Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-17

BIZ BxRrHoLD AUERBAcH.

|. second deposit, seven crowns. held my
little book lovingly. and looked often a
. my name and the amount of my capital
: I was so enchanted with this operation
. that became avaricious. I reformed my
habit OF smoking. and gave myself no res
. till had another small sum to deposit
When passed the bank building would
say to myself, There is my good money
, bringing interest night and day. Very
good. | will add to the amount"
Would that had continued to talk alone
to myself! But soon confided to CON-
panion from the Palat nate, and whom fol
that reason we called the Palatin. To
amuse myself on Sunday would take my
book from its box. and would try to com.
pute precisely how much month my IL
crowns would bring me. The Palatin,
VINO was a skillful accountant. told me ex-
actly, and then he began to make sport OF
the trlhing amount and tossed my book
into the air, exclaiming. Look at the for
tune of the great capitalist, Peter War
ner ~
The little book fell on my head, and
seemed To have suffered insult, wiped
it. put it back into the box and did not
show it to my companion again.
Just before Christmas there was a great
fire in the city. The house that contained
the savings bank was consumed before aid
could be brought. was greatly excited
when learned that the registers of de-
post were burned. All my fortune was
inscribed in them. The Palatin. however.
laughed heartily. You fool !" he said,
"what are you crying for? The city has
guaranteed the deposits made in the saw
ings bank. You have your receipt. The
State must paw you"
This reflection treasured me. | showed
my book to my companion again, and he
told me that it was perfectly correct
That night when we lay down side by
side to sleep, he said, Peter, you and I
can be rich. and will have nothing to do
but see the world and let our money work
for u.s." He added that we must 90 to
California where the earth is full of gold.
Very good" answered, "but who
will give us money to make the voyage P"
Haven't YOU your bank book?"
You call it trifle yourself"
1--WE will make something better of il. :"
said he. striking light. IL have an
idea. Get up and show me your book"
Capital ~ he cried, when had given
him my book. Nobody will have the
slightest suspicion. Received this day
five crowns Of five crowns | will
make five hundred and we will have the
means of starting on our travels"
At these words | began to tremble.
My friend" said |, 'this ought not to
be done will not permit it,
Let me alone" replied he; 81 will
show you how easy it is"
A fatal curiosity woke in me, and |
said to him: "You can do it this wav.
Try it on another paper, or else you
would spoil my book and should lose the
| little possess"
hoped he would not succeed, and that
his failure would deliver me from nv
guilty covetousness and yet could have
wished him to succeed
Let me alone" he sharply replied,
land do not make me angry. or else nv
hand will tremble and shall spoil every
thing"
crossed my arms on my chest. and
with trembling watched him change the
words written in my precious book. while
it seemed as if my heart were bursting.
Then he took little knife and scratched
out few letters. shivered, and vet
said to myself. Now you are rich and
able TO grow richer"
! looked at what he had Just written
Received five hundred crowns" No
body could detect the least Justification in
these words, and the great register was
burned.
| We returned to bed. already saw
myself across the ocean, picking up mug
gets of gold. had a carriage with four
magnificent horses. and a servant who of
fered me beautiful meerschaum pipe
trimmed with silver, while another poured
my champagne.
The next morning at the table, feared
every moment that | might see an officer
approaching to take me to prison. was
so much afraid OF uttering an imprudent
word that dared not reply Immediately
to any question. no longer dared to
carry money to the savings bank, but
made long detours to avoid passing the
building in which il had been recognized
Gradually, however, | recovered sort OF
tranquility. as saw that nobody suspect
ed what had done. But when on the APP
proach of Christmas. my masters children
began to dance around me one morning
saying, 1--WE know something that we
| Suuu tch thSh WINS t'iOiNCu uOdt
like knife. They knew the surprises
their father was preparing for our pleas.
ure and were delighted with their secret.
On Christmas eve Counsellor Mennin
gers servant came running to our work.
shop. | was in the doorway. She said
she had come for me. and that must &c
at once with my tools to her masters
house.
The councillors name had terrified me
Could my fault be already knownP had
decided not to use my book till spring,
and had never shownit. But was afraid
of everything.
Nevertheless, went with the young
girl She had sweet. fresh face. and the
pure Christmas light burned in her eyes
My father was locksmith," said she
st. Peter is our patron, and for many
people the key to Paradise is the key to
their money box"
We arrived at the counsellor's house
and | was shown into richly furnished
room. The counsellor brought me ar
elegant case whose key was broken, ant
babe me open it. He then told Catharine
my guide. that he had other preparation:
to make and babe her remain with the