Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-08-10
SflrttF9 stlisfflIann.
The Han and the Merchant.

& The man IS ruined hopelessly ru-
/ med !"
The words startled me.
. So bad as that 2" said the individual
10 whom the remark was made.
i" Even SO bad
q OF whom are You speakingz" l ven
tured TO ask
= OF Jacob Atwood"
/ started 10 my feet. lie was cue Of
my old, intimate and long tried friends.
. Ruined did vou say That man ru-
ined Impossible!
. There IS no doubt Of It, I received
/ my Information from those who have the
/ best right to know"
. What has he done 2" l asked eager
/ ly.
Ny question was received in silence,
, as if the meaning was not clearly appre-
+ hended
Is he defaultera'
The answer showed surprise at my
question.
. Has he betrayed any honorable trust
reP-sed in him ly his fellow men =
No sir; his Integrity Is without aues-
tion. Ia all his public relations he was as
irue as steel to pr,acille.''
What lhenl hos be placed any por-
non of his property beyond the reach of
creditors who have Just claims against
him :"
lie has given up cverything-even
to the furniture oc bis house. Nota shil-
ling has been retained, and he goes forth
ia the world d ruined man
Q O
- not in any sense ruined NAN. The
merchant may be ruined buJ, thank God.
The MAS IS whole"
The whole company looked al Inc for a
momeut or two, hail in surprise.
:. The man is all right" ! went on
:. Ouly the scatIoioing Oh Which the work
meu stood who were building up lis char
acter, Las faIier Erecr, noble. half d.
vIuc he stands BOW, ia the sunshine and
il the storm. Around his majestic brow
the clouds ay gather; upon it the tenn
/ pest may beat; bat he Is immoyable in
Lls great integrity.
Some smiled al my enthusiasm To
them there was nothing Of toe morally
sui hue in the ruined merchant Others
looked a little more thoughtful than before,
aud one said teebiy:-
There IS something in that"
Something IN that, l should think
there was
Il was lhe first intelligence 1 had re-
ceived OF my friends worldly misfortune,
aad it troubled me. Ia the evening
went 10 see Jacob Atwood. The windows
Of the elegant residence where he had
lived for wears were closed. / looked up
az the bouse-It had deserted aspect. |
vrung The bull; no one answered my
sgmmous
could not repress the feeling Of sad
ness jaat came over me. The rial mus,
have teen severe even for brave heart
ike his.
II must find him" said I. And did
Iad him; but far away from the neigh
torl0od where merchant princes had Their
palace-houses. The house into which he
lad retired with his family looked small
and mean, and conlorlless, IN comparison
with the elegant abode from which he
had removed
/ rf.4g and was admitted. The parlOr
into which was shown was small room,
and the furniture not much better than we
often see in the houses of wel.-to-d0 me-
chanicS, or clerks on moderate salerIes. .
Bat everything was III order and Scrupu-
lousy neat.
l made only hurried observation,
when Mr.. Atwood entered. He looked
somewhat eareworn--his face was Paler
taoa when last saw him, his eyes llt,le
ao.er-his smiles less cheerful. The
marks of uiai and suffering were plainly
visible L 1ouid have been almost a
miracle had II been otherwise. Bat he
I'D not exhibit the aspect OF a ruined man.
Tie grasPed my hand warmly, and said
II was pleasant TO look into the face of an
cid friend. l offered him words Of svn-
pathy.
- The worst is over he answered with
manly cheerfulnesS, - and notbinC = LOST
thar may not be regained. have found
he bouo.n, know where l am, aud there
Is strength enough left IN me 10 stand up
/ IN security amid the rushing waters
/ Tie best e5 ali Is. my properly which nas
been appUraoned TO my creditors will pay
every debt. That gives my heart lis
hghteSs pQlsations.'