Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-19
Rich in Spite Of Himself.

This amusing example of Book
keeping. or the Rich man in spite Of
himself" was published some years
ago, and was at the time declared to
be a perfectly authentic anecdote Of an
old New York merchant -
ain old times it was the custom of
the merchants of the city of New York
TO Keep their accounts in pounds, shil-
lings and pence currency. About fifty
years ago, frugal, Industrious Scotch
merchant. well known to the then small
mercantile community Of this city,
had, by diut of fortunate commercial
adventure and economy, been enabled
to save something like four thousand
pounds considerable sum of money
At that period, and one which secured
to its posscssor degree of enviable
independence. His place of business
and residence were, as customary at
that time, under the same roof. He
had clerk in his employment whose
reputation as an accountant inspired
the utmost confidence of his master,
whose frugal habits he emulated with
the true spirit and feeling of genuine
Caledonian. 1t was usual for the ac-
conntant to make an annual balance
sheet for the inspection of his master,
IN order that he might see what had
been the profits of his business for the
past year. On this occasion the bal
ance sheet showed to the credit Of the
business six thousand pounds, which
somewhat astonished the incredulous
merchant.
1T Gamma be-" said he s.ye had bet
ter count up agen. l dinna think |
ha' had sac profitable business as
this represents"
The clerk, with his usual patience,
re-eXamined the statement and de-
clared that it was "a right and that
he was willing to wager his salary up
on its correctness. The somewhat
puzzled merchant scratched his head
with surprise and commenced adding
up both sides OF the account for hun
SELF. 1t proved right.
Il did ma think said he, that | was
worth over four thousand pounds, but
We ha made me 4 much richer man.
Weel, weel, may ha' been mair sue
cessful than had tho't, and I'll ma
quarrel wi myself for being worth six
thousand instead
At early candle light the store was
regularly closed by the faithful ac
countant; and rs soon rs he had gone,
the sorely perpleXcd and incredulous
merchant commenced the painful task |
of going over and examining all ac-
counts for himself. Night after night
did he labor i'll his solitary counting
house, alone, 10 look for the error but
every examination confirmed the cor
rectness of the clerk, until the old
Scotchman began 10 believe it possible
that he was really worth sax thou
sand pounds"
stimulated by this addition 10 his
wealth, he soon felt desire TO improve
the condition of his household and
with that view made purchase of new
furniture, carpets. and other elegan-
cles, consistent with the position OF
man possessing the large fortune of
six thousand pounds. Painters and
carpenters were set 10 work to tear
dowu and build up and in short
time the gloomy-looking residence in
Stone street was renovated to such
degree as TO attract the curiosity and
envy OF all his neighbors. The doubts
OF the old man would still, however,
obtrude themselves upon his mind, and
he determined once more to make
thorough examination Of his accounts.
ION dark and stormy night he
commenced his labors, with a patient
investigating spirit Of q man deter
mined 10 probe the matter to the very
bottom.-lt was past the hour of mid
night. yet he had not been able to de-
tect single error; but still he went
on. His heart beat high with hope,
for he had nearly reached the end of
his labor. A quick suspicion seized
his mind as to one item Of the account.
Eureka! He had found it. With the
frenzy Of n mailman lie drew his broad
brimmed white hat over his eyes, and
rushed into the street. The rain and
storm were nothing to him. He hur-
ried to the residence Of his clerk in
Wall street, reached the door, and
seized the handle of the huge knocker,
with which he raped until the neigh
borhood was reused with the loud
alarm.
"The unfortunate clerk poked his
night cap out of an upper window, and
demanded:
"Who's there!''
"It's me, you scoundrel!' said the
frenzied merchant "yeUe added up the
year Of our Laird among the pounds p
'Such was the fact. The addition
of the year OF our Lord among the
the items mas sweiled the fortune Of the
merchant some two thousand pounds
beyond the amount" Harpers Mag
dzine.
AGAssIZ.-In his last will and tesla.
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