The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-08-12

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| should freeze to DEATH"
ftNot SO bad as that" replied the young
husband, chucking his wife under the chin.
II" Go to the Athenaum and see the pictures"
4 4 ] couldn't do that every day, and you
don't know how lonesome | amp
4 N'' Can't you read Z"
4 seI don't want to read all the time."
" Read part Of the time, them"
g But, Fred, Ihaye been thinking of some
thing" and smile played upon the pretty
Il lips Of the young wife.
se What, Ellen :"
81 miss something in our house,"
j DO you"
Oh, very much indeed.'
i Well, Ellen, what is it 7"
i piano it would be so nice to practice
these long dreary days. | should be as happy
Tar princess if | only had piano." ".
4 Mrs. Chester's father was in afiluent cir
lcamstances, and before she was married had
been accustomed to many Injuries, which
her husbands limited means would not per-
nit him to provide.
!" But, Ellen, can't afford a piano. The
times have not been so hard before for ten
years"
You have got FIVE hundred dollars in
the bank"
| "But Ihave reserved that to pay my note ?
Don't you expect to make enough to pay
lits"
/ at is very doubtful; nv business hardly
pays expenses"
You will be able to do that, know, .
continued the eloquent petitioner.
"Well, well, my dear, you shall have the
piano"
]" You are dear husband You will gel
me one of Chickering'sp
"Any kind you please, my dear"
And before dinner time the instrument
came home, and Mrs. Chester was as happy
as piano could make her,--albeit she had
little idea Of the significance Of & three pei
cent. month";" and protested notes.
Men said the times would be better, but
the prophecy was vain. Merchants failed
brokers failed. banks and insurance compa-
nies failed. Business was duller than it had
been for the last twenty years. Poor men
Ilounged at the corners of the streets, vainly
waiting for a job, while their wives and
children shiyered with the cold, and hun.
gered even for crust of bread. Ruin and
disease we're the order Of the day. and mer
wondered where would be the end of il all
Fred Chester's business did not pay hi.
shop expenses, to say nothing of his house,
hold, and when that dreadful note fell due
he had not dollar towards redeeming it
Ruin stared him in the face, and it was nov
his turn to look sad.
Five hundred dollars was small sum, yei
he could not raise it. Even three per cent
a month without " collateral" would no
procure it. Something must be done. Som,
friend must get him out Of the scrape or h,
must certainly fail. His wife's father wa
wealthy, but he had married his daughte
against his wishes, and there was no hope il
that quarter. But Ellen's uncle, blunt
honest, master mason, had always locke,
kindly upon him, and perhaps he would Opel
his purse strings.
The note was due on the following tlay
and he decided to make the application {,
Uncle Luke, as he was Familiarity called
In course Of the afternoon, however, he hap
pened to call at the store, and Fred state,
his position.
"Eh 7" said the blunt mechanic.
thought things were going on swimmingl.
with you."
:" So they were, but the times are $
: deucedly hard that cannot make enough I
pay the expenses" replied Fred with dolo
rous expression Of the countcnance.
Where's the two thousand dollars whic
you received from your fathers estate 7"
81 paid NV debts with IT,"
/" But didn't you tell me that you didn'
} owe above three thousand dollarsF !"
a. #ccl..
" Aud the rest !"
"Well, that went in various ways"
{" And your stock il all mortgaged !"
!" YES, for one thousand"
!" You have done good business :"
Yes.'
"Well, we'll, am in hurry just now
, but viii 90 up and dine with YOU, and v
will talk il over" and Uncle Luke went on
Of the shop.
Fred did not like his uncle's inquisitiye
, ness, but he had strong hope that lie woul
get him out Of his present dilicultie,
! Writing hasty note be dispatched his bo
. to inform his wife that Uncle Luke woul
dine with them.
| Dinner came and SO did Uncle LUX,
{ Ellen had a nice dinner ready, aud he
: pretty face was covered with smiles, whe
she welcomed the honest old man TO partak
! of the hospitality Of her board.
/ Uncle Luke seated himself az the table
/ Ills accustomed smile had disappeared, an
! be looked rather stern.
/" Fred" said be suddenly, as the youn
!. merchant inserted his fork in the breast d
! the nicely Drowned turkey. ..y0u have nc
= faund fhp phifosnnher's atono ypf
: Fred suspended the operation Of caryin
: the turkey. and gazed with look ol aston
ishment full in the face Of the speaker.
: What do you mean, Uncle Luke ]
asked he.
"You don't know what The Philosopher
stone is, do you !"
"NO."
1 81 found 4 out when | was quite yonn