The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1896-12-19
STORIES IN PASSING.

Five years ago a certain Lincoln man
WAS worth two or three thousand dollars.
Today he hasn't a cent. 1t happened in
this way.
He had always been an intensity relig-
ious man, had made a great study of the
Bible and especially the book of Revela-
tions. He had become tired of business
and curned his grocery store over to his
son-in-law. He was restless, however,
and wanted TO be doing something. Then
the minister suggested his writing a
book. 1t was just the thing and the man
took to literary work i'm dead earntst.
He first bought every book published on
Revelations. l., took him three years to
complete his study and produce his ex-
position and by that time half his money
was gone.
He spent year trying to find a pub
Usher to take hold of his work. At the
end of that time he had to bring il out
himself. The edition of one thousand
copies ate up another thousand dollars.
But he had the pleasure of seeing his
name on the title page and his own
name in print.
He sent fifty copies to prominent edi-
tors and divines. and his friends bought
twenty-five copies just to see what the
work was like. The other nine hundred
and twenty-five copies are piled in the
store-room off the kitchen. And now
he and his wife are living with his SON.
in-law.
tenth street saloon-keeper also saw
his money melt away with nothing but
experience to show for it. But it was
in an entirely different way.
The man had saved six or seven thou
sand dollars and decided to go out of
business. He had had enough of it. in
tended to cease for good. Then the
craze for speculation struck him. He
took his seven thousand. borrowed seven
thousand from his brother in Wiscon-
sin and went to Chicago. He invested
in buckwheat. The whole sum went in.
down. On Friday, the man sold out
his exchange privilege for enough to
get back to Lincoln.
Scheme was all right" he said in
telling about it,. .'but just struck hard
luck AS soon as 1 make the cost l am
going back and try it again. and it'll
pan out this time.
Two little tots were buying Christmas
presents in Responsiveness one day
this week They had just fifteen cents
between them. A tray of gaudy jewelry
caught their eyes as they passed a
showcase In the center was brass
stick pin set with big oblong piece OF
green glass.
How much is that?" one of them
asktd the lady clerk.
Fifty cents was the reply T'he
children said nothing but stood silently
gazing at the bit of finery.
Diamonds" whispered the boy in
tone of awe and wonder.
yes" his sister answered equally
impressed; and then they turned toward
the toy counter.
Down i'm Ashland, years ago dad
Hardin little dried up, sharp-featur-
ed man was night watch OF the town.
While going the rounds OF the stores
one night he suddenly heard shouting
M the street. 1t was intensely coio,
with the wind whipping little DTS Oh
ice through the air, and Dad wonoereu
who was out at such time.
He ran I'D the middle Of the street ana
fo,nd a man muffied up on horse
standing in front of Scotts grocery.
The man said he lived three miles OUT
in the country and had come in TO get
some things for his sick wife. he was
attempting 10 call Mr.. Scott down from
upstairs to get them for him.
Hardin said he would go up ana
arouse Mr.. Scott and he soon mad tnat
gentleman plunging shiveringly into ms
Clothes. Then the night watch came
down and began to talk to the man on
HORSEBACK until the proprietor arrived.
TT does seem a pity" said the morse
man. ito pull a man out of bed a night
like this for five cents worth OF crack
ers." .,,arsr,