The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-04-15

and not unfrequently doubled his investments.
In this school ho learned utterly TO disregard
the interests of others, and to grasp Mt money
as common property, TO be obtained by tile
shrewdest and held by the strongest. lrhis
nelghbor had ten thousand dollars, ard he
could ger them transferred into his pocket by
means ofsome sharp operation in the money
market, lie never stopped TO trouble himself
about the matter Of equivalents. When,
therefore, he once got fair start in the race
for wealth, he advanced with rapid strides
5y associating with himselfn his profession,
young lawyer of equal industry but less
grasping cupidity, Wiley managed not to have
any pnrt of his business suffer on account of
the attention he had necessarily TO pay to the
stock market. and his operations therein.
In the mean time, the large family Of Pot
ertield was beginning to make heavy demands
upon his income. His son had to be sent to
coege,and his daughters to expensive board
ing schools. Added to this. came long
pressure in the money market, producing dis
turbance in trade and sweeping hundreds of
unsubstantial merchants from the arena of
business. Like almost every one else who
had any thing to lose, PorlerfieId was suf-
terer ut various points The loss of few
hundreds ofdollars here,and few thousands
there, repeated with alarming frequency ,loos-
ened the foundation upon which his prosper
ity had been resting, and threatened 10 over
whelm him in ruin
With the GOODNESS ofa man who prepares
himselffo the worst, Porterfied withdrew
his son from college ere he had hafcomplet-
ed his education-and his daughters from
their expensive schools. The former was
placed in a store, received salary sufficient
to furnish his wardrobe. But preparations
for The threatening storm did not stop here.
His elegant residence was sold, and the
amount realized thereon thrown into his bus
mess, in order 10 give il relief; the family re-
firing into smaller house, aud diminishing
all their expenses.
with our sails reefed and our vessel light
ened, think we shall ouride the Storm the
merchant said to his wife, after they were
snngly settled in their new home. Our eX-
penses have been four thousand dollars n
year; now they will range within fifteen hun
dred. Twenty-Five hundred dollars saved
here, will he no small sum in my business"
'And we shall be as contented in our pres
ent as we were in our former style of living
said Mrs. Porterfed.who was u strong-mind-
ed woman, and just the one to stand up brave
| ~ beside man in the battle oflife. ..
Il don't know returned the merchant. Il
nm afraid not. What most concerns me is
the fact that our children are deprived Of
! those educational advantages so much de-
sired to give them. 1t troubles me, whenev-
er il crosses my mind, to think that Edward
had to be taken from college, just as his more
important studies had commenced These
can never he resumed, for ere / recover my
SELF he will be man.
| There are always two things presented 10
u.s. replied Mrs. PorIeriield--'what we de-
sire, aud what is. What we desire, we
alwa US think best; but what is. is of Provi-
dence, and therefore undoubtedly best, Thus
! A
what u.s.
'And you are right returned her husband.
But cannot come into your better state of
mind, wish that could ....
| Think less about what you cannot help,and
more abou, present daily duties, and you will
come in to this better state of mind much
more easily than you suppose
NO doubt you are right in that said Mr.
Forfeited, smiling. 'The receipt is of the
simplest kind and will try TO use it,
Notwithstanding the reeled sails aud light
ened hull, the storm, when its violence in
creased, threatened 10 drive the vessel in
which Porlerfeld's earthly goods were all ven
tured beneath the waves. In order to keep IA
| float, if possible resort was had to that most
doubtful aud desperate financial Operations.
the making ofnotes that do not represent a
mercantile transaction, aud throwing them
| into market for discCunt-or rather, as it is
vulgarIy called, 10 be shaved.
This manufactured paper was, through the
aid of friends, issued pretty extensively
But it availed not. PorerfieId's barque went
under, after he had diminished hIs actual
property some thousands of dollars in the
payment of enormous discounts.
Have you heard the Dews?' asked broker
of Mr. Wiley, one morning.
'Wbat is it2 Who has failed now?'
| 'Porterfield.'
Good! l expected that returned the law
yer. is it bad failure"
| q don't know. Some say it is, and some
say il is nor. His paper was dishonored yes
.erday, and there is plenty of in the mark
et'
'Ah have you any of it?' ..
yes About thousand dollars, that / was
fool enough to shave, when saw by the face
of it that it was only made paper.
! what do you expect to get for ii"
| 'l'll tell you what I'll take?'
'What?'
Fifty cents in the dollar
'llow long has it to run?'
| Five hundred are due 70 today; and five
hundred will mature in week.
'Has meeting of creditors been called"
Il believe so.'
do you know any of lhem?'
sYes' And the broker named over half n
dozen who were creditors. -.e
| Tho lawyer thought moment and then
said, -.., ...r..I .
'll buy your claim at fifty cents
| Every we'll. So much saved at any rate
'And should like to have four or five thou
sand more at the same price, provided the
paper has already matured, or will fall due
| in the course of week. t.
you can be accommodated without doubt,
sad. the broker.