drill, and about IL ton of gun powder
and nitro-glycerine, and those things.
Then, II the dead OF night, he went to
the 1ire-proof safe, and after working
at it for while, burst the doer and
bricks into IN immortal smash, with
such q perfect success that there was
not enough of that safe left to make Il
carpet tack. Mr.. McFadden then pro-
ceeaed to load mp with greenbacks,
currency and specie, and to nail all the
old change that was lying anywhere,
so that he pranced out of the bank
with over a million dollars on him.
He then retired to an nnassuming resi-
dence out of town, and then sent word
to the detectives where he was.
\ detective called on him the next
day, with q soothing note from the
cashier. McF., treated it with lofty
scorn. Detectives called on him every
day with humble notes from the presi-
dent, cashier, and board of directors.
At last the bank officers got up a mag
nificent private supper, to which Mr..
McFaddlen was invited. He came, and
as the bank officers bowed down in the
dust before hiiA, he pondered well
over the bitter past, and his soul was
filed with exultation.
Before he drove away in his carriage
that night, it was all fixed that Mr..
McFadden was to keep half a million
of that money, and to be un,nolested
if he returned the other bali. He full.
filled his contract like an honest man,
but refused, With naughty disdain, the
offer of the cashier to marry his
daughter.
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 en-.
joys hinself first-rate. And often now
he takes his infant son on his knee and
tells him of his early life, and instills
holy principles into Inc childs mind,
and shows him how, by industry and
perseverance, and frugality, and nitro:
glycerine, and monkey-wrenches, and
cross-cut saws, and familiarity with the
detective system, even the poor may
rise to affiuenee and responsibility.