The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-29
CHAPTER III.

birth-night. Peleg Brown was first
clerk in the extensive store of Pridorc
Il Co. Mr.. Pridorc had treated hiIn
with distant, but marked respect ever
since the night on which his Judgment
was SO nicely exercised for the reputis-
ton of the heir apparent to the Pri-
dorc station and Importance. But
there were now no occasions for the
exercise of nice discrimination on this
subject. Frank Pridore was genteel
sot, and he was SO regarded in the vii
lagc generally not that n man eanbe
genteel and be II sot-but Frank Pri-
dore's sottislness was gentceI COM
pared with that of many drinking men
in the village. He was never seen
drunk in the strects-hc was never en-
gagged in drunken brawls-his father
kept the strictcst watch upon him.
Little Browns mother had been liz
the land Of Spirits two years. PeIeg
had, through life, loved his mother
with that child-like tondness which
ever regards mother the dearest of
names, and lie moulned Der deeply.
The first clerk in the store of Pri-
dore & Co. knew well that for Mt least
three years the capital Of the firm had
not been augmented, and he well
KIN, also that in the last year il had
very materially decreased, and he be-
lieved that something of this state of
affairs was owing to the insidiousiin
ilucnce of the siren foc,' that had sad
dcncd his earlier ears and embittered,
for life, the rccollectiuns of his child
hood.
At the beginning Of the sixth year
of little Browns clerkship he was en-
gagged to take an inventory of the stock
in trade of Pridorc 81 Co. When the
work was completed to the satisfaction
of his employers, he was informed
that it was the intention of the junior
partner of the firm to retire, and that
he was desirous of finding some per-
son who would purchase his interest.
SssiinS after Feless learned
this f;s8, hc called at the Pridore man
sion and begged an hours conversation
with the proprietor.
Supposing that something important
in reference to business was to be-
communicated, Mr.. Pridore promptly
invited little Brown to his private
room. When they had talked togeth-
cr on general matters for few mo-
mcnts, Mr.. Pridore said:
You have something important to
communicate, | understand
am informed replied Peleg, that
Mr.. Hanks is dcsirous of finding some
one who will purchase his interest ia
the store a
'Such is the fact said Mr.. Pridore,
and wish that knew of some man
acquainted with our business who
could take his place since it is forbid
den ne TO give it 10 my son, for whom
| had intended it. Pridore 81 Son,
should have rcjoiccd to see that name in
guilt letters over the door of the store,
but-but, it is past speak freely to
You, sir. iou respect my feelings
For that reason have called upon
you. have had some intention Of
making Mr.. Hanks proposition, and
before doing so, | wished to consult
you, replied Pcleg.
You exclaimed Mr.. Pridore. Tou,
nakc Mr.. Hanks proposition. Wherc
in the name of Heaven did you get
money enough to talk of buying an in
tcrcst in the business q: Pridore and
company
When my mother died the cottage
and lot was mine, sir, sold them for
fifteen hundred dollars. invested
the money in property on the Creek,
which has more than doubled in value:
and besides, sir, | have saved nearly
two thousand dollars ont Of my wages
since | have been in your employ
Yes ycsn said Mr. Pridore.s /
had forgotten. You hare been saving
boy-but I'll think of this. 1t is ur-
expected. I'll see Mr.. Hanks. Lew.
me now ~
When Pcleg was gone, Mr.. Pritlore
had sorrowiil reflections. He review
ed his life. Tie thought of the time
when he and John Brown, pelcg's IA
thcr, drank wine togethcr-he thought
of Pclcg the little wood-sawy er-o of
John Browns awful charlottesville.
thought of his own habits, and the
dual cncroachmenrs upon his indepeil
dencc, of the love of what had. made,
his boy-whom he had regarded IN
his youth with SO much pridc--a re-
proach to his tamiIy-and when he
thought of his boy, then Peleg the
drunkard's son came up in contrast,.a
source of most poignant reproacli,
haunting him, he threw himself upon
a couch, and conjurcd to himself the
remarks of his correspondents in bnsi-
ness, when they learned that Little
Brown was the junior partner of the
| firm of Pridorc " Co.
The sttltes' had dccrced. Pclcg
Brown took Mr.. Hanks place in tho
| firm of Pridorc & Co. lie and Jane
Pridorc had been distant acquaintances,
during the whole period Of his clerk
ship, hut rs he was now u frequent visis
tor at the Pridorc npu.ion, OH torms