Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-12-23
GbriIIina Gale.


THE HOUSE 4 THE MERCHANT
|. "A hundred years ago 70 us are old
:, en- timeA Rude times they seem, too.
!. compared with those in which we live
The schoolnlaster. the press. and the
|. g meehanician had not then done so
5. much for our people. Nevertheless.
prudent and pious men walked the
!. world with our great-grandfathers. and
among them there was one known to
= his correspondents as Mr.. Francis Fair
hold, merchant, Of Cheapside, in the
city Of London.
-saa The Fairholds had been notable in
Cheapside ever since IL was called
Westchesp. or the western market
=. One representative Of the family had
{. helped to clear st. Paul's ofrelics and
images; another had fitted out ship
at his own expense against the Span
) ixh Armada: and one served as men,
Der for his borough in the Long Par
lament. Their house had been al
most desolated by the plague. and
= burned down IN the great FIRE of Lon
don: but II rose from is ashes with the
z. rebuilt city, aud son had regularly
= succeeded sire therein till about the
year 1853, when George the Second
/. sat on the throne Of England. John
z son. Burke. and Goldsmith were then
3 IN the morning Of their fame, and Mr..
Francis Fairhold was reckoned sub
stantial member Of the honorable COM
s,pany OF linen.drApers.
Mr.. Fairhold remembered the burst
ing Of the South Sea bubble, the great
frost. the last Jacobite rebellion. and
was at the period OF our story a dis
erect, middle-aged gentleman, plain Of
speech. friendly OF manner, and atti-
; red. like The respectable citizens Of the
day, in ampIy-skirted coat. dubbed
hair. and silver buckles. Mr.. Fairhold
was in high respect among the London
Diapers OF those homely times. They
knew his word 10 be as safe as his bond.
= his custom TO be large. and his credit
still more extensive.
-. "A prudent and prosperous man in
= every sense was our merchant OF
'sCheapside. Active, but not over anx-
.,.ious Tor this world. he carried on his
business with the steady and quiet in
s-dussry Of those old-tashioned days.
giving time for recreation as well as
work. His evenings were passed in
household leisure with a city friend or
two, who frequently droppedin 70 sup
per II When shop and warehouse were
..elosed, on Saturday afternoons, he
walked with his family to see their
ssgrand uncle, the old farmer nj Mary
.kbone. then village in the fields. or
paid more ceremonious visits TO his
knighted cousin Sir Thomas. who kept
his coach, and lived in the fashionable
locality OF Red-lion-square. Once a
year. when business was slack, about
5 the end Of summer. Mr.. Fairhold
made circuit Of his country custo-
mers, 10 collect debts and square ac-
counts generally. lie had no son to
succeed him in the fashion OF the fam
ily. nor even a nephew. having been
himself an only child; but thankful for
two good daughters, the merchant did
hot despair Of finding y successor. and
took no trouble regarding the contin-
,uance Of his house. The experience
of others had taught him that even pa
r,ernal hopes are not safe from disap-
spointmcnt. lie had seen sous turn
out neither comfort nor credit; and
the saddcst recollection hanging about
his own peaceful premises was that Of
"a Young and once promising appren-
lice. the son OF his poor ncighbor Wild
,ow Waterton, who had been . gentle
woman and called Madame In her day.
Perhaps the boys mother had spoiled
him Perhaps the love OF guy compa-
ny las he thought I'D had led his
youth into snares; for In spite Of care,
ndmonition. and the good order OF Mr.
.Fnirhold's house, poor William had got
acquainted first with strollng players,
Then with moro dangerous characters;
md nc length. detected In an attempt
To rob his master. he lied the city, aud
hati not been heard OF for years.
~. Grievcd az heart was Mr. Fairhold.
and he diligently inquired after his APP
prentice. IN hopes, msrciIul man rs he
WAS. OF rcclaining him. No inIelli.
gcnee, "owvee', " '"e 'oa. al Ns .s''', ~
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some u"'o ose1 wy u''s nv "a'
orvugn. on her sen'os' ,sn.'' MAJ
f.sa ~ ao'ng oss s's v V'as' w"o "
she hHa t'l'o'ea Wv" hsn ,s1 ~. =. ~
her YOUTH anu ''no''u WV" wv" W
oae o. Aenorhefn counties. ,,,,,
y Inc rsmsm a, s,s % poor Ms r "','"