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


being wor h twenty thousand in five
years, and fifty IN ten. 1t never oc
Cured to him that fast horses and
the opera could not be supported, with
out encroaching upon the principal.
CHAPTER III.
While they were debating the qucs-
ton, Tom Murdoch, cousin of Ned,
entered the office.
'.Ah, Tom said Ned, "here we are,
! had quite forgotten lo inform uncle
that you too were out of business
SIS it possible! exclaimed uncle 10
seph; both out of business. hoped
you have not been foolish, Tom"
"No: Uncle, Tom is never foolish
one of your dignilied boys-rropcr,
and all that sort of thing replied Ned.
"My services were no longer re-
qnircd. You know only supplied
the place of another added Tom.
''You have been three mouths
"Ycs.'
"On thirty dollars month"; added
Ned, "and save money at that. Tom
will just fit your place uncle
'Do you want n clerk, uncle 10.
scph? asked Tom, mcekIy.
81 thought of having another; but it
is but small pay. answered the stock
broker, little net,lcd for he had crca-
ted the want only to save the rcputa-
ton Of Ned.
81 should be very glad TO enter your
service even at small salary. Any
thing is better than being out of bust
ness
"Right, Tom, right" exclaimed the
old gentleman. "1'he salary is four
hundred, and you shall have the place
And Tom took the place, while Ned,
instead of adopting his unclc's excel.
lent advice, moved down two flights a:
the hotel, rode out to Porter's eve
ry day, and went to the opera ev-
cry night.
In due time the legacy reached uncle
Joseph, who placed Ned in full posses
81 ~.
In another month, large guilt
sign, hcnri,Ig.the "name md style" :of
new frm-E. Murdocl1 & &C., as.
tonishcd the mercantile world, and
Ned was no longer out nf business.
The dignity of the new tirm-thc
"Co." was merely flourish Of the ar
lists pencil to give cclot to the thing
= demanded that the senior partner
should have wife. Fortunately for
the iclicitous carrying out Ncd's idea
OH this subject, things had for sever.
nj months been progressing towards
the event.
Our Young merchant had paid his
addresses to the daughter Of mcrcan-
tile man, repnted to be wealthy. and
now that "he had come to his posses
sons, there was no obstacle to an i'm
mediate marriage.
~ house in n fashionable street was
procured; the cage being ready, the
bird WAS caught, and Ned found him
self in the full enjoyment Of life. Ned
was no niggard, and things went
on swimmingIy. Dinner parties, and
tea parties, and evening parties fol
lowed each other in rapid succession.
Money flowed like water. Notes
on three, six and nine months were
given. Ned said the business was
bound to prospe'-likc Richicu, in
the play, Ned said thele was no such
thing rs fail.
One half Of Ills legacy only had been
invested in his business at the com
mencenlcnt 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 rich family. he reas-
oned, and must be supported in state.
At the end ofthosc six months, when
the first Of the notes became due, Ned
was not little astonished to find that
he had nothing to pay them with.
lie looked over his books to see where
the ten thousand had gone to; it was
only dust in the balance when weigh.
ed against his business and his fami-
ly expenditures.
Bad debts and unfortunate spccula-
tons stared him in the face from cv-
cry page, and Ned began to be lit
tie troubled. A consciousness that
he had been going too fast, crcpt into
his mind. 1t was disagrecable re-
flcctioh: and when he went nome to
dinner that day, he lodged round a
corner to avoid uncle Joe.
In the meantime, Tom had acquit-
ted himself to the entire satisfaction of
his uncle. The head clerk had left, and
he had been installed in his place. Liv-
ing within his means, indulging in no
fashionable dissipations, the future was
bright with hope.
CHAPTER Nv.
On morning while Ned was ponder
ing on the unsatisfactory state of his
affairs, neighbor brought him
the news Of tho failure of his wifc's ia
tnerl