True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-09
First Rate Love Story.
THE REWARD OF MERIT.

- .Q |
ANNIE has arrived at the mature age Of
tdo not start, reader, twenty seven and
vet in a. state Of single blessedness. Some
how or other, she had moi even fallen in
love as yet. {" Had size no ofFers"--
What simple question! Did you ever
know a half million dollars to 60 begging ?
Ofersl Yes scores of them! 1t may
be accounted as one Of her oddities, per
haps, but whenever the subject happened
10 be touched on by her father, Annie
would say that she wanted some one who
could love her for herself, and she must
have assurance Of This, and how should
she in her present situation! Thus mat
ters stood, when Annie was led TO form
and execute what will appear a very
strange resolution-But she was a reso-
Lutte girl. We must now go back six
years.
One dark, rainy morning in Novem'
Der. as our old friend was looking compo-
sedly at the cheerful fire in the gta'e of
his counting room, really indulgng in
some serious reflection on the past and
fu.ure-for future, too-a gentleman pre-
sented himself and enquired for Mr.. Bre-
men. The old man uttered not word,
but merely bowed. There was that in
his looks which said {" | am he."
The stranger might have been some
thirty years or so Of age. He was dres'
sed in black, a mourning weed was on
his hat, and there was something in his
appearance that seemed to indicate that
the friend whose loss he deplOted had re.
Gently departed. The letter of introduc'
ton which he presented to Mr. Bremen
was quickly. yet carefully perused, aud
as i. was somewhat unique, we shall lake
the liberty of submitting it 10 the inspcc-
ton of the reader:
,"1lth mo-, lS-.
"Friend PAUL This will introduce tc
thee friend Charles Copeland. He ha:
come to thy city in pursuit of business
/ have known him from youth up. Thou
mayest depend upon him for aught h'
can do, and shall not lean as on a broker
reed. Ifthou canst do anything for him
thou mayest paradventure benefit lhysel
and find cause to rejoice.
"Thy former and present friend,
MICHA LOOMS.
"It is not every man that can ge. oil
Micha LOOMS endorsement of his char
acter," said Paul Bremen to himself, a
he folded up the letter Of his old and wei
known associate of former days. "ol
Micha is good for quarter of million
or for anything else-it will do wan
him-geiting cld-business increasing
must have some more hel p-now as we
as any time"
The old gentleman looked at all this
he stood gazing in perfect silence on tn
man before him. AT length he opene
his lips.
"Mr. Copeland, you know all abou
the books!"
81 have had some few years exper
ence."
"Any objection TO place here pre-
" close work i only one thousand
year"
"None." "
"When can you begin :"
" Now"
A real smile shone on the old man
face. Il fingered there like the rays
of the setting sun among the clouds Of Il
evening, lighting up those seemingly ha
and dark features.
A s,ool was pushed to the new come
books were opened, matters expla'nc
directions given, the pen was dipped
the ink, and in short before all hour HI
passed away, you would have thOug
dat the old man and the young man h
known rach other for years.
In reference to our new friend, it "
be sufficient TO remark, that he had be
literally educated. az the phrase go'
and though he had entered early into
siaess. he had not neglected the guilty
tion of his mind and heart. He had (Ou
time to cherish a general acquaintar
with the most noteworthy authors Of
day, both literary and religious, and W
many of past times. After few ye'
Of success in the pursuits TO which he !
devoted himself, mislortunes came th
and fast upon him. He found h'ms
left with scarcely any property, and ale
in the world, save his two only daui
teTs.
As year after year passed away,
grew steadily in the confidence OF
employer, who felt, though he said il I
that in him he possessed a treasure.
Very little, indeed, was said by cit
Of them not connected with the roul
Of business, and there had been no in
course whatever, between them save
she counting room. Thus six years "
by. when toward the close Of which
ROD, old Mr.. Bremen was found, look
with much frequency and earnes'nes
the young woman before him; somelh
was evidently brewing in that old h'
What could il beG And then, too,
looked so cufipusly. The Irish ser'
was puzzled. tfSure,' said Jan