The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-07
STORIES LONG AND SHORT
TaleOf Changed Conditions That Looked
Something Like Retribution.
How She Was Forced Into Slang-PrOphetic
Dream of Mrs. Rhodius-HOmely
but Good Justice.

The uncertainties of life were effectuallv
illustrated by an incident that happened
near Bridgeport. in this county, a fe w years
ago. the principal actorsIn which were prom
inent people of the county aud we'll known
In this city. At that time there lived near
BridgeDort q wealthy farmer who was. as
well. q minister in the Friends Church.
he was well along in years, and by his
sturdy industry had acquired considerable
of this worlds goods. In addition TO a
large and valuable farm he had a good
sized bank account. and his note we'll up
into the thousands was reckOned as SO
much ready money.
Close by the farm of the old Quaker
minister was one owned by a young man of
sterling worth. but who had been singular
" unfortunate and seemed to be cursed by
fate. The Young man owned a farm worth
sbout $4,000. upon which there was, how
ever. an incumbrance of 81, coo. With his
wife and family OF three small children he
resided on the farm and had IN years past
succeeded IN providing q comfortable
living for them with IA little TO spare at the
end of the year. Misfortune came upon
him In the way OF sickness which took
from him one child and confined
his wife to her bed for months.
Doctors bills ran up TO q very large
sum; time that had been spent in attending
TO the farm was. perforce. spent In caring
for his helDmate. and the products of the
farm soon began to fall short of the re-
CURED amount; taxes became due. but
could not be paid and were standing de-
liDquent against the land. Time rolled on
and the farm was sold to pay the taxes.
There was but one ray OF hope left-tne
young man had one year within which to
redeem his property If he could but borrow
the money with which to do it. The in
debtedness amounted to only about g. 060
on the farm worth nearly three times that
amount.
The young man determined to apply to
his ~neighbor. the wealthy Quaker minis
ter. He went to him and asked a loan
sufficient TO pay OF the Indebtedness. offer
ing q new mortgage for the amount adj
vanced. Being refused in this be asked
the wealthy neighbor to buy the farm for
$1,000, but was also refused. The young
man entreated and begged his wealthy
neighbor to assist him. showing him
that he not only could not lose any,
thing by the purchase. but would.
IN all probability, make a clear profit
Of nearly $1,000. and at the same
kime prevent the young man from
losing ell he possessed IN the world. The
entreatles were In vain; the old Quaker re-
fused to make either q loan with security
Or purchase the place. Friends of both in
terceded for the young man, but the minis
Ter WINS ODQuEhtCs Al NOuA0 AlSbOh ~ tno
advice of none of them. The young man
bad almost given uD hope of saving any
thing from the wreck. when he found d man
with some means willing TO purchase at the
the 1000 thus secured the young man
made another start In life. and in q few
years had recovered his former loss.
Shortly after the incidents narrated the
minister came to this city on business. and
by nance met o real-estate dealer with
whom he was slightly acquainted. During
q conversation with the real-estate man,
who was given TO operating on the Chicago
Board of Trade, the question of speculation
came up, and the real-estate man said to
the minister. why don't you make your
self richf LIZ i had the money TO back me
that you have / would be worth millions
instead of thousands" The real-estate
man then continued to explain TO the min
1ster that there was bound to be a rise in
wheat and lots of money In 1t for
one who could purchase then. The glow
Ing account of how easy IL was to gain
wealth completely turned the mind OF the
already wealthy minister and farmer. and
he entered into a partnership with tnereal-
estate shark. Their first operations were
small. as the minister was still cautious.
but resulted In q gain OF several hundred
dollars. The minister became wild. his only
thoughts were of the millions he would soon
acquire and he plunged into the speculation
with every dollar he had. The change
came, the food tide ebbed. and with 1t car
RED away the earnings of q lifetime OF toll
and industry. Within six months after his
first venture the old minister hadn't q dol
lar 20 call his own. and within another Six
months be was in the land OF the great un-
known, having died with n broken heart In
the verlest poverty. dependent upon rela-
rives for the necessarles OF LIE.
The good people of the community In
which he lived, and there were not q few
of them. still speak of the old minister's
ending. and are wont 10 point 10 IL as q
TetriDution following quick and fast upon
49, t. HE aurvardnaa N hQCOmlnQ a
gambler after q long life OF goodness and
usefulness. i
About W weeks ago q tired man en-
tered the yard in front Of Mrs. Reeyes's
residence. on East St Joseph street.
in quest of q few eatsbles. He was o hum
gry-Iooking mortal. with corroded eyes
and q longing for pie. He wore the rem
nants OF a soldier cloak. but had failed in
seemingly earnest endeavor to hide his
feet among the ruins of a pair of alligator
shoes. The fumes of strong cigar stubs
issued from his immediate presence. and
totterina walk that pleaded for cold baked
beans, whileunder his jaw was an alluvi-
al growth that somewhat
thIstles. He did not. IS was his wont, go
20 the front door and plunge at the
knocker. but walked stealthily around the
house into the back yard, where LOT one
glad instant he Toasted his imagination on
she probabilities of such q neat abode. lie
was not destined 10 hesitate a very long
time, for Just then q Great Dane came
up behind him. and with one low
grogl of warning sprang for the tramp,
who threw himself. like a gymnast hlgh In
the air. came down about fifteen feet away
and ran like Nancy Hanks. but coulant
find any exit. The gate had snapped shut.
and the high board fence kept him III. The
dog was determined. but found the poor
lame tramp to be q sprint" and the steeple-
chase went on for @ little time. when MIS-.
Reeves came TO the rescue.
What are you doing IN my yard" de,
handed Mrs. Reeves when the dog had
been anchored. but the poor fellow was SO
frightened be could not articulate spsech.
What do you WANT" she continued.
ION. m-m-madam, Unjust come IN
heer to get @ little piece of dog-l-l-mean
bread, as 1 was about starved"
There is q budding society girl out In the
vicinity of Woodruff Place whose aversion
TO slangy phrases is well known to her
friends. but one ana al! unite with her in