The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-10-07
SELECTED TALES.
THE TRUE sTeRr OF
THE MERCHANTS WARD.
Pror7rg de truti Of The old satr, that ,olcn one
door shuts another opens,
TnE MERcHANT.

THE MERCHANT.
1t is veritably reported Of certain sapisn
philosopher, that be Que summers day ,sol
with him large flask of Venice glass into III,
sunshine, and filling il with the rays Of ligh;
eSrked il up, and carefully enwrapping it in tn,
ample folds of his cloak, took il ineoRtinently {,
his cell, expectin: that on the arrival of nigh
he might use IT as a sustituts for his lamp =
Disappointment was, of course, the only resul
he obtained from his experiment.
As difficult have other men found it to cstel
and esnGne the subtle rays Of beauty. Latticss
jalousies and dark chambers have alike provec
useless and unavailing, and the beams Of lowell
ness have struggled into liberty despite ever,
precaution.
Early 10 bed, and early to rise,
Make man healthy, wealthy ana wise
and "eatch a weasel asleep" were the favorit,
sayings of the thrifty Master Morton Hardings
one Of the luekiest traders in the city of Lon
don, tsr he really possessed but small com.
plemeot Of brans,) and his richly laden args
sizes were continu,lly trsssrsing tho seas, bring
| ing great gains to bis gre.iss sxehequsr.
Being man of gssd repute and known
wealth, he WAS above the suspicion sf wrong {;
his ample means, like uHts many another 10 que
in grain, placin: him. fortunately for his souls
health, above temptation.
Among his friends-ssch friends as worldly
men may olam-wm one Master Robert Dor.
mer, who in his day had been trader Of some
eminence; but, having amassed a considerable
fortune, retired, upon the death ot his spouse,
from the care and turmoil attending upon com
mercs, and spent the remnant Of his days in the
society Of his snly daughter, Agses.
Scarcely, however, had she attained her tenth
year, when ruthless death sustched frsm her
her indulgent parent, bequeathiug her to the
trust and guardianship Of Hardings, rs well as
the whole Of his wealth, of which Agnes was
not 10 become mistress until she arrived at the
ripe age Of twenty -four. In the management
Of the fortune, Hardinge found both pleasure
and profit; bat in the management Of mistress
Agnes no discovered n.iihsr,-ths sauss where
o. will be satisfactorily shown.
THr WARD.
Agnes Dormsr was as wild as a young fawu,
and as graceful withsl. Under the eye Of her
ndulgent parent, she had grown al will, un-
pruned and unimproved, hourish,ng with all the
beauty and lu1uriauce or an unframed vias.-I
Nature had, fortunately, bestowed upon her
such Projections bath in mind and body, that
even education OF the want Of it rather, could
net entirely sfface her good qualities. She
possessed a quick and playful wit, that, like
sunshine to landscape, threw a charm over
every conversation in which she joined. She
acquired knowledge withost an sfIert; and even
the cold and caloulatln. guardian avowsd that
she was superior TO his best CLERK in the attain
rnents Of reading and ~uting, rendering him,
when in the hymor, the most valuable sssls-
lance in the management OF his accounts.
And had he be.n votary Of the sea-bsrn We
nus, instead Of the sarh-bsrn Pluius, he Ger
tainy would have become enamored Of his
beautiful ward but in the lsve OF gold was
concentrated all the best affections Of his nature.
Being unmarried, fer The expenses Of a wife
and family affris hted his prudsnce,-Agsss had
no one Of her owa sex to commune With. ex-
cspt the servant, Of his establishment. which,
ia b, py;se he ,cr,i,Iv Ken, IN with due
re.ard Of hi, rank and wealth.
A, Agnes grew to womsnhood, Harslnge
naturally conceived there was some danger Of
his ward. rormin. an attachment which might
prove detrimental to, and MP tn. fruits OF bis
productive guardianship in III. bud; h. there |
fer. secretly resolved 10 take every preeau,ion
to prevep, the occurrence Of such calamity.