Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-24
4 MISERS STRANGE CONDUCT.
lie Gives All Hrs Property 10 a Young Nan
and Leaves for Parts Unknown.


Yazoo City (Niss.) letie. Of Augut 18th
says: Some ten Yeas ago an old man, prob
ably sixty years Of age. moved from East
Mississippi and settled In the thriving town
Of YaZoo Civ, where he opened little re-
tail store, with a stock Of not more than
5000 value. 10 was remarked az the start
that he was n man OF singularly quiet ways
and peculiar habits. lie did not seem 10
want 20 make any acquaintances: he con-
yersCd with no one only I'm the course Of bu-
siBess. and lived entirely 10 himself. Sleep
ing and eating in his store, and preparing
his own meals himself. He had no clerk,
but attended strictly TO his own business.
ilc never went 10 church or TO any place Of
amusement; in fact, it is related that the
only occasions on which he was known TO
absent himself from his store were on cleo
tion.days. lie UUuId vote, but nobody
knew how he voted, for he was never
heard 10 speak about politics or TO express
a preference for any particular candidate.
His dress was odd and old-fashioned, aud
lac invariably wore suit OF gray jeans and
a pair Of coarse brOgans that had never
known the use Of a blackIng-brush. He
soon became known as a miser and hermit,
and though harmless, IL was terror TO
TIE little folks 10 tell them "he would
90 this or that to them il they were
lad.' But the old man lived on, and his
little stock OF only few hundred dollars
in value increased to upward Of two thou
sand, though there was no change in him or
his manner OF living until gbout two weeks
ago. Among those who passed by the old
mans store daily was ayoung man OF pleas
ant face aud steady habits who clerked in
neiehboring store. lie never passed the
cid man that he did not tip his hat and Sc
lutte him. On one occasion the old mans
store was closed for day or two, and this
young man was the only one who felt suii-
cient concern 10 inquire into the cause.
Learning that the old man was sick, he
sought his bedside and administered TO his
wants and assisted him III his recovery.
From that time on they became fast friends,
though The old man never told the
young one anything Of his history, but he
would converse with and seemed TO have
formed an attachment for him. One morn
ing about O'Clock, as the Young man was
passing the old mans store on his way TO
his own place OF business, he saw the old
man standing at bis store-door. A won
derful change had been wrought I'm his APP
pearance. The old, faded, thrcadbsre SUIT
lad been cast aside, and there stood the
miser and hermit d'esSed up in hand.
some. neat-littlng suit O; black broadcloth
and q snow-white shirt. A fine. pair OF
lichly.gQlishcd shoes were on his feet, and
his head, from wn,,, had been cut a
mass Of unkempt hair al,. Delrd, was
surmounted by CLASSY silS uIe'
He scarcely recognized the old man,
aid was hesita,ing about saluting
him when the old man spoke and
asked him "to step inside moment"
He obcyed, am. the old man remarked,
81 am going 10 leave Yazoo tonight for
ever" and holding out his hand, further
said: "Here IS my saie-key. The contents
Of the safe and this" pointing TO the goods
on the shelves, 81 give TO you. Make the
best OF them, and ask me no questions.
All request OF you Is TO see me safely oil
ON the cars tonight" The young man
thanked him and kept his own counsel.
That afternoon he called with hack, and
took the old man TO the train. When the
cars had gone the young man repaired
to The store, and opening the safe,
found &C, 600 in gold and Sl05 in silver
therein. There were no greenbacks, and
the onlE instrument in writing In the safe
was deed Of gift Of the contents Of the
safe and the stock Of goods. Nothing has
been heard from the old man since his de
partuTe further than he was seen board
ing an up-rIyor packet at Nicksburg the
day after be left Yazoo. The young man
who has thus suddenly fallen heir TO
snug little fortune is in every manner de-
SEWING. and being sober ana industrious,
will make proper use OF It,
II is said that the old man has relatives
in Virginia. II this be 50 they may, when
tlcy learn all the facts In the case, institute
suit for The recovery Of the property SO
sirgularly abandoned.