The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1855-02-08
Lvdia. | am a ruined mani

This was the exclamation of Lauson
Watkins, as he entered his parlor one
evening about a fortnigh ghtaftcrhis interview
with Langravc. He was paler than usual,
and every nerve was shaken with agitation
'Ruinedp repeated his wife.
Yes, Langrave has failed-he has en-
tirely, completely sunk. Every cent is
gonel'
But you are not all lost Something
can be saved.
No, not adollar. Fool that I was, l
went in with him to the amount of two hum
dred thousand dollars. l trusted to his
| hon
The young man did not finish the word.
He was excited, but he had judgment e.
nough not to hurt the feelings Of his wife
by speaking harshly of her uncle. He was
for the while completely prostrated. The
blow had come upon him wilha crushing
weight and he felt it itkeenly.
The gentle wife moved 10 her husbands S
side and placed her arm about his neck
She trembled violently, and it was withdif-
fcuIty that she could speak.
DO not blame my uncle too much, she
murmured. Everything is not lost. l
am left to you, and will do all lean to help
you. In your business trials | could not
assist you, but in your life trials you shall
find that am not useless. Do not des-
pair, dear Lauson-something may turn
up to assist you.
The young man did not speak. He re-
| nrI tlof
ments she saw more of real, grateful joy in
bis eye than she had seen there before in
months. ..t .
At the end of a week the young mer.
chants business was settled up, and he
found himself the possessor of just the a
= mount of personal property that the law al
lowed him. Everything had been swept
away--every cent. Yet there was one
thing that remained within his grasp
His wife held by her own right small
farm in the country. 1t was her birtl
place--the place OF her childhood-and
her uncle had secured tito her in such {
manner that no misfortune of her husband
could ever fall upon it. Lydia begged o.
her husband to find home on that farm
He hesitated a moment and then consented
He had at frstthought of procuring aclerk
ship, and trying once more to set himsel
up in business. But the way looked te
tious to hint seemed too hard to gaiI
the place from which he had fallen, and h'
gave it up. 1t was too much for his pride
to occupy menial position now, and hi
turned away from that great city wear.
and sick at heart.
The home that Lauson Watkins now re
/ ceived at his wife's hands, was in truth
} lovely abode. The farm was an eXcellen
one, bearing the choicest of fruit, and ca
, pable of the most productive cultivation
The dwelling was sweet little cottage
; surrounded by great elmns, with cherr.
and plum trees in front, while at a distance
l sparkling like silver in the sunlight, lay
t lakelet, into which scores of babbling brook
, poured their crystal tributes. Lydia sol'
her costly jewelry and thus realized enougl
, to purchase choice stock for the far, be
sides having enough left to hire trust,
man to take charge of the grounds.
While Watkins was taking this step, Ad
: am Langrave went south, but where, N
l one knew save himself.
1t was in early spring when the fallel
merchant moved upon the quiet farm, AM
: the work must soon begin. He was not
: man that could remain idle, and he too
hold to help his men to do the work. l
9 was new to him, but he found itby nomean
e disagreeable. His appetite grew sharp
and he begun to have keen relish for hi
S food. The milk which came from his owl
cows tasted sweet to him. And then t
= see his little wife making butter and mixini
t bread, all with her own hands--it was nov
: ell to him, but possessed charm that wa
S grateful. Then he saw his children
S girl and boy-playing upon the gree
h sward in the garden, and he knew ths
9 they were growing healthier. By and b
: he set his children to studying, and h
: himself heard them recite their lessons.
: Before winter set in, the ex-merchar
D had become real farmer. His crops ha
n been good, and he experienced a strang
: pleasure in realizing that he had gathere
d into his garner morethan provision enoug
Q for the year to come.