Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-03-26
RUIN ed.
BY T. S. ARTHUS.

ed ~
The words startled me.
$50 bad AS that? o. said the individual
to whom the remark was made"
Even so bad"
"Of whom are you speaking ?" l
ventured to ask.
"Of Jacob At~Ond."
started to my re.t. He Was one OF
my old. intimate. and long>tried friends.
- Ruined, did you say ? That man ru
ined Impossible !"
There is no doubt of it. received
my Information from those who have the
best right to know"
What has he done 2" ! asked eager>
ly.
My question was received in silence as
as if the meaning was not clearly appre-
hended.
Is he defaulter %
NO" The answer showed surprise
at my question.
HE has betrayed an honorable trust
rrposed in him By bis fellow men %
"No, sir his integrity is without
question. In all his public relations he
WAS true as steel to principle"
"What then ? Has he placed any
property beyond the reacr Of creditors
who have just claims upon him %
''He has given up everything. even to
q 9 furniture OF his house. Not a dollar
has been reta ned. and he goes Gor'h in.
10 the world ruined man."
20, no." a. i | speaking out warmly.
''Eot ia any case ruined man. The
merchant may be ruined, but, thank
God the man is W hole"
The little company looked at me, for a
mUmeht or two. halt iu surprise.
The man is right" l went on, "only
the scaffrl ling ON which ti.e wurkmen
stood who were building up his character.
has fallen. Erect, calm, noble. half di,
vine, he stands, now, in the sunshine and
in the storm. Around his majestic brow
the clouds may gather upon it the tenn.
pest may beat; but lie is immovab,e in
his great integrity"
SDme smiled at my enthusiasm. To
them there was no. hing oi the moral sub
liTe in ruined merchant. O.hers look
ed little more thoughtful than before
and one said freely,
There is something in that"
Something in that should think
there was.
Il was the first intelligence l received
Of my friends worldly misfortune, and it
grieved me. In the evening l went to
see Jacob Atwood. The windows of the
elegant residence where he had lived
for years were closed. looked up al
the house-it had deserted aspect.
rung the bell no one answered my sum
mons.
l could not express the feeling of sad
ness that came over me. The trial mus
have been severe even for brave hear
ike his.
Unjust End him." said |, and did
find him, but far away from the neigh
borhood where the merchant princes had
their palace houses. The house into
which he had ret red with lis family look
ed small, and mean. and cumlorlless, in
comparison with the elegant abode from
which he had removed. l rung, and was
admitted. The parlor into which l was
shown was a small room, ana the furni-
lure not much better than We Cften see III
the houses Of well-to do mechanics. OIL
clerks on moderate salaries. But every
thing was in order and scrupulously neat
had made only a hurried obserVa
tion when Mr.. Atwood entered. He
looded something care worn-his face
was paler than WREN last saw him, hi:
eye little dulIer, his smile less cheerful
The marks Of trial and suffering were
plainly visible. 1t would have been al
most a miracle had it been otherwise
But be did not exhibit the aspect of a ru
iued man. He grasped my hand warmly
and said it was pleasant to look into the
face Of an old friend. l offered him sym
pathy.
1.-The worst is over" he answered
with manly cheerfulness, "and nothing
is lost, which may not be regained.
have found the bottom. and know where
sm and there is strength enough left il
me to stand up securely amid the rush
Ing waters. The best of all is, my prop
erty. which has been apportioned to my
creditors. will pay every debt. That gives
my heart its lightest pulsations."
al heard that you were ruined" "
said l, as We sat talking together; but
find that the man is Whole. Not a prIn
eiple invaded, nor moral sentiment lost
not jewel in the crown of houor miss
ing"
He took my hand, and grasping il
hard, looked into my face steadily fol
some moments. Then in subdued voice
he made answer:
II trust that it is even so. my friend
But there were seasons in the worse thar
Egyptian night through which 1 hav'
passed. when the tempter's power seem