The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-04
AN INSTRUCTIVE STORY.
A Rich Mans Desperate Struggle to Earn
One Cent Honestly.

WISH were rlCu, SlgHeu Lno poor
workingman, as he placed the lid on his
little tin bucket, wiped his mouth with
the back of his hand, and leaned back
against the tree at whose foot he had
just eaten his noon repast. 1t was not
yet time for him to 60 to work again.
His reverie was disturbed by the an.
pearance of little, dried-up, wrinkled
old man, who tapped him on the shonl-
der and said:
IL heard the wish you uttered lust
now. 1t is in my power to make you
rich. How much wealth do you want?"
"a million dollars!" exclaimed the
poor workingman, staring incredulously
at the little old man.
"You shall have it, provided you COM
ply with the condition I impose" was
the rejoinder.
'.Name the condition"
sit is that you shall earn small Dor
ton of it yourself. Follow me-
The poor laberer mechanically rose
up and followed him, not NOTICING
whittier he went, and in few moments
he found himself in large gloomy
building in the center of which was an
immense vault"
Gin this vault" said the withered lit.
tie man, ''there are untold riches in gold
and silver. One of these drawers has
1899, 999.99. Hero is the key to it.
That money is yours-on condition
that you go and earn the one cent need
ed to make it 500, 900. Mark! You
are to earn it honestly. I shall know
whether you beg, borrow. find, or steal
1t. Do you accept the condition."
81 do"
''Then go. 1 shall be waiting here
when you return"
Like one dazed he went out from the
gloomy building. An astounding trans
formation had taken place within him.
He found himself arrayed in a new suit
of costly clothing. A glossy hat was on
his head. He looked at his hands
They were soft, white and delicate. His
feet were small and incased in a pair of
patent-leather shoes of wondrous fine
ness. AS he walked along he found he
was becoming fatigued, as if unused to
the exercise.
"Who am ~" he said to himself.
Then the recollection of his bargain
with the little old man flashed upon
him, and he smiled to think how easily
he would earn that cent, and how soon
his fingers would close upon the vast
sum of money he coveted.
II feel as if 1 wanted something to
eat" he said. ''Let me see how much
money l have about me. remember I
had little when 1 left home this morn
ing"
He felt in his pockets. They were
empty.
He was disappointed, but laughed at
his own discontinue.
81 shall soon have enough to feast
myself on the best there is in the land"
he soliloquized. 81 will not waste any
time. but earn that cent now"
He stepped into large business estab-
lishment and asked for the proprietor.
He was directed to private office, and
on knocking at the door was admitted
| inside.
'Do you want to hire a MANI" he
asked.
''For what?" asked the astonished
merchant, looking at the richly-dressed
man before him.
"Any thing. l don't care what.
only want job for an hour-half an
bour-fve minutes. l want to earn a
cent. I'm absolutely out of money"
Here's dime" said the merchant
"Can't take it.
"Then CO."
| "But-"
"Here, William, Jacobs. Show this
man out. He's crazy or a fraud
In another moment he found himself
in the street again. He stepped into an
unfinished building. Men were stand
ing about dong nothing. He went up
to person who seemed to be in au-
thority and asked if there was any work
for him.
''The men here are on strike," was
the hurried answer. Get out as quick
as you can. If they see man of your
appearance looking for job they will
make IL not ZOE you.
He needed no further warning, but
| left at once.
All that afternoon he dragged himself
about the city, looking for job at
which he could earn a cent. Many OF
those to whom he applied for work re-
garded him as insane, but others gave
him trial, and pityingly dismissed him
when they found he seemed to be wholly
unused to the work. There was moth
ing he could do. Money was offered him
repeatedly as aims, in spite of his fine
clothes, but none in payment for his
services.
"a millionaire-all but one cent" he
muttered bitterly, as he wandered AIM
lessly into an clearinghouse and sat down
at one of the tables, laid not able to
earn that cent! Is that all millionaire
is good for?"
The waiter brought him the things he
ordered, but he could not eat. He rose
from the table.
81 haven't any money" he said, 'but
here is my"
| mo moneys! exclaimed Cne "alCoi.
''Then what did you come in here for?
Here, boys! Lend a hand. Well ire
this deadbeat down the inclined plane.
In the twinkling of an eye he was
seized by four stalwart men, hurried to
the rear of the building, and tossed OUT
on a well-greased toboggan slide. With
the rapidity of lightning he shot down.
down, down! The wind whistled in MS
ears and took away his breath. The
blood froze in his veins with horror
Suddenly, with a fearful bump, he
found himself again at the foot OF tne
tree. He had fallen into doze-tna'
was all. The little old man and the
frightful experiences of long halliday
had only existed in dream. compressed
| into tho limits of q few short minutes.