The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-08-02


even went so far as to visit pretty regu-
larly at the house, and meditating an
avowal of his attachment, when his father
said to him one day
'What young lady was that saw with
you on the street yesterday afternoon?'
| Her name is Leonardo
The daughter of that old Leonard in
- street,
~ es SIR
Mr.. Baker looked grave, and shook his
| head.
DO you know anything about her?'
asked the son.
Nothing about her, but know her
father is going to the dogs as fast as ever
a man went
'Indeed thought he was very well
off,
'Oh, no! I've been looking to see his
shop shut up, or to hear of his being sold
out by the sheriff, every day, for these two
years past
| Miss Leonard is a lovely girl
She's the daughter of poor, vulgar
mechanic. If you see anything SO lovely
IN that, Henry, you have strange taste
! 'There is no gainsaying Adelaide's per-
sonal attractions replied the son, 'but if
| her father is in the condition you allege,
that settles the matter as far as she and |
| are concerned. am glad you introduced
the subject, for might have committed
myself, and when too late, discovered my
error
'And sad error it would have been,
Henry. In any future matter of this kind
| hope you will be perfectly frank with
! me. | have much more accurate knowl-
edge of the condition and standing of peo-
pie than you can possibly have
| The son promises to do as his father
wished. From that time the visits to Miss
| Leonard are abated, and his attentions to
her, when they met in society, become
! coldly formal. The sweet young girl,
whose feeling had really been Interested,
| felt the change, and for a time, was unhap-
py; but in few months she recovered
herself, and was again as bright and happy
as usual.
Time went steadily on, sweeping down
one and setting up another, and still old
Leonard didn't GO to the dogs, much to the
surprise of Baker, who could not imagine
how the mechanic kept his head above
water, having drove away his best custom
ers, as he must long since have done, if
all were treated as he had been. But he
was satisfied of one thing, at least, and
that was, that the mechanic must be mis-
erably poor, as he in fact, deserved to be,
according to his idea of the matter
One day, about year after this timely
caution to his son in regard to Miss Leon
ard, Baker happened to pass along street
where he had not been for some months
Just opposite large, new and beautiful
house, to which the painters were giving
their last touches, he met friend AS
they passed, Baker said
That's an elegant house. 1t has been
built since | was in this neighborhood.'
Yes. it is very fine house, and sup
pose il didn't cost less than ten thousand
dollars
No, should think not. Who built it!
Do you know!'
Yes. 1t was built by Leonard
BY whom? Baker looked surprised
BY old Leonard. Y You know him
impossible! He's not able to build
house like that
'Oh, yes he is, and half dozen more
like ii, If necessary
Leonard!
.iy HC . HUi III dl lcdSL
seventy thousand dollars
Y on must be In error
No. His daughter is to be married
next month to an excellent young man,
and this house has been built, and is to be
handsomely furnished, as marriage pres
ent.'
incredible! | thought he was going,
or had gone, to the dogs long ago.
Leonardo The friend could not help
laughing aloud. He go to the dogs!-
He's the last one to 60 to the dogs. Oh,
no! There isn't man in his trade who
does so good business, as little show as
he makes. Good work, good prices, and
punctuality, are the cardinal virtues of his
establishment, and make all substantial.
How in the world could you have taken
such notion!'
4 don't know but such has been my inn
preston for long time replied Baker,
who felt exceedingly cut down on account
OF the mistake ne had made, and particu-
larly SO in view of the elegant house and
seventy thousand dollars which might
have ali belonged to his son, in time, if he
had not fallen into such an egregious error
about old Leonard.
Most persons are apt to make mistakes
OF this kind and imagine that because of
some slight offence they have withdrawn
their custom from a man, that he must ne
cessarlly be going TO the dogs Probably