Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-03-22

L
to this new innovation, he would have begun to
feel little comfortable-n fact, to regard him.
self as being in quite easy circumstances. But
the purchase of a house at cost of twenty thou
sand dollars, with the additional item added there
to of four thousand dollars for fashionable furni-
ture, caused him to feel so poor as to become ac-
tuay unhappy; the more especially, as, shortly
after the possession OF his elegant residence the
new year came round, and with it the accustomed
annual Investigation into business affairs. Un-
expectedly, the result of this investigation was
discovery that, instead of clear yearly profit of
ten or twelve thousand dollars, not single cent
had really been made. Two or three pretty ser-
Gus losses, through failures, added to sudden
depression of prices, while large stock of man.
ufactured goods were on hand, had produced this
result These failures and this depression in prl-
ces were events of very recent occurrence, and
their real effects upon the years business was
just becoming apparent. Poor Mr.. Preston He
had less enjoyment now than ever in the good
things of life with which God had blessed him
His property had real value of nearly hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, and his business was
large and profitable one. Yetso poor did he feel af-
ter the result of that one unfortunate year become
known to him, that for trouble of mind he scarce
ly slept at night, or eat through the day. Not
block away from where he lived was man whose
income was fixed at twelve, hundred dollars. He
also mad grown-up daughters, and younger chill
dren were still to be raised and educated Yet
he was rich man compared with Mr.. Preston
for he rarely had poor feeling, and enjoyed to
the full extent the natural blessings his income
enabled him to procure. Sometimes, as he passed
the handsome residence of the man rich in this
worlds goods, he thought how pleasant It must be
to have money to spend for all that the heart de-
sired, and to be removed from the necessity of
nice calculations in expenditure and self-denial
in even moderate desires. But such thoughts
were soon dismissed and caused but a small
weight of discomfort to rest upon his feelings
He had hopeful and confident spirit and was,
therefore, rich in comparison with his neighbor
The next years business did not turn out much
better for Mr.. Preston. There had arisen great
competition in the principal article he manufac-
tured, prices had gradually been falling, and a
large stock accumulating. In the early part of
the year he stopped his works altogether, and
during the remaining portion did but very little.
Utterly discouraged at the prospect before him IN
the beginning of the next year, and fearful lest
continuance in business would result in some
disaster, he sold out his establishment at sacri-
fce Of about twenty thousand dollars on the price
at which he valued it, and retired from the busi-
ness world, feeling really poorer than when he
started in life with only few hundred dollars that
he could call his own
The fact ofhis retiring from business, gave very
naturally the impression that he had accumulated
a handsome fortune and was now determined to
enjoy it. A man with the reputation is not al
ways left undisturbed in the possession of what
he has accumulated. Not long after he had with
drawn himself from the active world 10 brood over
his disappointments, and to ponder on the small
ness of his fortune, and the danger of its heing
swept from his grasp by some unforeseen event
against the occurrence ofwhich foresight of his
could guard, he was called upon by leading
member of the church he regularly attended every
Sabbath, for contribution to its funds for some
special purpose. The subscription paper was un-
folded and to his dismay, Mr. Preston saw that
men really not half so we'll off in the world as he,
had written down their hundreds. A ten dollar
subscription was in his mind, as the utmost he
felt justified in giving but his pride would not
let him put down archibald Preston, $40, among
names opposite to which stood three, four, and
FIVE hundred dollars. He considered awhile, to
see if there were no way of escape with credit to
himself; but none presenting itself. he resolved
to gain time by saying
"Call to morrow, about this hour, and will be
to say what will give"
To morrow, at that hour; not having made up
his mind definitely, he managed to be out of the
Of the way. BY this means, he escaped for
week; but the evil day could not be put Oft ell
lirely. The man with the subscription paper found
him out again, when with sigh he wrote Arch
bald Preston, $780,"
The poor man felt at least twenty thousand dol
ars poorer after this act. He did not hear ten
words of the sermon, on the next Sabbath, for
thinking of the rujnous subscription he had been
forced to make and half made up his mind, be-
fore the services were concluded, to give up his
pew and attend some free church where the gos-
pei was dispensed as ii ought to be, without mon