The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-09-01
Vol.

"Excuse me-" said the stranger ap-
preaching the door; ~ perceive have
entered the wrong place. But will you tell
me whether or no that lad is the son tMr.
Jonathan Harding?" satFA8
"Aye; that's his fathers name," replied
the other, politely. % h
"What a reverse of fortune that man
mnst have met With" persued the stran-
ger, with sigh. "IfI remember Alright,
he was once one ofthe richest and most
influential merchants in Boston" ~
"True," replied the man at the desk?
"but he has lost all his property by mis-
management. knew him five years ago,
when he was in the height Of his prosperi-
ty. His failure was quite unexpected, and
very unfortunate; for, by some strange
mlsmanagement on his part, his creditors
got everything, and left him poor. Oflate
he has been sick, and he has even been
brought so low as to be unable to pay tho
rent of one of my cheapest houses"
"Low, indeed!' sighed the stranger;
.'but his family!" .gles,
"That is fortunately small. He has but
two children--a girl of twenty or upwards,
and the boy you saw here. The girl, |
am told, supports the family by teaching;
for she has rare accomplishments"
"And no suitors2"
"No accepted ones. Many of the first
class, however, young men Of fortune and
family, have offered themselves. But it
seems she prefers a life of labor and pow
erty to good match"
| "Indeed!''
"Strange you may think; but there is
reason for her foolish conduct. You see
she is young and romantic, like other silly
girls ather age, and prides herselfon scorn.
ing wealth. The truth is, she is living for
young man who, if he is like other young
men, thinks no more about her now than
if he had never seen her."
"Who is he?" ...
81 will tell you. Many years ago, Mr..
Harding, who is kind hearted man enough
picked up little orphan boy in the streets
and took him home, and warmed and fed
and clothed him, as if he had been his own
son. And so the boy grew up like one o.
the family, until he was eighteen. At ttha
time-this was five or six years ago
Harding's daughter, Julia, was about fif
teen, and very pretty girl, assure you
Well, things turned out as might have
been expected. The youth was warm
hearted and full of spirit, and the girl was
a delicious bewitching creature, and alto
gether too rich for him to withstand. In
short, the poor orphan and the rich heiress
loved each other, and became engaged be-
fore the old man knew anything about the
matter. He found it out, however, and o.
course took measures to break off the uue.
quail connection, by putting the boy in the
way of making his fortune abroad, that the
two might forget each other. The thing
must have had the desired effect on one
side, for the boy has never been heard
from since-but, on the other hand, julia
seems to cherish the hope that he will re-
turn some day, rich, and as loving as ever
She's foolish there; for the boy has seen
something of the world by this time, and
lost some of the romance by which youth
are infected nowadays. If he should
come back, itisn't probable he would think
ofmarrying the daughter of a poor, broken
down merchant"
Thus the worldling run on, talking from
the coldness of heart that was stranger
to all the kinder feelings of mans nature;
and fattering himself that he was speak.
ing the sentiments Of a philosopher and a
man. .....-. ...
The stranger heard him out; then making
inquiries concerning the amount Orient due
from Mr.. Harding abruptly took the sum
from his purse, laid it upon the desk, and
requested or rather ordered the other to
make out a receipt which he could forward
to the merchant.
The worldly man looked at the stranger
in surprise, but seeing how stern and for.
bidding he appeared, simply asked his
name. made out the required paper, and
passed it to the stranger. The latter pla
ced it in his pocket book, turned his bach
haughtily upon the astonished landlord
and hurled from the office.