The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-06

y'"' """ "'S'-H F'( SiCIdH CHIiu-U
refuse. under the circumstances every
one would say Immediately we were too
poor. We must be respectable, and ed
uca,e the poor dears decenly. As i, is,
she children are dressed rather shabbily :
but j, cant be helped
Have it your own way said Meri.
vale, rising hastily though he was real
ly as sensitive 10 the worlds opinion as
his wife, only he took this way of ven
tIng his irritation at The narrowness of
his income.
As the children grew up, new expen-
ses were constantly presenting tlemsel-
YES, all Of which Mrs. MerivaIe declared
to be absolutely necessary and, to con
fess the truth, her husband felt the force
OF her representations almost as much as
she did herself. For Merivae, too, was
proud; and to keep up appearances, he
was willing to sacrifice almost any COM
fort.
But why pursue the history of this
iamily's privalion! 10 culer their par
Tors, or TO ca, at their table on gala days,
you would think they had every thing
their hearts could desire but sight Of
their private chambers, or of their usual
fare, would have opened your eyes to the
shifts to which they were pu, to keep up
appearances. Too poor to live in the
way they wished TO, too proud To de-
scend into palmer style, they never
spent day that was not marked by some
privaion or meanness, which comfort
ought TO have rcpudia,ed or sefrcspect
despised. And, at the end of several
years, IN spite of every effort, Merivale
found himself without cent of his CAPT.
tai left.
The next year proved IA very unfor,u-
nate one. 1t was a season of great mon
etary distress, and Merivae found i, i'm
possible TO make any collections He
had now no capital 10 fall back upon /;
and money was nowhere to be borrowed.
But his wife, who had become what is
called very managing woman, sue
ceeded in getting along, with the hope
that the next year would prove more pro-
pitious. But The next year was even
worse; the grocer became clamorous {;
the shoe-bll was now due a twelve
month; and the bakers wife had said
publicly that DR.. Merivale must be push.
ed for money as he did not settle up pune
ually any longer, 'and for her part
other people might do as they liked
she would not trust him any longer
Things were now really at crisis.
The husband and father knew not where
to turn. Rumors were increasing every
day. People said that there was some
excuse if a merchant, in hard times, was
a little slow in paying his bills, because,
probably, lie had made nothing in spite of
every exerIion; but it was too bad if a
doctor oulrun his income, when lie had
comparatively certain annual receipt, and
when he always got his money before
anybody else. But DR.. Mcrvalc's family
was very ex,ravigant.
Such was the common gossip, and a,
length i, reached the ears for which it was
intended. But what could he do He
had now got considerably bchindhand,
and there was no one to whom he could
apply for loan. But matters, meantime
were getting serious. An execution on
his furniture was threatened. At length
he helhought him Of an uncle--a wealthy
old bachelor, who had always talked of
making MerivaIe his heir, and who real
~ loved his nephew. A letter was &C
cordIngy written, (foI his relative resided
in another city, in which frank expo
sitlon was made of Mervale's condition,
with a statement of what amount would
be required TO relieve him from difficulty
In few days Mr.. Calcou arrived in per.
son. He came and took tea with Meri.
vale the very evening of his arrival, and
then invited his nephew TO accompany
him to his hotel.
We'll, but how am 10 know shall
ever be paid ? said the old merchant. af-
ter he had heard a detailed account of his
Incphew's difficulties. See what you
ask of me. Here is a man deeply in
debt, and spending every year more than
he makes, with no property to give as
security, who asks loan. What sort of
a fool would you take me to be, if third
patty sought to borrow money on such
grounds ?
Merivale colored up and half rose from
his chair.
Nay, nay-don't be offended. You
are the only child of an only sister, and |
have always intended you for my heir.