Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-05-28
VOLUME l3..-NUMBER 80.

one oi HeE ugef WHICH, at the opening OF our So
ry, was eighteen, girl Of very superior order
None could excel her in flial affection; and her
parents idoized her, as we'll they might. Before
she reached her eighteenth year she had so es-
iablished her reputation fer embroidery thar she
had constant employment furnished her by one
Of the first fancy stores in Washington street,
But though she worked twelve and fourteen hours
day, she could do little more than support her.
self and pay the rent Of their lowly abode-her
father being left 10 provide for the table and his
own and wiie's clothing Mary's industry and
taste should have met with better pecuniary re-
turn, but there are unjust people who would deny
corn 10 The OK that ueadelh it out who slarve
the hireling and rob even povertyl They jew
down and grind the poor in their employ ill
knife's edge could not be laid on the line which
divides their victims gains from their wants.
Then, from the goods thus Obtained out of the
blood and life of the poor, they lay on large pri.
ces, and on the profits grow rich For all this
we know that they will be brought unto judgment.
Mary Redheld, therefore, though she toiled ear.
| ly and late, and though she enriched them for
whom she worked, yet she gained barely a de-
cent subsistence.
William Redfed had brother, an older bro
ther who had gone into the numbering business
when young man, and, by degrees and great
penury, had got to have small lumber yard TO
! himself in South Boston. In selling lumber to
build houses, he sometimes sold on a credit TAX
ing mortgage upon the house. In this way,
one, and then two, and by-and-by three houses
| fell into his hands, which he sold at great GAIN
He then undertook to build houses on his own ac-
count. He became the owner of block of FIVE;
/ ~ L L., IL
ing dozen. By-and-by he sold all those at great
profit, and then he began TO buy up stocks and
loan money at usurous interest. Taking adyan-
tage Of season Of universal pecuniary distress,
he loaned sums of money so frequently, and at
such enormous rates of interest," that in less than
one year he doubled his property, and began to
look upon himself as a rich man. In the mean
while he had got married, his wife beingthe daugh'
ter of q merchant who had failed in business, and
who, seeing in Plau Redfeld promising young
man, who would one day be rich, encouraged his
daughter to accept his addresses, though she
thought by marrying him she was greatly lower.
ing herself. Plat Redfeld had married ABOUT q
year before his brother William, and at that peri
cd of our tale had an only daughter, year Ma
rvs senior. But the two cousins were wholly
unacquainted with each other; at least Frances
Redfeld had never seen her cousin TO know her
though her cousin had been pointed out to her by
her father as they met and passed in the streets.
Between the two brothers there had been ne
intercourse since Platt, the elder, had got TO b.
worth ffiythousand dollars. At this heightabev
him, Patt gave him the cut direct, thus putting
the finishing stroke to q coldness with which h
had been gradually treating him since he ha
been growing rch-a GOODNESS which approach
ed zero precisely in the ratio of degrees witt
which his thousands approached fifty.
Thus, without any quarrel, the brothers be
came estranged, because one remained in the vale
y of poverty and the other was mounting the hill o
opuence. William only smiled at his brother
8 cold treatment.
"He fears" said he, to his good wife at home
e "that shall ask him for money; but he is mista
: ken. | am poor, it is true; but so long as | hav
!. my health, and can work, am too rich to beg
Well, it is best, perhaps that we should be stran
a gers; for between poor man and rich penu
y rious man there can be no friendship, brother
J. though they bel"
Plat Red6eld had been increasing in weat
Y year by year, till rumor made him worth tw
II hundred and fifty thousand dollars. His daugh
!; ter Frances was, therefore, an he.ress!
" William Red6eld had been decreasing health
At which was his wealth, I'LL most Of the time
IS was unable to work, and in winter the rheums
1, tism held him in bondage in his bed. Mary
= needle was, therefore, the main stay of the llt
. household.
y Our story opens on New Years eve. The su
/ had set in a brilliantly cold sky, and the sta
10 sparkled and flashed through the pure atmosphel
: like diamonds. 1t was the coldest night of ii
y season. The thermometer was many degree
below zero. The few persons that were out mt
l., we'd rapidly along, mufied to the eyes in urs, al
d; as they passed beneath the lamps, their brea
We was visible like cloud Of white smoke, stream
Is ing behind them. The watchman threshed the
arms against their sides, and tramped quick
ID with their feet to circulate the blood. The seig
~ coaches that were abroad, dashed by like meteor
nd the horses moving as if winged, and every horse
w chest and shoulders white with hoar. frost.
or Through thick coating of frost upon the pan
~ of narrow window in an humble tenement in
ne retired street, struggled family the rays of g
u" ~ within. Thehouse was two-story wooden bu
y ding, and very old. Itwas not worth tenth ps
of the value Of the land it stood upon; yet it W
no rented out TO several poor families. One of the
nd was the family of William Redfeld. He liv
W in the two right-hand rooms on the first floor,
front and back room. The light was in his fro
he room. 1t stood upon a small pine table by t
Ie- bedside, in tin candlestick. 1t was fragme
i'm of cheap taow tip that could be bought fol
u.s. penny. The furniture of the room was We
TX scant and yet neat. There was an air of ta'
of blended with all the poverty. The bed was
his low truckle, and meanly furnished. Upon it'll
he the once strong form of William Red6eld:
he features were haggard, and sharpened with 81
ng fering. Near him sat Mary, working in wor
lie ed piece of embroidery: she looked pale a
SO, over-worked, yet her face wore calm expr
too sion-a look of sweet serenity, that the most
In spairing could not contemplate without feeli