The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-17
MIS- e r S
BY F. soMNER MERRYwEATHER.

Some years ago there lived in Marseilles
an old man Of the name of Guyot; he was
known to every inhabitant, and every ur-
chin in the streets could point him out as a
niggard in his dealings and wretch of the
utmost penury III his habits of life. From
his boyhood this old man had lived in the
city of Marseilles; and although the people
treated him with scorn and disgust, nothing
could induce him to leave it. When he
walked the streets he was followed by a
crowd of boys, who, hating him as a grasp
ing miser, hooted him vociferously, insult ed
him with the coarsest epithets and some
times annoyed him by casting stones and
filth at his person. There vas no one TO
speak a kind word in his favor. no ono to
bestow an act of friendship or a nod of rec
ognition upon Guyot. He was regarded by
all as an avarcious, gripping old mser, whose
whole life was devoted to the boarding up
of gold. At last this object of universal
scorn died, and it was found that, by his
parsimory, he had amassed an ample for
tune. What was the surprise of his exceu-
tors, on opening his will, to find these re-
markable words: Having observed from
my infancy that the poor of Marseilles are
ill-supplied with water, which can only be
procured at great price, have cheerfully
labored the whole of my life to procure for
them this great blessing, and l direct that
the whole of my property shall be expended
in building an aqueduct for their use p
When it was proposed to build Bethlehem
Hospital, many benevolent individuals vol
unteered to solicit contributions by calling
upon the inhabitants of London. Two OF
these gentlemen went to a small house in an
impoverished neighborhoodj fer the pence
of the poor were solicited as well as pounds
Of the rich The door was open, and, as
they drew nigh, they overheard an old man
scolding female servant for having thrown
away match, only one end of which had
been used. Although SO trivial a matter,
the master appeared to be much enraged
and the collectors remained some time out
side the door before the old man had finish
ed his ongry lecture. When the tones of his
voice were somewhat subdued, they entered
and, presenting themselves to this strict OBJ
server of frugality and saving, explained
the object of their application; but they did
not anticipate much success. The miser,
however, for such lie was reputed in the
neighborhood, no sooner underctood theiI
object than he opened closet and bringing
forth 4 we'll fled bag, counted therefrom
four hundred guineas, which he presented
to the astonished applicants. They express
ed their surprise and thankfulness and could
not refrain from telling the old gentleman
that they had overheard his quarrel with
his domestic and how little they expected
in consequence, to have met with such mu,
nifaence from him. Gentlemen" replied
the old man, "your surprise is occasioned
by my care of thing of such little corse-
quencej but keep my house and save my
money in my own ways my parsimony en-
ables me to bestow more literally on charity.
With regard TO benevolent donations, you
may always expect most from prudent peo.
pie who keep their own accounts and who
pay attention to tri1es."
Audley was a celebrated miser of the time
of the Stuarts; he amassed his wealth dur
| ing the reign of the first Charles and -four
ishod amazingly under the proteetorate ol
Cromwell. Audley was originally a clerk
with only six shillings week salary, and
yet out Of this scanty sum he managed tc
save more than half. His dinner seldom
cost him anything, for he generally made
some excuse to dine with his masters eli.
ent5 and as TO his other meals, crust ol
bread or a dry biscuit was regarded as fare
sufficient after an ample dinner. In one
| circumstance he was somewhat different
from other misers: he was clean, II not neat
in his outward appearance. But he was
thus scrupulous in his apparel from princi-
| pie for Audley often asserted, that, to be
thrifty, it was necessary to pay some respect
to such matters. lie was remarkably in
dustrious, even when young man. At an
age when others were seeking pleasure, he
was busy in lending out and increasing his
early savings. lie was always ready 70
work when the usual hours of business were
over, and would willingly sit up the whole
night to obtain some triAing remuneration.
He was never above soliciting trifles, and
touching his hat to his masters clients. So
rigid was he in his economy, and so usurious
in his dealings, that in four years, during
which time, however, ho had never received
more than salary Of six or eight shillings
a weoR, he managed to save and amass five
hundred pounds. The salary Of the re-
naming years Of his apprenticeship he sold
1 for sixty pounds, and alter a while, having
made up six hundred pounds IA all, he lent
the whole TO a nobleman for an annuity OF
ninety six pounds for nineteen year,, which
annuity was secured upon property produe-
ing eight hundred year. The nobleman