Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-27
THE LON DON MERCH ANT.
4 Tale of the Present Time.


economical. almOs: parsimOniOuS in his expen-
ditureS. and of cold. rigid habits and lnanners-
a matter-Oi-fact man of the world, in short and
withodt particle of what is called sentiment
in his composition. a little more than twenty
years previously he had arrived, very Young
and almost penniless Elan, in London. and ac-
cepteI situation 80 warehOuSeman at a very
low salary, in the establishment of Mr.. James
Ridges merchant, Of Friday street, Cheapside
and methodical, hard pushing man. Lew
SOU eaSer diligence specially recommended
him To his sharp-si GIFTED employer; and as he
proved 10 be an excellent penman and account
ant Lie WAS soon transferred 10 the counting
house, aud rapidly advanced both as to position
and salary. lie was a powerful, gray-eyed,
brig ht-c0mp Iexi"ned young follow when he on
tered the establishment, and the five succeed
ing years scarcely changed his personal ap-
pcdrance- His step was elastic, mis- spirit "a
jOcuDd. hl. glance u merry, his laugh "a glcc-
ful ~ before, when change, sudden as it was
complete. passed over him; and this too. at a
moment when his fortunes appeared brighter,
more promising than ever. The managing clerk
and cashier died suddenly; and LewSOn, though
scarcely fve-and-twenty years Of age, was im-
mediately promoted to the vacant place. ut a
salary Of two hundred and fifty pounds per an
mum. had. few months before, entered the
establishment aS junior clerk. and lodged in
the house that he did. in King street.-the occu-
pying the front, and l the back attic; and
hearing from the landIady that Mr.. LewsOn had
spoken of leaving, and was. in fact, in search
of a suitable house within ensy distance Of the
city. | concluded that he was about to change
his mode Of life. My impression was that he
had left some damsel amidst the sunny glades
and leaty woods of his native SOmersetshre.
who. now that competency had been secured,
would speedily appear to share the home he
hal with energy and thrift provided. | was
it seemed, mistaken On the arrival of the post
letters. one morning when Mr. Ridges was out,
i took them, rs was customary, TO Mr.. LewsOn.
who happened, at that time to be engaged in
distant part of the premises. | had not re-
turned To my desk more than 1--WE minutes when
warehOUSeman came running to announce
that Mr.. LewsOn had fallen down in q swOOn.
L and the other clerks Immediately fastened to
the spot. and there, sure enough, we found him
On the nOor. CHASTITY pale, trembling eOnvul-
siyely, and partially inSensible. lie held,
noticed, an open letter tightly grasped in his
right hand. lie recovered presently. bu; left
the office and returned to his lodgings for that
day.
The next morning he entered the counting
house at his usual hour. replied impatiently to
the enquiries made after his health, and was
soon eagerly engaged in the details OF business
To which, changed he was in other respects
he continued as much more than ever de-
voted. Indeed. | sometimes fanced that he
was absolutely afraid of permitting his atten-
tion 10 flag or be diverted to other thoughts
This unfagging zeal and activity met with Il
just and natural reward. by the time Mr.
I.ewsOn had attained the age of thirty, he was
admitted a partner in the firm; and ultimately
when abundant wealth and increasing wears
indisp0sed Mr.. Ridges for further active exer-
tiun. that gentleman retired from the business.
and Mr.. LewSDn, only then about forty years
old. became sole head Of the establishment he
hsd entered. about one and-twenty years be-
f"re, as a warehOuseman, at 4 salary Of one
gUiEe1 per week.
Siy hot hui ola
since the sudden attack experienced by Mr..
LessJn. one or two circumstances had occurred
which threw partial light on the exciting
cause of that brief. sharp illness. He was one
day-nOt long after his admission "a partner
running over the columns Of the Times when
half-stihed cry escaped him. The chastity
PalenesS anl cnnvulsion of his features which
had Un:e before seen. recurred and I thought
he would have fallen from his seat. BY pow =
erlu effort Uf will. he succeeded in mastering
the emntiOn which shook him, anu seizing ms
hat, hurried out of the premises and did not
return for several hours. As soon aS he was
gone, L looked over the part of the paper he
had been perusing, and read the following
paragraph. the only of any possible inter
est On that side Of the Journal: s'Founlcred. in
the Guf Of st. Lawrence, the emigrant ship
Caroline. Crew and passengers all lost =
Again one evening, when waiting in Mr.. Lew
S0n room to deliver an important message
CHANGED 10 take up volume of the poetry of
HurEs-a book to which am almost ashamed
la say, L was till then an entire stranger; il
opened of itself, as il were, at a much-thumbed
page and as my glance ran over the invocation.
TO Mary in Heaven; / at once recognized
the verses TO which had heard Mr.. Lewsor
give faltering. despairing expression / nc
longer doubted of the nature Of the hurt he
had received. from what Quiver the broken
shaft which still quivered in his side had flown
and which, 10 conceal from the world, and. il
possible. from himself, he wrapped 50 closel Y
around him the thick mantle OF cold, repcl-
lsnt worliiiness. Yet, let NE do him the JUS
tee To say. X Was even then only To the busy
J"stllEg. triumphant world that he thus ap-
Pc1rcd- Numerous instances illustrative Of the
warm charity, the compassionate gentleness Oi
his trueChIracter. came to my own know lodge
and these were. doubted not. but slight pOr
tiOn the noiSeless deeds of mercy which iilu
mined and sanctifed the linty path he wa,
treadlns with bleeding feet, towards the quiet
grave
Thus had passed his life till ore rnemorabl,
evening. ll!Jle more than six months subseu ucn
Ia hIs becoming sole head OF the former firm Of
Ridges Lewsun. Il was the month of NOvem
Der, and the weather cold. gloomy and
dIspIritIng About nine o'clock il came on We
chill. drizZling. heavy mists fell and as
turned from contemplating the deSolatc street
md wretched, dripping figures which now and
then ShUiiied hurriedly along, to resume by the
blazing fire. the reading Of book which mucf
Interested me, l felt al intense sensation If COIN
fort and thankfulnesS. | had been resea; -I
about quarter of an hour, when heard Mr.
LeWs1n ltOr We Sill lodged ia the samo house
the only difference being that he occupied the
first floor, and the second) enter the street
door, and presently ascend the stairs with. i
immediately struck Inc. much quicker step
than usual lie did not pause fer an instan
Mt his own apartments. but came on with th,
same speed to the second floor. / lOoked u,
with hslf-languid curiosity. which. the in.
slant the door opened and displayed the person
81 Mr.. Lewson, changed to extreme surprise
and alarm. His garments were dripping wet
and Eis thick black hair hung in lank loOs
di,array about his forehead and cheeks. o
which the mortal paleness cOntrssted fright
fully with the strange brightness that gleame,
from out his Wild. dark, staring eyes.
uOod Heaven" l exclaimed, as | spran
upon my feet, what is the matter? What ha
OccGIed -
The white lips quiyered, rufled for momen
by hsit maniacal smile which passed owe
them, snd Mr.. Lews"n glided without speak