The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-06-26
An Old Hoarder,

II Goldsmith had made tour through
the village OF New England, fifty or
sixty wears ago, he would have found
more subjects for his delicate humor
than greeted him in
Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain"
A writer, indulging in "reminiscences of
his boyhood, passed in village of the
Bay State. sketches an '.original,"
whom he knew as the most fascinating
of men and the most penurious of
hoarders..
ss0ld Storer," as he was called, used
TO dress in snuff brown coat. white,
indented hat, patched breaches and
thrice-darned hose. Ignorant of the
forms of life, he was never abashed,
and showed an address that a cultured
gentleman might have envied.
He had but one ambition--to hoard
money. Only one occupation interested
him-the search for new sources of
wealth. These made him steady in
action and gave unity to his life.
In early life he worked on the large
farm of rich widow, many years his
senior. He determined to obtain those
broad acres and, therefore, courted the
widow She listened to his honeyed
words, and became susceptible to his
soft, graceful address.
Now and then, during the progress
of the courtship, doubts of the sincerity
of the young mans love would obtrude
themselves. One evening, while they
were walking in the fields, she limited
her suspicious that the attachment was
NOT wholly disintaractad
"Tell me truly, do you really love
me? fear you don't. =
mot love you, my dear!'' replied
Storer, suddenly inspired with truth,
Hove the very ground you tread upon!'
In few weeks Storer's art gratifed
his ambition. He received the widows
hand and her lands. Not long after
the marriage Storer began talking of
''the live stock that saddled the estate,''
and wished that he could get rid of his
wife
He once sent her to church. on q race
horse, rightly anticipating that she
woald be thrown. Contrary to his ex-
pectations, however, she was not killed.
In his old age, Storer would now aud
then break out into freak of liberality.
He gave a clock TO the town. That
gift was the theme of his self-gratula-
ton.
Frequently when he saw stranger
passing the steeple in which it was
placed, he would stop him, with the in
quiry:
Scan You tell me, sir, what is the
purport of that inscription on yondel
clockP"
Presented to the town by Joseph
Storer. ESQ., replied the stranger,
reading the inscription.
''Ah, yes! yesr' the old man would re-
ply, chuckling to himself II remem-
Der now Munihcent donation that.
sir! Great public benefaetor, that
Squire Storcr:.n
''Who is he, sir?"
Esquire Storer? Why, gentleman
living near by, sir A man of great
wealth, sir. Munifcent donation that,
sir!'
And the old man would go off, happy
in the thought that another stranger
had heard of his generosity.
As he had no children and disliked
his relatives, the suggestion was made
to him that the medical college in the
town would be an appropriate legatee.
He approved the suggestion, and often
intimated that he would make his will
in favor of the college.
He was taken sick. His physician,
seeing that it was the old man S last i'll
ness, urged him to make his WILL But
he could not endure the thought of let
ting 60 his grasp upon the gold he
had boarded.
Tell me- he said, the day before he
died, ''when you think I am going to
die, and soe s0iH write fast"
He died without will, and his hated
relatives inherited all the property
Toutb'S Companion.