The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-07-27
A MAD FANCY.

Charles Kingsley.
A MAD FANCY.
"Dr Drake, the man who. in 1850 sunk the
nrst oil well that was ever sunk in this
country, died recently in the poorhouse."
have seen this paragraph in the papers, and
want to contradict it Contradict it. that is.
70 certain extent, for there is no question but
what DR.. Drake did sink the first we'll, at Titus
vile. and that, through him, many colossal
fortunes have been amassed, and many unwily
SPECTATORS brought to financial grief. But
what do want to say is, that to me Belongs
the credit Of having discovered this immense
mine OF wealth; this thick, Golcondan strea m
that has coded in and out of the marts OF
commerce, bearing some merrily upon its bo.
som and utterly overwhelming others in 1ts
1mpetuous course. ~ y. -f"7
Inc facts in the case are theses.
my name Is Claude Malmaison. NV father
vas well-to-do farmer in the South of
france sraa MY mother, kind, tender, blue
FRANKS. and, with her big, mothor's love.
! soothed all the fsncied troubles Of nv child.
hood have an indistinct recollection of the
quaint old village and of the graperies
beyond its limits, where we children used to
pen eaen other with the luscious fruit, and
~ 80 Soh iasuo lduuSs Auu play QlU6-
and-seek among the vines. The old pastor,
700, remember well, with his odd black
oress and the sweet benevolence Of his dear
old face Then there comes the recollection OF
blank in the household, Of q dreadful still
o oeas sna people Walking silently through the
There was funeral then. MY mother was
qead, and they bore her out from the house in
Molemn procession. while I, mere child.
aung myself npon her vacant chair and poured
OUT my very heart In tears Of agony. Ten
Join the wife to whom. In life, he had been
ever faithful, and who, in DEATH. must have
lowered near his bedside, so TRANQUIL was his
end. Then came my trouble. The estate had
oeen heavily mortgaged; clamorous creditors
foreclosed, and was left penniless and at the
mercv Of relatives. L endured the tyranny Of
acruel uncle until my young heart could no
longer brook the hardships he put upon me.
and then ran away. Books had told me Of
the great country in the West-of America
ana to this land Of marvellous stories deter
mined 9 to wond my footsteps Firmly securing
my little savings about my person, stole out
from the house one dark night, and made my
way to Havre, avoiding the high road, aud
skulkine stealthily along until reached the
town. 1t was long and tedious journey, but
bore up bravely, and at last one bright
and saw the maze of shipping, and the tall
masts Of the vessels standing out against the
sky in their delicate tracery. Ny little store
was too meager to permit Of my purchasing
passage to the object of my destination, and
so, without more ado, shipped as cabin boy
time wished myself at home again in the
quiet little French village before that VOYAGE
was completedl It was hard and cruel mas
ter that had engaged to serve, and the indig-
mites he put upon me send the blood coursing
quickly through my veins even at this late day
h0n nvl
my misery came to termination One night
We arrived ct New York, and next morning
escaped from tho ship and
roamed, homeless, friendless, but still
ight-hearted boy through the streets of the
great city Here, thought I, will carve my
way to fortune; here win fame and honor.
But fame however, and fortune come not 80
nimbly at the beck Of every penniless adven-
turer. and long years passed-long years Of
hard drudgery, OF endless toil-before reach
ed the goal that placed me beyond want Don't
fancy that Lam going to bore you with long
account Of my adventures from youth to man
hood They bear but little on the main Incl
dent of this true narrative, and, although Of
interest to the participator in them, will pre-
cent but little worthy the attention Of the pub
lie, for whom am writing this vindication of
myself.
The year 1857 found me scientific farmer
near the pleasant village Of -, in Western
Pennsylvania. had been thrifty and indus.
trious, and amassed sufficient means to pur-
chase good-szed farm, and was deyotinp
myself to what 80 few Americans will devote
themselves-the science Of agriculture. There
was much sterile, rocky land upon my posses-
sions which had endeavored to sell, but the
most tempting offer would not induce the wary
Pennsylv anians to purchase Disconsolately
gazed upon the barren feldsl and racked my
brains to think of some means by which SCI
entifc farmer could turn to advantage such
improbable real estate.
The chance presented itself sooner than I
imagined. One splendid evening" remem-
/. Der it we'll; it was the 25th day Of July, 1857
v was sitting upon one Of these rocks in MY
bad bargain. It was just before dusk. and the
setting sun had left the last halo of his glory
stamped upon the landscape. At my feet lay
- creek, its waters mass Of golden light;
along its shore ran the country road, and now
the air, and again the merry voices of chill
dren broke in upon my meditation. The pale
moon shone family 10 the sky, and the dis
tant mountain tops stood out-a warm gray
ish purple bringing mp the baekgr ound
Of sweet pastoral landscape Sitting there.
and in fancy lived again the boyish, happy
life. with all its sunehine and shadow, its joys
and its miseries. As I was meditating thus, q
curious sound arrested my attention. low,
gurgling sound at my feet Gazing down,
saw small issure In the rock, from which
oozed a dark brown liquid. Surprised at the
strange phenomenon, stopped and gathered
some Of it in my hand 1t was thick, sticky,
and impregnated with an odor of bitumon.
Ever il search Of discovery, took small
vial, which CHANGED to have In my pocket,
and filed 1t with the liquid
Reaching home, I proceeded at once to the
laboratory had constructed, and, locking my
self in to prevent all interruption, commenced
the analysis Of this strange product of the
soil. As proceeded, my interest became ab-
foil vo5
there engrossed in my task. What had l
found? Was this dream? No, had ap-
piled every test in the range Of chemistry
At midnight rose up from my chair, ashy
pale. my eyes starting from their sockets, my
hand trembling like Leaf
. I'had discovered ol!--bright, pure oil that.
If the supply would hold out, would make me
millionaire. I, tho poorboy, whom . cruel
uncle had driven from home; /, who had
striven, and tolled, and delved for modest
> competence, held within my grasp colossal
fortune f,f,.s,s,, ..4..g,sG. >, l-,; f
No sleep for me that night The next morn
ing, before the sun was fairly up, I was at the
rock again. Yes, it was there still-the small,
sluggish stream, oozing from the bed that had
knees: laughed, prayed, dabbIed my hands il
the sticky mass and thanked God tor his good
ness. was oil mad! ,i Vi lsNsG =
But there was work to do. Means must be
found to bring the coy treasure from its resting
J piaco. .uu tuo Apor must Dc zone eecretly,
too. The babbling village gossips must know
unjust invent machinery to bring it to light The
farm went to ruin; what cared for that?-I
whA was to be millionaire! The neighbors
! called me mad. I laughed at them-they knew
: not Of my prize. My models were finished at
!: last, dispatched to the city, and awaited with
feverish anxiety the return Of the machinery.
One day 1t came, and band of trusty work.
men, sworn to secrecy. bore 1t 10 the field. I
directed them to the SPOT superintendent the
placing Of the massive drills, and then gazed
fondly at the little stream that was to sail me
on to wealth.
~oo 1ryt b..