Passaic City record., 1892-12-17

zzW - wv - annrent;ss tie
ship as a lock
smith. My mas
ter was, on the other hand, grave, re-
served man, so that very few words
from him were important. When fol
the first time he paid me weeks wages,
he said ssPeter, you do not need more
1han half of what is due you; the other
half l will set aside for the savings
bank" And so it was.
On Palm Sunday, before mass, he
uent with me to the savings bank. My
name was written in huge register,
and they gave me book, on the first
page of which was inscribed my
name, and on the second my
deposit, seven crowns. / held my little
Book lovingly, and looked often at my
name and the amount of my capital. ]
was so enchanted with this first opera
non that became avaricious. reformed
my habit Of smoking, and gave myself
no rest till had another small sum to
deposit. When / passed the bank build
ing, would say to myself, "There is
my good money bringing interest night
and day. Very good. i will add to the
amount"
Would that had continued to talk
alone to myself But l soon conided in
a companion from the Palatinate, and
whom for that reason we called the Pala-
tin. To amuse myself on Sunday,
would take my book from its box,
and would try to compare precisely
how much month my twelve
crowns would bring me. The
Paiatin, who was skilful accountant,
aald me exactly, and then he began to
make sport of the trifing amount, and
tossed my book into the air, exclaiming:
'1Look at the fortune of the great
capitalist, Peter Werner!"
3 The little book fell on my head, and
FEemed to me to have suffered insult. I
wiped it, put it back into the box, and
did not show it to my companion again.
Just before Christmas there was
great fire in the city. The building that
contained the savings bank was con-
sumed before aid could be brought. /
was greatly excited when learned that
she registers of deposit were burned.
The Palatin. however, laughed heartily.
sYou fool" said he, "what are you cry
Eng fora The city has guaranteed the de-
posts made in the savings baak. You
have your receipt. The State must pay
yon.'
1'his reflection reassured me-. showed
gy 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: .sPeter, you
and Z can be rich, aud have nothing to
do but see the world, and let our money
work for u.s." he added that we must
Soth go to California, where the earth is
snll of gold.
.'yery good, answered, "but who
sill give us the money to make the voy-
agsa"
Haven't you your bank book2"
"You called it trife yourself"
s'We will make something better OF
4, ? he said, striking light. s'I have
ma idea. Get up and show me your
hook"
s'Capitall' he cried, when had given
him my book. ssNobody will have the
slightest suspicion. Received this day
kse crowns OF five crowns / will
make five hundred, and we will have
ahe means of starting on our travels
At these words began to tremble.
any friend," said I, "this ought not to
be done. | will not permit it,"
ssLet me alone, " re piled he; ssI will
how you how easy 1t is.n
A fatal curiosity awoke in me, and
said to him. ssYou can do it this way.
Try it on another paper, or else you will
spoil my book, and I shall lose the little
possess. !"
hoped he would not succeed, and
hat his failure would deliver me from
NJ guilty covetousuess; and yet could
hsye wished him to succeed.
ssIet me alone," he sharply replied,
ssand do not make me angry; or else M.
land will tremble, and I shall spoil
everything"
crossed my arn.s on my chest, ant
wssh trembling / watched him chang
xse words written in my precious book
uhilc it seemed as If my heart wer
suzsting. Then be took little knit
ma scratched out . few letters. I shiv
rsd. and yet said to myself: "No,
xsu are rich, and able to grow richer.
ry,,,~,d Il what he had lust written