Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-12-31


crved man, so that very few words
rom him were important. When for
he first time he paid me a weeks wages,
lie said: "Peter, you do not need more
han half of what is due you; the other
lalf | will set aside fer the savings
'ank." And so it was.
Ga Palm Sunday, before mass, he
vent with me to the savings bank. NY
lame was written in huge register,
md they gave me book, on the first
page of which was Inscribed my
lame, and on the second my
deposit, seven crowns. l held my little
book lovingly, and looked often at my
lame and the amount of my capital. |
vas so enchanted with this first opera
lion that became avaricious. reformed
ny habit of smoking, aud gave myself
40 rest till had another small sum to
deposit. When l passed the bank build.
ng, l would say to myself, There is
my good money bringing interest night
md day. Very good. i will add to the
mount
Would that had continued to tall
alone to myself! But l soon confded in
1 companion from the Palatinate, and
whom for that reason we called the Pala
lin. To amuse myself on Sunday,
would take my book from its box
md would try to compare prtcisel,
how much month my tweiv
crowns would bring me. tn,
Palatin, who was skilfuI accountant,
told me exactly, and then he began t.
make sport Of the trifilng amount, and
tossed my book into the air, exc,aimjne
"Look at the fortune Of the great
capitalist, Peter Werner"
The little book fell on my head, aud
seemed to me to have suffered insult.
wiped it, put it back into the box, an
did not show it to my companion aiu
Just before Christmas there was
great fire in the city. The building tina
contained the savings bank was con
sumed before aid could be brought.
was greatly excited when l learned tia
the registers of deposit were burned
The Palatin, however, laughed heartily
"You fool" said he, "what are you cry
ing for2 The city has guaranteed the de
posts made in the savings bank. Yot
have your receipt. The State must pay
YOU"
This reflection treasured me. I shove,
my book to my companion again, and hg
told me that it was perfectly correct.
That night, when we lay down sid,
by side to sleep, he said: 'Peter, YOU
and can be RIGA, and have nothing tc
do but see the world, and let our money
work for US" He added that we mus
both go to California, where the earth i
full of gold.
every good" answered, "but wht
will give US the money to make the voy.
sgei"
Haven't you your bank book2".
''You called it a trlhe yourself"
eve will make something better O
it," he said, striking a light. 81 hay,
an idea. Get up and show me you
book"
"Capital!" he cried, when had siver
him my book, "Nobody will have tn,
slightest suspicion. Received this day
Ave crowns OF five crowns vii
make five hundred, and we will hav
the means OF starting on our travels"
AT these words l began to tremble
"My friend, " said /, "th's ought not t.
be done. | will not permit it
"Let me alone, " replied he; az vii
show you how easy 1T is.
A fatal curiosity awoke in me, and
ssidto him: "You can do it this way.
Try it on another paper, or else you vii
spoil my book, and l shall lose the Iittlt
l possess. ""
hoped he would not succeed, anf
that his failure. would deliver me from
my guilty coyetousness; and yet could
have wished him to succeed.
''Let me alone," he sharply replied
"and do not make me angry; or else m
hand will tremble, and shall spoil
everything" ID
l crossed my arms on my chest, anc
with trembling | watched him chang
the words written in my precious book
while it seemed as if my heart wer,
bursting. Then he took little knife
and scratched out \ few letters. | shiv
cred, and yet said to myself: "Nov
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 classification
IN these words, and the great register
was buried.
We returned 10 bed. I already saw
myself across the ocean, picking ur
nuggets of gold. had carriage witt
four magnificent horses, and servant
who offered me beautiful meerschauu
pipe trimmed with silver, while another
poured my champagne.
The next morning at the table feared
every moment that l might sec an
officer approaching to take me to prison.
| was so much afraid of uttering an i'm.
prudent word that l dared not reply i'm.
medlately to any question | no longer
dared to carry money to the saving;
bank, but made long detours to avoid
passing the building in which it had
been reorgan'z ed. Gradually, however,
| recovered a sort of tranquility, as
saw that nobody suspected what l had
done. But when, on the approach Of
Chrismas, my masters children began
TO danas around me one morning, say.
inQ. we know something We shau IT