Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-06-06
From "the Artist" tor January.
VICISSITUDES OF FORTUNE.
CHAPTER !.

''". CHAPTER l.
There lived formerly in Lisbon a rich
merchant ofihe name Of Lopez, who car
ried on very extensive business. The
prosperity Of this man had become al.
most proverbial in the city. His ships
always came safely to port, and every
speculation he entered into was sure TO
turn to good account: his Only daughter,
Margarita, was about 10 marry the son Of
a rich ship owner of Barcelona.
For more than eighteen years Fortune
heaped upon Lopez her richest Cavors.-
With one breath she threw down the gi-
gGnlic edefice she had raised. All his
ships were either wrecked or taken by
pirates and the unexpected failure Of four
large houses swallowed up the capital OF
the unfortunate old man. The marriage
Of his leughter was broken off, for he
could no longer give her a portion. In
tXo years he was completely ruined
All that remained TO him was claim OF
a hundred thousand dollars, which he had
upon merchant Of Madrid; this man re>
fused to pay the claim, and Lopez was
Obliged to leave Lisbon and proceed to
Spain, in order to substantiale it by le'
gal measures =,
Justice is slower and more costly in
Spain than in any other country. The
law suit lasted three years, during which
time Lopez, his wife and daughter, were
reduced to abiect poverty; they were all
obliged to work for their support. Inc
father kept the books Of two or three pet
w shop keepers, the mother and daugh-
ter were employed in sewing for some OF
the first milliners of Madrid. The ad-
versary of Don Lopez delayed the suit by
every means in his power; he dragged
him from court 10 court, but finally, after
having exhausted all the resources OF
chicanery, he was sentenced to pay the
whole amount Of the claim. with interests
and costs. One evening Lopez returns
ed 10 his miserable lodgings, and with a
shout Of Joy showed to his wife and
daughter his pocket book, containing the
amount he had recovered-a sum which
ia their reduced position was large tor'
tune.
After having consulted together for a
short time as to the disposal OF this treas
ure, Il was resolved that Don Lopez
should lodge It with one Ofthe first bro
kers in Madrid, TO be by him RENTED to
Portugal, and employed in such way as
10 secure 10 them a decent income.
~ will 90 10 him Immediately said
Don Lopez, 'and will be back again in halt
an hour.'
A whole hour elapsed, but Don Lopez
did not return. .-...
fs9rhe two Iadys began TO be uneasy :but
Judge of their agony and despair when
midnight came, and Don Lopez was still
absent. The whole of the night was
psssed in dreadful suspense. At day
break the unfortunate women set out in
search Of him, but uselessly. At last
tbev applied 10 the police. The body OF
a man had been found in the street, pier.
ced with many wounds. II was with
horton, that they discovered this TO be
The BODY Of the only protector they had
on earth. 1t was needless 70 ada that
The pocket book containing their whole
fortune, had disappeared; doubtless some
robber had been apprised that Don Lo
peg had just received q considerable sum
and had as sassinated him, The mothe
ofDonna Margariia was struck with para
lysislon seeing the dis6gured andIbleedInt
corpse Of her husband; all that science
could do for her recovery was attempte'
but without success; she had entirel
lost the use Other hands, and even he
reason was impaired. Donna Margarlt
vas compeIled 10. devote her whole tim
TO the care Of her unfortunate m0'f
er.g eo3 " s.u
FoF long period these unfortunate
had been accustomed TO it; misery a.
companied by cold, and hunger, and rag
Obliged to attend constantly upon n
mother, 10 wstch her every mOVomen
MargSrita could no longer work.
At length the day arrived when 81
could not procure even loaf OF bread.
haa The old lady was sitting upon a nj
sFable straw mattress, the only renal