Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-06-30
THE REWARD or MERIT.
A FIRST RATE LOVE STORY

1GE KEW ARD OF MEkII.
FIRST RATE LOVE STORY.
Annie had arrived at the mature age of (do
not start, reader.) twenty seven, and yet in a
state of single blesSedneSS. Somehow or other
she had not even fallen in love as yet. clad
she no offers ?'' What simple question Did
you ever know half a-million of dollars to go
begging Offers? Yes, scores of them 1t
may be accounted as one of her oddities, per-
haps, but whenever the subject happened to
be touched upon 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 po-
stion ? Thus matters stood, when Annie was
led to form and execute what will appear very
strange resolution-but she was resolute girl.
We must now go back six years.
One dark, rainy morning in November, as
our old friend was looking compOsedly at the
cheerful fire in the CRATE of his counting room,
really indulging in some serious reflections on
the past and future, the far future. too, gent
leman presented himself and inquired for Mr.
Bremen. The old man uttered not a word,
but merely bowed. There was that in his
looks which said :sI am he.''
The stranger might have been thirty years
of age. He dressed in black a
mourning weed was on his hat, and there was
something in his appearance which seemed to
indicate that the friend whose loss he deplored
bad recently departed. The, letter of intro
duction which be presented to Mr.. B. was
quickly yet carefully perused, and as it was
somewhat unique, we shall take the liberty of
submitting it to the inspection of the reader :
&c, limo, 1s-.Friend Paul-This will in
troduce to thee friend Charles Copeland. lie
has como to thy city in pursuit of business.
have known him from youth up. Thou may
est depend upon him for aught that he can do
and shall not lean as upon broken reed. II
thou canst do any thing for him thou mayest
peradventure benefit thyseif and find cause to
rejoice. Thy former and present friend,
e1 MICAH LOOMS
at is not every one that can get old Micah
Loomis's endorsement on his character said
Paul Bremen, TO himself as he folded up the
letter of his we'll known associate and friend
of former days. sold Micah is good for a
qnarter of million, or for anything else-it
will dol want him-getting old, business in
crcasng-must have some hclp-now as well
rs any time
The old gentleman looked at all this, as he
stood gazing in perfect silence on the man be-
fore him. At length he opened his lips.
ssMr. Copeland, you know all about books 20
al have had some few years experience.'
"Any objection to place here Pretty close
work-only one thousand year."
..None.''
"when can you begin %
ssNow.'
A real smile shone on the old mans face.
II fingered there like the rays of the setting
sun among the clouds of evening, lighting up
those seemingly hard, dark features.
A stool was pushed to the new conner, books
were opened, matters explained, directions
given. the pen was dipped in the ink, and. in
short, before an hour had passed away, you
would have thought that the old man and
young man had known each other for years.
In reference to our new friend, it will be
sufficient to remark that he had been liberaly
educated, as the phrase goes, and though he
had entered early into business, he had not
neglected the cultivation of his mind and heart.
He had found time to cherish q general ac-
qusintance with the most noteworthy authors
of the day, both literary and religious, and
with many of past times. After a few years
of success in the pursuits of which he had de-
voted himself, misfortunes came thick and
fast upon him. He found himself left with
scarcely any property, and alone in the world,
save his two only daughters.
As year after year passed away, he grew
steadily in the confidence of his employer, who
felt, though he said it not, that in him he pos
sesaed 4 treasure
Very little indeed was said by either of them,
not connected with the routine OF business,
and there had been no intercourse whatever
between them, save in the counting room.
Thus six years went by, towards the close OF
which period old Bremen was found looking
with much frequency and earnestness at the
young woman before him; something was evil
IDENTIFY brewing in that old head What could
il be? And then, too, he looked so curiously.
The Irish servant was puzzled. s'Surc,; said
James, sssonethings coming" Annie, too,
was somewhat perplexed, for those looks dwelt
much on her.
s.What is it, father7' she said to him one
morning at the breakfast table, as he sat ga
zing steadfastly in her face; ''do tell me-
al wish you'd have him ~ burst forth like
an avalanche "Known him for six years
irne as a ledger-a gentleman-real sensible
msn-don't talk much-regnlar as clock work
prime for business-worth his weight IN
gold.''
"Have who, father? What are you talking
about2''
"My head clerk, Copeland-you don't know
him do-haven't seen anybody else worth
q quill"
Annie was puzzled. She laughed, however,
and said
"Marry my fathers clerk what would peo-
pie say 7''
"Humbug, child, all humbug-worth forty
of your whiskered, loungng, lazy gentry ;
say what they please; what do care what
do you care! what's money, after all 2 got
enough ofit-want sensible man-want some
body to take care Of it, all humbug."
asWhat's all humbug, father ?''
"Why, peoples notions on these matters
Copeland is poor-so was once-may be a
gaip---world's full of changes-seen a great
sseny Of them in my day-can't stay here