Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-08-12
ra could not be supported Without encrOaohng upon

aAb. Tom, said Ned, here we are, had quite
forgotten to inform good uncle that you too were OUT
of business" /
out of business. hope you have not been foolish,
Tom"
"No Uncle, Tom is never foolish-one of your
dignifed boys-proper, and all that sort OF thing"
replied Ned
NV services were no longer required. You know
only supplied the place of another" added Tom.
You have been there three months"
Eyes"
81 On thirty dollars month !" added Ned, sand
saved money at that. Tom will just ut your place,
uncle.'
Do you want clerk, uncle Joseph o. asked
Tom meekly. :,
nav, answered the stock broker little nettIed.
for he had created the want only to save the repu-
| tation of Ned.
II should be very glad to enter your service even
at small salary. Anything is better than beng
out OF business
! Right Tom right" exclaimed the old gentle
man. 1.-The salary is four hundred, and you shall
have the place" i
And ON took the place, while Ned, instead of
adopting his unce's excellent advice moved down
two flights at the hotel rode out to Porter's every
day. and went to the opera every night
in due time the legacy reached uncle Joseph, who
placed Ned in full possession.
i In another month, large gilt sign. bearing the
g name and style =" of frm-E. Murdock &
| Co.. astonished the mercantile world, and Ned was
no longer out OF business:
i The dignity of the new frm-the {" Co." was
merely flourish of the artists pencil to give ecld
to the thing-demanded that the senior partner
should have a wife Fortunately for the felictous
carrying out of Neds idea this subject, things
had for several months been progressing towards
this event.
Our Young merchant had paid his addresses to the
daughter of a mercantile man, reputed to be veal
thy and now that he had come to his possessions,
there was no obstacle to an immediate marriage.
A house in fashionable street was procured; the
cage being ready the bird was caught, and Ned
found himself in the full enjoyment of life. Ned
; was nggard, and things went on swimming v
Dinner parties and parties, and evening parties
followed each other in rapid succession.
! Money flowed like wafer Notes on three: SIX
and nine months given. Ned said the business
was bound to prosper-lke Richeleu, in the play,
Ned said there such thing as fail.
One half of his legacy only had been invested in
his business at the commencement of the operation.
Six, nine and twelve months did the rest But his
housekeeping affairs absorbed the other half in less
than six months His wife was from a rich family,
, he reasoned and must be supported in state.
At the end of those six months, when the first of
the notes became due Ned was not little astonish-
ed to find that he had nothing to pay them with He
looked over his books to where the ten thousand
: had gone to it only dust in the balance when
weighed against his business and his family expen-
4 dtures.
Bad debts and unfortunate specu!ations stared
him in the face from every page, and Ned began to
+ be a little troubled consciousness that he had
S been going too fast, crept into his mind 1t was
t dsa greeabie reflection, and when he went home
dinner that day, he lodged round corner to avoid
= uncle Joe.
n In the meantime, Tom had acquitted himself to
the entire satisfaction of his uncle The head clerk
had left, and he had bean installed in his place
= Living within his means indulging in fashiona-
= bic dissipations the future was bright with hope
e CHAPTER1 w.
One morning while Ned was bordering on the un-
satisfactory state of his affairs, neighbor brou ght
y him the news Of the failure of his wife's father
Ned was Mortified, for it must be confessed thatin
his present emergency, he had based some rather
a exravagant hopes the fact of having rich ia
l. er-in-law
1t was a heavy stroke to his philosophy. The
vision of rich wife was suddenly and violently ex-
ploded.
five hundred dollar note came due that day and
" he had been thinking of dropping into his fatherin
laws counting room about o'clock, 10 see if he had
J. g anything over.'
1t The thought of applying to uncle Joe occurred to
l. him but the worthy old gentleman was too blunt
IL by half, and would be likely to tell him some home
ly truths.
The day away with vain devisings of means
to extricate himself from his embarrassments. The
note not paid-was protested
sr The next day. people who had long suspected that
e Ned was travelling too FAST began to see with clear
vision the true state of the
Before o'clock Ned was in Chancery!
" 'How's this Ned 2! asked uncle Joseph, entering
" the counting room.
re- g Don't mention it, unce-dont mention it Be-
to fore you say word will own that you were all
H. right, and was all wrong replied Ned grooming
of in spirit
g | did not come to reproach you Ned-far from
e it. gave the best advice capable of giving
but you did not deem it advisable to follow it, of
J. course shall not taunt you in your troubles.
n This kind of uncle Joseph, and it was spoken
in kindly manner, without the slightest appearance
f. of that triumphant &c knew it would be SO" which
a wise old men sometimes assume. 1t went to Ned's
heart, for Ned had heart, notwithstanding the little
-, fobIes of his chracer.
~ Why did you not come 10 me for assistance, Ned
~ always meant well by you"
~ " My case was hopeless one; and to tell The truth
" uncle Joseph, after what passed between US, | was
h., ashamed to meet you"
80 "Fie! Ned"-and the old gentleman was highly
y fattered by his nephews humility.
;. wish had accepted your offer even at a salary
of four hundred dollars year, should have been a
!, great deal better off now
to- *'WelI, well, will not mind that now The
~ place is still open.'
~ els II" asked Ned eagerly
II Tom is my head clerk. Of course could MOI
~ displace him.
"No, certainly not"
~ hundred now"
e Ned did accept it, and though was sad fall from
his former position he took his place at the desk
his unces office the assistant of Tom, with the bes
~ grace in the world.
1t is surprising how misfortunes will humble mar
how they will make him accept with Joy position
- at which, IN the days of his prosperity, he turned VI
:; his in disgust.