The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-10-19

if you have mind to lay aside your
extravaganccs, and go into my office
determined to stick to your business,
will see to the rest
"What salary shall have, Uncle 10.
scrl?"
"Four hundred, the first year." re-
piled Uncle Joseph, firmly.
"But can't live on that"
eyes, you can. Leave your no.
tel and board in private family. Quit
the theatre and the opera, aud pay as
you 60"
"l'ut my dcbts?"
"lIow much do vou owe?"
"Ab"ut two hundred and fifty dol
lars
Uncle Joe scratched Iii, head, con.
traclcd his G., ebrows, and lookel de.
cidcdIy stormy.
bad business, Ned" said lie, af
ter n few moments consideration. 81
could easily get you of the scrapc, pro.
vided saw Il v hope o. amendment
on your part. Yon don, even say that
yon will reform"
"ro be serious, Uncle Joseph,
can't see how car rciorrn, must
lire you know"
"And you must live within your
means"
At this moment the penny post de-
posted lcttnr on the table, by the
! side of the stock broker. the contents
Of which perfectly amazed him.
CHAPTER II.
The letter WAS the attorney Of Miss
Mary Marker, a maiden aunt of Ned
Murdock, formerly residing ut the
West. 1t contained the Intelligence of
the spinstcrs' death. The old lady hap.
pcning to have fit Of g 'nerosity
when she made her will, and bcquea,h-
ed -" her gracelcss nephew the sum
of ten thousand dnllars.
Here was god send, and Ned leap
ed up six feet in the air with astonish.
mcnt aud delight.
But the worthy stock broker was
troubled; for although he was n brok-
or, was good christian, and had tho
welfare OF his nephew near nt heart.
There was something about the yonth
ic liked, notwithstanding ne won't 10
tine play and boarded at tuSlliona-
bic hotel.
lis only object was the reformation
OF the young man, whose ruin and pre-
mature decay were fnrcshadowcd in
his daily habits. His proposition to
employ him in his own office was
merely n stra,agem to obtain a hold
upon him.
This legacy seemed to step between
him and the accomplishment of his
benevolent purpose.
"W hat are you going 10 do with
this money, Ned?'' asked he with n
troubled countc'ancc; 81 am named MS
yonr guardian, you perceive
bah, guardian! am twenty.
one next week, Uncle Joseph replied
the young man. unable to conceal the
elation the astounding intelligence had
produced in his mind.
"Trne; but this legacy may be
the ruin Of you, Ned
You are absurd, Uncle
4 am sorry your aunt died so soon;
| wish she could have been prevailed
upon to live till you had come to
the years of discrction,'
elf | had known she intended TO re-
member me in her will, | should
certainly have expressed my desire
that she might have lived forever, or
some such hyperbolc.'
What arc you going to do, Ned? 1t
is rather q serious question:
"Time enough to decide when get
the money!
"Take my advice, Ned; settle your
self down in some quiet position, get
another clcrkship-don't 90 into bu-
siness till you are more experienced in
the ways Of the world. You had bet
ter accept my offer, and take your
first lesson in learning to live with
in your means.
"Be an errand boy on four hun
dred dollars year, when | have ten
thousand dollars in my possession?
Did they do SO in olden times!' and
Ned bestowed good natured sneer
upon his quiet old uncle.
"They learned to creep before they
walked.-lf it will make any differ.
ence, will give you the same salary
you received at Brown and Smiths
"Couldn't think of it, Uncle Joseph.
a thousand would not procure my
services, aow.'
The stock-broker sighed. Ned was
as good as lost. in his opinion. There
was no hope for him and much as
it troubled him, he saw no method of
preventing the catastrophe.
For an hour longer Uncle Joe tried
to prevail upon his wilful nephew to
adopt prudent system of living, and
preserve his capital until f,vorte op.
portunity occurred for investing il.