The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-04-14

remarks OF his daughter had aroused him,
and now sat with his chin almost touching
his breast. What was the picture in his
mind? We will make an effort to repro
duce it.
A small room, the floor covered with
poor quality of striped carpet--wals not
even papered. A cherry breakfast table
four Windsor chairs q pair of brass candle
sticks on the mantel.piece and figured pa
per blinds at the windows. This is nearly
complete schedule of the furniture. The
inmates are himself and young wife. He
has just returned from his days work as por.
ter in large drug store. The leaves of the
cherry breakfast table ore spread open, and
the top covered with a snowy table cloth,
made white by the hands of his wife. The
same hands have prepared their evening
meal and though the tea service is scant
and plain, yet love and hope are smiling
above their humble board, as they sit togeth-
er, and talk Of the coming future
That was the picture But it wns faded
soon, though while il remained distinct, it
was vivid as life itself. Poor, Industrious,
frugal, selfreliOnt, Mr.. Dunlop and his wife
had started in the world just twenty years
before, Step by step they had ascended the
ladder of fortune, until they stood high up
among their fellows.
Like pictures in Kaleidoscope, life.scene
after life-scene came and went, each show.
ing some marked change in their external
condition until wealth and luxury crowned
their toll and self.denal.
Mr.. Dunlap had been naturally proud OF
his success in life /; and we will not wonder
that, from the eminence on which he.stood
he sometimes looked down with feelings OF
self.confdenee and self congratulation.
But tonight self,confdence and self-reli-
ance were gone. He had built his fortune
on what seemed an immovabe foundation
But it proved to be OF sand, yielding with
strange and frightful suddenness, and letting
the beautiful edfce he had erected with such
care and labcr, sink into hopeless ruin.
Sqbles at two hundred and fifty dollars
No wonder the unhappy man, in whose
mind the cert1inty Of his ruin, as merchant.
was gaining more paIpablo form every mo-
ment, did not reply. Aud no wonder the
Incidence and pride Of his INDUCED and
spoiled child, intruGing at tna moment, SEM
memory back to wipe the dust t.om pictures
of the long ago.
Was she better than they were? Better
than the faithful wife, her mother, who had
walked in patient, humble industry by his
side in the Spring time of life ! Even in
his deep trouble of mind, the thought dis
turbeu, and almost angered Mr.. DunIap,-
Not the incident of this evening alone, sp
fir A. Jane was concerned, now trctteu BIN;
but many incidents which intruded them
selves like unwelcome guests, involving
such false ideas of life, and such miserable
pride and vanity, that he turned, half loath.
ing, from the mental image of his child. ,
If riches come at price like this, then
wealth is curse instead of q blessing !
The thought seemed scarcely his own, as
he gave it involuntary mental utterance.-
Yet, almost strange to say, the fearful image
of misfortune, which had glared in the face
of Mr.. Dunlap, lost some of its repulsive
features.
The stern discipline of misfortune, have
heard il said, is always salutary.'
How timely came the suggestion. Itwas
an hour of pain and darkness and yet the
hand, as of an angel, was among the clouds
'Jane {! 1t wos the voice of Mrs. Dun
lap that broke the silence Of the apartment
well, what's wanted 2
Jane was awakened from q dream of van
ity and triumph. She was already, in ina
gination, wearing the sables, and e"lipsinG
certain yonng ladies whose pride she wishet
to humble. They had only mink, or martir
at best, and she would hurt their eyes will
sables.
"JOne, wish you would 60 up to th'
large closet in the third story passage. ant
bring me small bundle, tied with piec'
of red cord, which lies on the top shelf
'I'll ring for Ellen, if you desire it, an
swered Jane, without moving.
when ask you to ring for servant, yol
can do so,' said Mrs. Dunlap, with uncon
cealed displeasure.
i don't know what you have servants for
if you don't make them wait on you,' re
torted Jane sharply.
Mr.. Dunlap turned his ear and listened.
Il wish you to get me the bundle,' sai
Mrs. Dunlap. She spoke firmly.
IF there were no servants in the house
it would be fair enough to call on me to rul
up and down STAIRS replied Jane, in increas
ing ill-nature. But, as it is, you ask NOR
than is reasonable ; I'm not WAITER
This was moro than Mr.. Dunlap coul,
bear, For weeks he had felt the storms o
adverse circumstances bearing upon hin
with steadily increasing violence an
with all the coolness of brave commander
he had kept his eyes at the point of DANCE
and striven with unwearied skill to pass th
reefs and currents amidst which his barl
was struggling. But the events Of the da.
had shown him that skill, courage and toi