Year: 1859

, During the year 81, the president Of
certain bank, situated not more than
one hundred miles from q great city, be.
oame convinced tha, his institution Wa.
rnther short of specie, and in conse.
I quencc, nc found it hard to make up his
returns under oath, each week After
deVislng one means after another for


months he finally hit upon new pro-
cess, which succeeded admirably. Hav-
! ing an acquaintance of long standing with
gentleman who occupied an important t
position in the Pest Office, he accostcd
him one morning as he was passing his
bank BY saying: "Ny good fellow want
you to accommodate Inc a little without
dIscommoding yourself in the least -
The official replied al have no object
ion, to doing so upon such favorable
terms, but tell me how it can be done ?"


The president putting bis lips close to
the ear Of his friend, very blandly said !;
I'm your official capacity in the Post Of
fee you retain in your possession large
sums Of money from week to week Now
what | want you to do is, to let me have
about $4,000 in gold which | can use to
swear on IN making up my returns aud
Whenever you want it III return it,"


But canno. do that my dear sir
the thing is impossible. have to make
out my returns as well as you. Besides
which You might BY mistake use sumo Of
this coin aud thus ruin me-


Not at oil, my friend. You can put
it in "A bag aud seal it up, aud can re-
turn it on the days you may want it, aud
thus ,nake it acrve for Us both in making
up our accounts


The official could not be induced to
agree to the arrangement then but did
finally consent to retain the proposition
for a few days and then give the presi-
dent an answer


In the course of a week, the president
called upon his friend, and asked him for
the resul. Of his delay.


lie answered: Now if do this thing,
you must understand that an exposition
would ruin ne forever whilst my doing
it is to your advantage | will therefore
consider you under the greatest obliga-
tions to fulfill your promise Of never opeu-
ing the bag"


"Of course, SIR" the president replied;
IL will here swear to you upon the honor
Of gentleman, that the bag shall never
be opened whilst ~ the banks custody,
or its officers and tha. it shall be returned
to you whenever required.


VERY well; you recollect that | shall
want it returned every Saturday morn.
ing aud you may send for it every Wed
nesday morning" said the official at the
same time handing the president a very
heavy bag of coins supcrbly sealed up -
The parties shook hands and parted we'll
ploased with each other and the rest of
mankind.


Tho President kept his oath to his
friend most regularly every week he
sent for the bag on Wednesday morning
and returned it on Saturday morning,
with tho seal uGbroken This oontiaurd
during the summer aud fall Of 1857,
nearly up to the time Of the general sus.
pension of the banks. On the Friday of
the week before the general suspension,
the bank in guestion experienced quite
run from its note holders and deposi.ors,
which continued during the morning on
10 about two o'clock, when the specie Of
the bank became short. The President
was walking backwards and forward in
the back Office when the teller came in