The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-03-01
EIIS0LA-LLhkAN NLSOUSo
THE BANKRUPT'S SON,
A Narrative FOUNDED ON FACTS.

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the Intervention of nm unexpected incident,
Jousible situations. Few, indeed, whose
lives have been marked By uncommon en-.
etgv and determination, tending TO the ac
complshmeni Of definite purpose, but
NAV trace the starting point-the crisis IN
their history-lo some event which. by
rousug their dormant faculties, or exciting
new turn to their habits. & a new colour
to their lives.
George Belmont was in his nineleenth
year when he received summons to at
tend The sick bed of his father, who, sfler
maintaining high reputation as a trades
nan during the greater portion of his life
had failed ia business, and whose const,u
ion, already shaken ty cares and diSap
pontmen,s, sunk under the combined evils
Of poverty and keen sense of the degrade.
lion he believed attendant upon his bank
rup,cy, George was his eldest child. He
mad received a liberal education, and been
intended for a physician, bu. his fathers
difficulties having deprived him of the
means of completing MS professional studies
he had obtained situation in the counting
house of an extensive manufacturer in the
town Of C. Up to this period OF
his life ieo rgehad manifested no energy or
ability. but was regarded by his employer
as steady well disposed youth, possessing
merely talent suflioientto enable him 10 dis
charge his duties ia satisfactory man
Ier.
Young Belmont, who was considerably
liappointed in not being able TO follow the
profession he had chosen, and who imagln
ID that he had dislsste for mercantile af
Gairs con,eated himself with the bare per
tormance of his prescribed duty, INDUCING
,ecrclly the hope that something might yet
turn up more Congenlal to his wishes. From
he dream of the future he was, however,
4tfertu4lv aroused when standing by the
,edside Of his dying falher--a sense of the
-spohsihll,ily attaching to lin as eI lest
hid, aud only son of a widowed mother
.ome homg to his understanding and TO his
rear,. Ou Georges arrival at home, I've
found that his la!het had been some hours
peechless,. though it was evident 10 hlF
tlicted relations tiat he retained full pos.
session Of his faculties. With the anxious
searching look 50 common to the dying, he
gszed now on his wife, now on his lilde
and then his eager eye sought the
counlenance Of his son; who. struggling
with emotion, made a vigorous effort to
conduct himself with manly lortilude. Re
plying TO the wislf1l and touching look
ixed on him, George aid---'My dear faith
es, will, by the help of God. ondeavour
10 supply your place to my mother and sis.
ter. am young and strong. For your
sake and theirs, will devote myself 10
business, and do not doubt but shall be
able to make them comfortable And as
the youth uttered these wcrds, in a voice
remulous with grief, he bowed his head,
and tears fell thick and fast upon the almost
rigid hand he held in his own.
But itnow became evident that, though
George had IN part rightly interpreted his
fathers wishes, something yet remained
unexpressed, which disturbed his last mo
ments. for he made violent efforts to speak :,
and with much difficulty articulsed- /
wish to say mOre-sOmething more
George stopped to listen. but could only
catch the words--'Should it ever be in your
power-my son promise me 1t was
agonIsing 10 witness his Intellectual efforts
to proceed; but jus, then Ihe truth flashed
across his sons mind. and ne exclaimed
with earneslness--, i understand you, dear
father; and do mos, solemnly promise
tha, if it should be IN my power,I will pay
your creditors to the uuermost farthing, and
may God prosper me as fulfil this prom
ise.'
A beam Of joyful satisfaction Illuminated