Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
Some years ago there lived in Marseilles an old man of the name of
Guyot; he was known to every inhabitant, and every urchin in the streets
could point him out as a niggard in his dealings, and a wretch of the
utmost penury in his habits of life. From his boyhood, this old man had
lived in the city of Marseilles; and, although the people treated him
with scorn and disgust, nothing could induce him to leave it. When he
walked the streets he was followed by a crowd of boys, who, hating him
as a grasping miser, hooted him vociferously, insulted him with the
coarsest epithets, and sometimes annoyed him by casting stones and filth
at his person. There was no one to speak a kind word in his favor, no
one to bestow an act of friendship, or a nod of recognition upon Guyot.
He was regarded by all as an avaricious, griping old miser, whose whole
life was devoted to the hoarding up of gold. At last this object of
universal scorn died, and it was found that, by his parsimony, he had
amassed an ample fortune. What was the surprise of his executors, on
opening his will, to find these remarkable words: "Having observed, from
my infancy, that the poor of Marseilles are ill-supplied with water,
which can only be procured at a great price, I have cheerfully labored
the whole of my life to procure for them this great blessing, and I
direct that the whole of my property shall be expended in building an
aqueduct for their use!"
When it was proposed to build Bethlehem Hospital, many benevolent
individuals volunteered to solicit contributions by calling upon the
inhabitants of London. Two of these gentlemen went to a small house in
an impoverished neighborhood; for the pence of the poor were solicited
as well as the pounds of the rich. The door was open, and, as they drew
nigh, they overheard an old man scolding his female servant for having
thrown away a match, only one end of which had been used. Although so
trivial a matter, the master appeared to be much enraged, and the
collectors remained some time outside the door, before the old man had
finished his angry lecture. When the tones of his voice were somewhat
subdued, they entered, and, presenting themselves to this strict
observer of frugality and saving, explained the object of their
application; but they did not anticipate much success. The miser,
however, for such he was reputed in the neighborhood, no sooner
understood their object, than he opened a closet, and bringing forth a
well-filled bag, counted therefrom four hundred guineas, which he
presented to the astonished applicants. They expressed their surprise
and thankfulness, and could not refrain from telling the old gentleman
that they had overheard his quarrel with his domestic, and how little
they expected, in consequence, to have met with such munificence from
him. "Gentlemen," replied the old man, "your surprise is occasioned by
my care of a thing of such little consequence: but I keep my house, and
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