The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-30


tined to produce a serious effect upon his
business. The first effect was the loss Ci
Mr.. Cages consignments. The fact stated
to the farmer by his brother, rested upon
his mind and troubled him. He continued
to send his grain to Mr.. ElliotsOn for some
months; but his suspicious being aroused
he began to imagine that the account sales
he received showed a lonw range of prices
One of his neighbors, who sent his produce
to another store in the village, asked him
one'day what his last load Of wheat had
brought.
a dollar and ten," was the reply.
g did rather better than that" SAID the
neghbor.
.'Ah! how much did you get:"
. \ dollar twelve"
{" Did you indeed: Herbert docs your
business.
YES"
"Does he make prompt returns?"
ooh, yes. He is very prompt and very
4 correct"
4 dollar twelve! Have you just heard
Of the sale:'
" received the account to-day"
THAT'S strange. My wheat was in every
way as good as yours, and ought to have
brought as good price"
Mr.. Gage was now decided in his mind
about changing his agent He felt satisfied
I in his mind that something was "rong.-
} The grain OF the ncghbor had been received
/ three days before his came to market and,
! in that time, the price had fallen two cents.
I His next lot Of produce was sent TO Mr..
Z Herbert. who from this time became his
consicnee. BY this change the business Of
Mr.. kli0tsOn suffered considerably. Gage
was his largest cousign r, and usually made
heavy purchases from him during the year,
thus giving him double profit.
From this period the business of EllOtson
gradually declined One after another OF his
. old customers in the neighborhood Of Gage
fell Of, without assigning any reason, ahd
went over to Herbert, whose operations
doubled within year. The cause lay in
hints from farmer Gage, IN reply 10 ques-
,ions Is to why he had changed his con-
signcc lie said nothing touching the integ-
Iity of Eiliotson. bat hesitated not to allegc
that Herbert obtained better prices for his
produce. This was, of course, enough to
induce others to follow his example. At
the end Of the year the business OF EIiiotson
was 50 much reduced that be found it very
difficult to keep his head above water Tie
was no longer as prompt IN making returns
Of sales to the farmers as before, and this
caused others of them to leave him.
"W that's the matter with Eiiotson:" now
began to be asked among his ncighboTs.
lie seems to be going down hin"
But no one could answer the questions
He was known as an active and energetic
business man, and il was believed that he
would, in time, acquire fortune. That
different result was threatened, created gen
cral surprise. When Il man begins TO 90
down hill, there was but little hope for him.
i; t..sl- he 10.
il was with MIR. EAiot-On. In three years
from the tr!i NJ act Of taking few pieces
Cf lime at d.a not belong |, him, lie was
sold ont by the sheriff OF the cause Of the
blight that had fallen upon his fortune, he
had not the most remote conception. Il
never entered his mind that suspicion Of
his integrity existed anywhere, or that he
had ever given cause for such suspicion
In the calamity by which he was stricken
he retained one cOnsciousucss-:ha Of being
an honest man
Educated in a store, Mr.. ElIiotson had no
ability for obtaining support for his family
bcycai what such al education gave him.
IIc was coed accountant, ana had clear,
strong mind To any enc keeping store,
who needed assistance, he would have been
invaluable. But 10 one in the village was
in want of assistance.
With a family Of four children, the situa-
ton of Mr. EiAotson was painful in the cX-
tremc. The rigOr Of the law had left him
but poor remnant Of household furniture,
and wi;h tbs he was about moving into a
smal. cottage at half the rent he WAS paying
FOR the comfortable home III which he had
lived for ten years.
just at tins crisis, intelligence was receiy-
cd that the Legs a,ure Of the State had ap-
proved an application that had been made
To charter banking institution, to be loca
ted in the village. Books for subscription
to the capital stock were Immediately open
ed. and the amount required by the charter
obtained in a few days.
As soon as it was known that the bank
would 20 into operation, the friends OF Mr
E,liotson made a movement to get him ap-
pointed cashier He was looked upon as
the very man, and some Of the stockholders
went so far as to say, that it was fortunate
for the institution that he happened to be
out of business. Twelve directors were
chosen in due course, and then there came
an election Of officers and clerks, TO conduct
the regular business. There were many ap-
plicants for these situations. Prominent
for the office of cashier stood the name of
Mr. Eliotson. On the day that the Direct
ors met, this unfortunate individual had but
appointment, no apparent resource in the
world. 1t is no matter of wonder that his
mind was in a state of great anxiety and
suspense His friends had assured him that
he would surely get the appointment; but
the necessities of his circumstances were
too pressing to allow these assurances to
give him full confidence in the election. II,
by any mshap he should not be appointed,
he knew not which way to turn his head to
keep his family from want.
Among the Directors chosen to represent
the stockholders, was Gage, the carpenter,
who was man OF some property, and had
subscribed quite literally to the stock
When Mr.. Elliotson was proposed to the
meeting as cashier, Gage became restless.
"He is the very man. said one.
ave can't possibly do better, said an
other.
There isn't name on the list OF appll-
cants comparable to his, remarked a third
And every man spoke in his favor, except
Gage, who remained silent. just as they
were about balloting, the carpenter SAID he
was very sorry to be compelled to object to
Mr.. Eliotson, but duty constrained nm 10
do so. And he then related the little CIR
cumstances already known to the reaoer.
| He ended by saying:
"This NAV seem trfing matter, gentle
men. But it is in tritles that we see most
clearly mans real character. lit shows
that there is lack of integrity In his heart.
feel panied in making this revelation, but
duty compsls me to do so. would no, oe
true to the trust that has been reposed IN
me, were to withhold from this board
fact that may deeply affect the interests 'hey
are bound to protect.
Surprise kept all silent Ter lew molhsnes a. sa,
mistaken ?" was at length asked. by mem
Der of the board.
mo. sir. saw the thing done as clearly
as ever saw anything in my life. 10 make