The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
MISSED FORTUNE BY ACRE
Chicago Man Had Price of Lot, but
Didn't Invest It.
Honey He Paid Out In Interest
Would Have Kept Him
Very Well.

From the Chicago News
IF I'd only bought about an acre On
the corner of Greeley street and the ave
nue. I'd have been well fixed by now"
remarked the oldest inhabitant Il could
have got it for one O. them yaller-back
bills you just showed in the drawer. Ihad
/ the bill. too. I wasn't Ike the feIler that
didn't have the suspenders. Il wasn't
yaller back, o. course, becus they didn't
have them with yaller backs then. but /
had the greenbacks. an I could have
bought it Jest as well as not ="
At it again. are you?' said the grocer.
Why don't you try to forget it?''
You don't know" said the oldest in
habitant ''YsI don't know what it IS TO
look around YOU an see all the chances
that you missed jest on account O not
KNOWN. l can walk around in any given
direction an see right where I might
have made few hundred thousand dol
lars jest as well as not All need have
done was to put every blame sent / could
rake and scrape into real estate"
Too bad said the grocer You, Bill,
you've pat that 25-cent coffee IN the 10
cent bin. Now, you get right 10 work
and take il out again. A person needs TO
stand right over YOU and watch you every
blessed minute"
NO, you don't know" repeated the old
est inhabitant, with a sigh. You amt
been here but ten or twelve years
What's that got 70 do with it?' said
the grocer. DO you think I have 10 take
root somewhere TO look back and see
where ! might have been better off to-day
If I had had the sense TO look ahead? I
guess not l can look back and remember
the time when I WAS earning good wages
and slsnt every blame sent of them.
Didn't get nothing for my money. either.
II I couldn't spend it I'd lend it. I'd lend
il 10 some man I thought was a good
friend of mine and then when I got I'D
against it and wanted money I'd have TO
borrow at per cent a month. That's the
way | done. IF I had all the money I
paid out for interest on borrowed money
have been we'll fixed myself If Ia
saved my money when ! earned il ard
turned my friends down when they tried
10 make touch I'd be the head Of a
trust to-day. or something of that kind
Anyway. | wouldn't be scOoping prunes
out of a barrel for YOU.
That's different. Right back there on
Dimsey street began the oldest in
habitant
Il know all about Dimsey street." in
terrupted the grocer. you could have
got the option on the whole street for u
chew of tobacco and a warranty deed for
plug of il. / bould have been a hearty,
strong man to-day, instead of lantern
jawed wreck if ] had put my strength
and activity in the right direction. I
didn't look ahead far enough that's all.
/ didn't appreciate it. II was too COM
mOn. All the young men ! knew had
health TO burn. just the same as your
neighbOrs had land. ] had more lhan /
could use, so l put it into late hours and
strong liquors and things like that The
result is that to-day I can't join q friend
in social glass without suffering for II.
and I'm Doc Burnhams perpetual meal
ticket If l had some OF that health
which ! might have keptLd be all right.
Il tell you, said the grocer. shaking
his finger in the face Of the oldest inhab-
liant, IF I could get up in the morning
with a red tongue and 90 downstairs and
eat three or four slices of bacon. a couple
Of eggs and half dozen buckwheat
cakes with an appetite and be good and
ready for my dinner By the time * come
noon I'd give all Of Dimsey street and
the acre on Greeley street and the avenue
that you never got. with every cent of as
sessed valuation on the whole cab0odle"
That's all right said the Oldest in
habitantJ but maybe you don't know
that I've seen eabbages growing right
here where were standing"