Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-10-24

Here sits Bob-no longer candy clothed
urchin, but the buck and the millionaire of the
village. The old grandfather, worn out with
half century of calico selling, and cent shaw
ing, had passed beyond the reach of the kicks
and coppers of this world leaving 10 Bob's
father countless acres, and cords of promissory
notes, not all capable of discount however,
Bob, the elder, who has become convert to
Methodlsm, and withal somewhat superannuat-
ed, though still but sixty, does little business
nowadays, looks after the spiritual welfare of
his neighbors, and leaves the store and till to
the easy, lazy, cigar loving, good natured,
now, but he wants partner to do the busi-
ness; and knowing the poverty, the love, the
engagement, the doubts of his old school-mate
Ned Pond, and touched by the homely beauty
of Ellen, out of pure kindness he has offered
Ned place at the counter, share in the prof
its, chance to make his wav in the world
taking all the risk and trouble of having part
ner that has never even lived in town, much
less even welded yard stick however, Ned
was always good at figures, and can keep the
accounts and write the letters So Bob, in his
kindly selfish fashion, like the warm-hearted,
thoughtless, spoiled child that he is, amiable
and generous while he has his own way, but
ready to slay and roast whoever thwar,s him.
has come down to the store to settle matters
finally with Ned, his new co-laborer. Like all
thoughtless men who are generous from i'm
pulse, and from impulse alone, Bob's inten-
tons are liable to sudden changes.
He had just heard that certain hundred
dollar note, upon which he relied for cash to
pay for his new horses, is not likely to be met
at maturity, and the brimming well of kindness
In his heart, somehow ebbs at the information.
His father, moreover, who does not think much
of Mrs. Pond, with her quiet Connecticut con-
grega,ional ways, has just been pointing out to
him the disadvantages of his proposed arrange
ment, and has succeeded in awakening GER
tain habitual love of money making and money
saving caught from the old grandfather whose
Poor Richard proverbs were the reading and
writing lessons, the morning and evening pray
ers, the Sunday psalms, and the constant tor
ment of Bob's boyhood which habitual love
of money underlies all the youths lavishness
and benefcence. And so he sits there, his
cigar defunct and retained in his mouth onlv
as something to bite at, his mind running on
unpaid notes, borrowed money, his compara-
tive poverty, the necessity of saving, the utter
want of any claim on the part of Ned, the
Kindness he does him in taking him into his
store, the folly of being too generous, &c. &C.
Presently Ned enters flushed, painting, dusky
but brisk and bright as the squirrels, whose
society he is going to leave for the living death
OF country village. The young merchant
catches the healthy tone of the farm boy, and
the old grandfather's ghost which was strong
upon HIM, creeps under the counter again.
Then Ned is so quick, so grateful. 50 diffdent.
SO willing; ready to write, to run, to measure,
to learn, no one can help liking him, trusting
him, buying of him. Bob feels he's treasure.
will double the custom of the store. and assure
prompt payments, will keep every thing like
clockwork; the grabbed sel6shness that pos-
sessed him, melts into his habitual kindly sell
flshness; the new horses, unpaid note, bor-
rowed money are forgotten Ned is admitted
to the firm on what he looks upon as excellent
terms, on what Robert Strong, Jr, regards as
conditions of unexampled generosity, on what
ROBERT Sen, denounces as footing that is ad-
verse to all wisdom and success.