Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-19
Making q Fortune.
DY MARK TWAIN.

Samuel MrFu,l.icn was n watcl,inni,
in n bank. lie was poor. aud his life
was without reproacl,. The trouble
with him was he felt that he was not
appreciated. liis Salary Vas only
four dollars week, and when he
asked to have It raised, the president, ,
cashier and board Oi directors glareti
at him through their spcctacies, aud
frowncd on him, an,l told hin, to 20
ont and stop his ins"lcncc, wlicn ifc
knew business was dull, and the pank
could not meet it. expense now, let
alone lavishimg one dollar on sucl, u
miserable worm as Samuel McFad-
den. And then Samuel McFa,i,Icn
felt depressed, sad. and the naughty
scorn Of the president and cashier cut
him { he soul: lie would often 20
into the sidc-yard, and bow his ven
cradle twcniy-fnur inch head, and
weep gallons aud gallons of tears
over his insigmiiicancc, and pray that
lie might be made II cslhy of the cash-
icr's and presidents polite attention.
One tight happy thought struck
him; II CLEAN of light burst upon
him; and gazing down the dim vis,.
of years with his eyes all blinded
with JOYOUS tears, lie saw himself
rich and respected. So Samuel Me-.
Fad.,cn fooled around and got Il jinit
my, Il munkcy-wrrnch, cross-cttt
saw, Il cold chiscl, drill. and about
Il ton of gunpow der and nitro-.lycc-
rinc, and those things. Then, in the
dead of night. he went to the firr.
proof safe, and after workiu. at il
for aU hilc, burst tho door and brick
into All Immortal smash, with such a
perfect success that there was not
enough ut that safe left to make Il
carpet tack. Mr.. MrFaddcm then
proceeded to load up with coupons,
gricnbacks. currency and specie, and
1" nail all the odd change that waS
J.! ing anywhere, So that hc pranccd
out Of The bank with over u million
dollars on him. lie then retired to
an umas,umin. residence out of town,
and then sent word to the detectives
where hc was.
y detective call.7l on him the mex
day, with u sOuihin. note from the
cashier. McFad,lrn treated it with
lofty scOrn. Detectives called on
him every day with humble notes
from the president, cashier and
board of directors. At last the bank
officers got UP Il magnificent private
supper, to which Mr.. McFa,ldcn was
invited. llu came, and as tho bank
officers bowed down in the dust he
fore him, lie pon.icrcd we'll over thu.
bitter past, and his soul wa, filled
with cSultation.
Before he drove away in his car.
riaga that night, it was all fixed that
MIR. McFa.lden was TO keep half :.
million of that money, and 10 be un-
molcstcd if he returned the other
half. lie fulfilled his contract like an
honest man, but refused with naughty y
dis,iaim the offer of the cashier to
marry his daughter.
Mac is'1iOw hOmorcd and respected,
lie moves in the best sucictv: hc
br"wses around in purple and fine
linen a'd other good clothes, and ell
joys himself firsi-ratc. And often
now he takes his infant son on his
knee, and tells him of his carly life.
and in>tills holy principles into the
child's mind, nd shows him how.
by Industry and perseverance and
frugali,y and niiro-.lyccrinc and
monkey-wrcnchcs amt cross-cut saw $
aud familiarity with the detective
system, even the poor may rise TO
ailiicncc and rr-pcctabili,y.