Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-07
A MIsERs STRANGE CONDUCT.
He Gives Away His Property and Leaves
for Parts Unknown.


Some ten years ago, says a correspon-
dent of the st. Louis Globe Democrat, an
old man, probably 60 years of age, moved
from east Mississippi and settled in the
thriving town Of Yazoo City, where he
opened little retail store, with a stock of
not more than $500 value. It was re-
marked at the start that he was man Of
singularly quiet ways and peculiar habits.
He did not seem to want to make any ac-
quaintances; he conVereed ssEith no one
only in the course of business, and lived
entirely to himself, sleeping and eating
in his store and preparing his own meals
himself. He had clerk, but attended
strictly to his own business. He never
went to church or to any place of amuse-
ment; in fact, it is related that the only oc-
casions on which he was known to absent
himself from his store were on election
days. He would vote, but nobody knew
how he voted, for he was never heard to
speak about politics, or to express a pre-
ference for any particular candidate. His
dress was odd and Old-fashioned, and he
invariably wore suit of gray jeans and
a pair of coarse brOgans that had never
known the use of backing brush. He
soon became known as a miser and her
NIT, and though harmless, it was a terror
to the little folks to tell them she would
UO tul5 VI ludb W NuGuu IL LubY were UaG.<<
But the old man lived on, and his little
stock of only a few hundred dollars in
value increased to upward of $4,000,
though there was no change in him or his
manner of living until about two weeks
ago. Among those who passed by the old
mans store daily was a young man of
pleasant face and steady habits who
clerked in neighboring store. He never
passed the old man that he did not tip his
hot and zaIIV IN NV7O Al
old mans store was closed for day or
two, and this young man was the only one
who felt sufficient concern to inquire into
the cause. Learning that the old man
was sick, he sought his bedside and min
istered to his wants and assisted him in
his recovery. From that time on they be-
came 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 morning about O'Clock, as the
young man was passing the old mans
store on his way to his own place of bust
ness, he saw the old man standing at his
store door. a wonderful change bad been
wrought in his appearance. The old,
faded, threadbare suit had been cast
aside, and there stood the miser and her.
NIT dressed up in handsome, neat-ftting
suit of black broadcloth and snow-white
shirt. A fine pair of highly. polished shoes
were on his feet, and his head, from which
had been cut mass Of unkempt hair and
beard, was surmOunted by a glossy-silk
tile. He scarcely recognized the old
man, and was hesitating about saluting
him when the old man spoke and asked
him ''to step inside a moment" He
obeyed, and the old man remarked: 81
am going to leave YazoO tonight for
ever" and. holding out his hand, further
said: "Here is my safe key; the con-
tents of the safe and this,' pointing to
the goods on the shelves, II give to you;
make the best of them and ask no ques-
tiOns; all l request of you is to see me
safely off on the cars tonight" The
young man thanked him and kept his own
counsel. That afternoon he called with a
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 $4,000 in gold and $105 in silver
therein. There were no greenbacks, and
the only 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-
parture. further than that he was seen
boarding an up-river packet at Vicksburg
the day after he left YaZOO. The young
man who has thus suddenly fallen heir to
a snug little fortune is in every manner
deserving, and being sober and industri-
Gus will make proper use of it.
1t IS said that the old man has relatives
in Virginia. If this be so they may, when
they learn all the facts in the case, insti-
tute suit for the recovery of the property
so singularly abandoned.