Nebraska advertiser., 1857-02-05


plant escapes from her pallid lips
She works and starves, and still has
always a word of love, and afectionate
smile for her father
Sir, and you want to commit suicide! |!
Are you mad 2
Dare l murder that angel? The
Thought pierces my heart like dagger
said the old man, sobbing.
Sir, you must have bottle of wine
with me; l see tavern open yonder.
Come, you must tell me your history !;
and, if you have no objection, I will
then tell you mine. But this much I
say at once-there is no occasion for
you to leap into the river. 1 am a
rich, a very rich man; and if things
really are as you represent, your
daughter will no longer have to work,
and you shall not starye.'
The old man allowed himself to be
dragged along by his companion. In
a few minutes they were seated at a
table in the tavern, with full glasses
before them, and each examining curl
ously the features of the other.
! Refreshed and comforted by the eff
fects of the wine, the old man began
thus =
My history is soon told, 1 am a
mercantile man but fortune never
favored me. had no money myself,
and l loved and married a poor girl.
could never begin business on my
own account. | took a situation as
book-keeper, which I held until I be-
came useless from age, and younger
men were preferred to me. Thus my
circumstances we're always circumscri-
bed, but my domestic happiness was
complete. Ny wife was an angel of
love, kindness and fondness, good and
pions, active and affectionate; and my
daughter is the true image of her
mother. But age and illness have
brought me to the last extremity, and
my conscience revolts against the idea
of the best child in the world sacriGc-
ing her life for an old useless fellow.
1 cannot have much. longer to live; and
[ hope the Lord will pardon me cutting
off few days or weeks from my life
in order to preserve or prolOng that Of
my dear Bertha
you are a fortunate man, my
FRIEND exclaimed the young man; q
have never seen a more fortunate one
What you call your misfortune, is
: sheer nonsense, and can be cured at
once. Tomorrow 1 will make my
will, and you shall be the heir to all
my possessions, and tomorrow night
will take the leap from the Main
Brucke alone. But before leave this
world l must see your Bertha, for am
anxious to look upon one who is wor-
thy of the name of human being
But, sir, what can have made you
so unhappy at this early age?' said the
old man, moved with compassion.
4 believe it was my fathers wealth
1 am the only son of one of the rich
est bankers of Frankfort; when ]
mention my name, you will be at once
convinced of the truth of my ass ertion
My father died FIVE years ago, and
left me the heir to an immense fortune
From that, every one that has come ir
contact with me has endeavored to de.
ceive and defraud me. l was child
in innocence, trusting and confding
my education had not been neglected
and l possessed my mothers loving
heart. / endeavored to associate my
self in a union of love and friendship
with good and generous people, but
found only hypocrites and impostors
who pretended friendship for no othel
purpose than to partake of my wealth
T and enjoy themselves at my expense
Nv friends, or rather the villains whom
, 1 mistook for friends, and to whom
opened my heart, betrayed me, ant
then laughed at my simplicity; but il
time I gathered experience, and my
heart was filed with distrust. l wa:
betrothed to a rich heiress, possessed
of all fashionable accomplishments;
! adored her with enthusiasm; her love
| | thought, would repay me for ever,
disappointment. | soon saw that sh'
! was nothing more than a proud fool
who wished to make me her slave ant
i, yoke all other men besides to her tri
y umphant chariot. Ibroke off the en-
/ gagement, and selected a poor bu
I charming girl-a sweet innocent be
, ing, as 1 thought, who would be m.
! life's own angel. Alas I found he
} one day bidding adieu with tears ant
j kisses to youth whom she loved; sh,
had accepted me for my wealth only
My peace of mind vanished; 1 sough
diversion in travel; everywhere I founi
the same hollowness, the same treach
cry, the same misery. In short, be
came disgusted with life, and resolves
!. to put an end this night to the pitiabl
e farce
unfortunate young man, said tn