Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-05-14
AN iNsTRUcTIvE STORY.

A Rich Mans Desperate struggle TO Earn
One Cont Honestly.
81 wish were rich" sighed the poor
workingmAn, Hs he placed the lid on his
little tn 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
vet time for him to 20 to work again.
His revoric was disturbed by the ap.
pearance OF little, driedAnp, wrinkied
old man, who tapped him on the shout.
der and SAid:
VI heard the ,wish You uttered just
now. it IS ii my p6@&er to make you
rich; Hew much wealth do you want?"
VA million dollars!" exclaimed tho
poor workingman, staring incredulously
at the little old man.
"You shall have IL provided you COM
ply with the condition impose was
the re53inder.
''Name the condition.
'It is that you shall earn small por-
ton Of it yourself. Follow me"
Tho poor laborer mechanically roso
Ap 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"
I'm this vault" said the withered lit
tie man, "there are untold riches in.gol1
and silver One Of these drawers has
5000, 993. 90. 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 S1OO, 900, 900. Mark! You
are to earn it honestly. shall know
whether you beg, borrow, find. or steal
1t. Do you accept the condition.
II do"
''Then 60. 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 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 I?' 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 cont, and how soon
his fingers would close upon the vast
sum of money he coveted.
II feel as if wanted something to
eat," he said. "Let me see how much
money / have about me. I remember |
had little when I left home this morn
ing"
He felt in his pockets. They were
empty.
He was disappointed, but laughed at
his own discontinue.
II shall soon have enough to feast
myself on the best there is in the land, .
he soliloeuized. 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
Dn knocking at the door was admitted
inside.
"Do you want to hire man?" he
asked.
"For what?" asked the astonisheG
merchant, looking at the richly-dressed
man before him.
"Any thing. l don't care what. ]
only want q job for an hour-half an
bour-fve minutes. l want to earn Il
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 fraud
In another moment he found himsel
In the street again. He stepped into an
unfinished building. Men were stand
ing about doing nothing. He went u
to rperson 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. SECT out as quick
as you can. If they see man of your
appearance looking for job they will
make it hot for you"
He needed no further warning, but
eft at once. Walking slowly along he
Jaw number of men at work cleaning
I street.
"Where is your boss?" he demanded.
The boss was pointed out to him and
be asked him for work.
''You want job?" said the official,
quizzically. Certainly. Take otf your
coat. Here's spade. Let's see what
you can do"
He removed his coat, took the spade,
and began to use it. The novelty of a
man in a high silk hat working with a
gang Of street-cleaners drew a crowd,
but he kept on. In few minutes he
was exhausted and his hands wore
blistered. He stopped.
81 don't seem to be able to do this
Kind of work." he said, "butI've earned
cent. even if quit now, haven't I?
A cent is all want"
''You haven't earned any thing" said
The ''boss." ''You have only hindered
;he other fellows. I'm not the paymas-
Ter, anyhow, but I'll make you present
If a cent, if that's all you want
II can't take it as a gift" he replial
hAN AOoN"AAc5 AAo SO0u AO WNlhCu lGoDlV
llong, followed by the jeers of the
crowd.
All that afternoon he dragged himself
about the city, looking for Job at
which he could earn cent. Many of
those to whom he applied for work re-
yardcd him as insane, but others gave
him a trial, and pityingly dismissed him
when they found he seeraed 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
muttored bitterly, as he wandered aim
lessly into an clearinghouse and sat down
At one Of the tables, ..sald not able to
earn that cent! Is thatall millionaire