Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-01-12

emily, and who was the richest of them
all spoke up and said:
| "Of truth it is very easy to acquire
great fortune when one has but to add
treasure to treasure. AS for me,
earned my riches without SO much as a
goat to begin upon. Listen, and will
tell you my story.
"My father died before I was born.
He had been very rich, but my moth
er was only poor widow without
support or protection. Ali the wealth
that her husband had left her was
taken from her by greedy relatives,
and. as she even feared for her life, she
sought refuge at the home of friend
of my dead father.
"There it was that was brought
into this world. My dear mother, of
whom later / became the sole support,
was then obliged to gain her liveli-
hood as best she could. She had to
work very hard for very small wages.
Notwithstanding, she managed to save
enough from her scanty earnings to pay
for master who taught me to write
and to figure.
son the day when completed
these humble studies my mother call
ed me to her and said: 'As your father
was merchant before you, so, also,
should you be merchant. There is
in our town a rich banker who is
called Wisakhila. This generous man
makes practice of lending capital to
sons of merchants who have lost their
own means Go and pray him to open
his purse unto you as he has done unto
Others
"No sooner said than done. But
when entered the private Office of the
banker he was in very bad humor 1
found him scolding roundly young
man, the son of merchant, who stood
before him with bowed head,
'Do you see that dead mouse on
the floor thereT he exclaimed angrily
to him. There is piece of mer-
chandise out of which a smart man
might make a fortune. AS for you,
good-for- nothing, 1 have already lent
you an ample sum Not only have you
failed to add to your capitol. but by
your folly you have squandered it all.
At these words / advanced toward the
banker and spoke:
"Allow me- said l. 'to borrow from
you the piece of merchandise of which
you spoke. So saying l PICKED up
the mouse and went my way.
Notwithstanding his anger the good
man was SO struck with my simplicity
that he could not restrain a smile
''In the street came across a
grocer standing in the doorway of his
shop stroking beautiful cat. l of.
fered him my mouse. He accepted it.
and in exchange gave me few handfuls
of peas. carried them home, roasted
them and made my way to the outskirts
of the town, taking care to bring with
me water jar filled to the brim with
fresh cold water. Arriving at a cross
road seated myself in the shade of
tree. l was scarcely settled when
along came a party of wood cutters,
their shoulders bent beneath their loads
and their faces tanned by the sun. l
arose, and bowling humbly before them
set forth my peas and refreshing drink.
AS reward each made me present
of two bundles of faggots, which l
carried to the markets. sold them,
and with the money made in this way
bought some more peas. a larger
quantity this time, and 1 repeated my
course of the previous day. Soon I
was able to set aside the greater part
of my faggots, and Notwithstanding by
selling the remainder 1 quickly earned
so much money that at last l could
buy up all the stock of the wood
cutters. continued selling some and
saving some until 1 had collected a
considerable quantity.
1.-THE rainy season was approach
ing. and in due course the rain fell in
torrents, and dark clouds obscured the
sky. AS for several weeks it did not
cease raining the roads leading to the |
woods were soon quite impossible. |
The weather, too, was very cold, and |
soon there was a great scarcity of fire |
wood. which. in consequence. rose in |
price. This was the time to sell my
stock. / made a neat profit. 1 rented |