Year: 1861

''tes; " A0eets sate.tt - sttS ~ i.t"tseys "a'
published some years ago, and was at the tim,
declared to be perfectly authentic anecdott
of an old New York merchant


| In old times it was the custom of the mer
chants of the city of New York to keep theil
accounts in pounds, shiings and pence curren
cy About fifty years ago frugal, industri
Gus Scotch merchant, well known to the ther
small mercantile community Of this city, had
by dint Of fortunate commercial adventure and
economy, been enabled to save something like
four thousand pounds considerable sum oil
money at that period, and one which secured
to its possessor a degree Of enviabe independ
ence. His places of business and residence
were, as was customary at that time under tbs
same roof He had a clerk in bis employment
whose reputation as an accountant inspired the
utmost confidence Of bis master, whose frugal
habits he emulated with the true spirit and
feeling of genuine Caledonian. 1t was usual
| for the accountant to make an annual balance
sheet, for the inspection Of his master, in order
that he might see what had been the profits ol
his business for the past year. On this ocea
sion the balance sheet showed to the credit o.
the business six thousand pounds, which some
what astonished the inereduous merchant.


"It canna be-" said he, eye had better
count it up agen. I dinna think ha' had sac
profitable business as this represents"


The clerk, with his usual patience, re exam
ined the statement and declared that it was
q a right" and that he was willing to wager
his salary upon its correctness. The some
what puzzled merchant scratched his head
with surprise, and commenced adding up both
sides of the account for himself It proved
right


81 did ma Think" said he, that I was
worth over four thousand pounds but ye ha'
made me much richer man. Wee, weel 1
may ha been mair successful than I had tho't
and II ma quarrel wi myself for being worth
six thousand instead"


At early candle light the store was regularly
closed by the faithful accountant and as soon
as he had gone, the so,ely-perplexed and in
credulous merchant commenced the painful
task of going over aud examining all the &C
counts for himself. Night after night did he
labor in his solitary counting house alone, to
look for the error but every examination con-
frmed the correctness Of the clerk, until the
old Scotchman began TO believe it possible
that he was really worth six thousand
pounds


Stimulated by this addition to his wealth,
he soon felt a desire to improve the condition
of his household and Iith that view, made
purchases of new furniture, carpets, and other
elegancies, consistent with the position of a man
possessing the large fortune of six thousand
pounds. Painters and carpenters were set to
work to tear down and build up and in a
short time the gloomy looking residence in
Stone street was renovated to such degree
as to attract the curiosity and envy Of all his
neighbors. The doubts Of the old man would
still, however, obtrude themselves upon his
mind and he determined once more to make
a thorough examination Of his accounts.


On dark and stormy night he commenced
his laboTs, with the patient investigating spirit
of a man determined to probe the matter to
the very bottom. 1t was past the hour Of
midnight, yet he had not been able to detect a
single error, but still he went on. His heart
beat high with hope. for he had nearly reached
the end of his labor. A quick suspicion seized
his mind as to one Item Of the account
Eureka! He had found it. With the frenzy
of mailman he drew his broad brimmed
white hat over his eyes, and rushed into the
street. The rain and storm were nothing to
him. He hurried to the residence of his clerk,
in Wall street; reached the door, and seized
the handle of the huge kaocller, with which he
raped until the neighborhood was reused
with the loud ALARM"


The unfortunate clerk poked his night cap
out Of an upper window, and demanded


"Wha's there?"


ats me, you scoundrel, said the frenzied
merchant, ye'vs aided up tie gear Of or Lord
among the pounds Z"


Such was the fact. The addition of the
year Of cur Lord among the items had swelled
the fortune of the merchant some two thousand
pounds beyond the amount.