Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-22
NJ | : { L l. J. A Y Y.
THE BANKRUPT.
FROM THE DANISH OF CARL BERNHARD,

FROM THE DANISH OF CARL BERNHARD,
About the end Of the last century there
we'd in Copenhagen a wealthy merchant.
those name was Kraft He was n proud.
nperious man, who looked upon riches as
he greatest Of all advantages, and their ro-
ession as TIE unive sal. in fact the only pass
port to, or rather source of happiness. He
vas extremely rich. His housckceper declar-
ID that he was not able to count his money,
0 had 50 much; he measured his ducats oy
he bushel and was certainly worth hundreds
4 thousands OF dollars Born in aitiucnce
10 had never seen the slightest dimnution
n the fortune which surrounded him, for
lis fathers mercantile house was already in
IS third generation, having descended from
ather to son, without any lessening Of its
Fapital during that long period, as there ne
Fer had been more than one son in the family.
n consequence of this, the large means of
he firm had remained undivided, and they
had been enabled to extend their mercantile
transactions over half the world. Their ac-
teptances were as good as ready money. The
present merchant Kraft had also an only SON
but no had not. in accordance with the Gus
tom of his fDreiathers, taken him into part
hership, for he must then have made over to
him-at least in appearance--a portion OF his
buprene authority, and he was too naughty
10 share his power even with his only son.
He had therefore established the young man
in business on his own account, though To
o certain extent under his own surveillance.
Herr Kraft's wife had died at an early age ,
she had presented him with all he wished
son who might, in progress Of time, carry
on the aff,irs of the house and uphold it's
name aud bug credit. When she afterwards
presented him with daughter, he was s.
alarmed at the possibility of such gifts be-
coming too abundant, that he thought II
rather fortunate circumstance Tat the
birth of this child cost its mother her life.
The unwelcome little girl WAS sent to the
care of an aunt, who brought her up, and il
was not until she was young woman that
she returned to her fathers house where
however, she found no sympathy Her broth
or was just married to G RI with handsome
fOrtne, and had removed to a house of hi:
own. Tho family now consisted of Herr
Kraft, senior, his daughter. and his cousin
on old maiden lady, who was received as al
inmate Of his house after his wife, death, t.
give her home, said Herr Kraft-that h,
might have some one to vent his i'll humo
upon, said Miss Regime hcrseli-that Their
should be another torment in the house
said the counting house clerks and the do
mestic servants, who hated her and her fat
snoring pet, "Mops," as much as the,
feared Herr Kraft and loved his daughter
For Louisa was their declared iavorlte, an
ifneed had been, they would all have gon
through fire and water for her.
A complete contrast to the merchant wa
his relative, Herr Warner. lie was OF
mild, unassuming character; he could easl
mould his own wishes to those of others, an
he valued wealth only as a means of dom
good. In all his actions he was guided muc
more by his feelings than his interests. Tn
lives OF these two gentlemen had been as dit
ferent as We're their characters. Herr War
ner's parents had not been rich. Ills mothe
had made an unfortunate marriage, accordin
TO the merchant Kraft, for her husband ha
lost his small inheritance, and had gon
abroad to seek for fortune under foreis
skies. Herr Warner, on the contrary, COZ
sidered tnat his mother had made fortuna
marriage, for her and her husbands mutui
affection out-lived the loss Of their property
and if they did not become rich in the distal
country to which they had gone, they,
least, obtained a competence there, aud
peaceful happy home.
After the death of his parents, their s.
went, with but poor heritage, to the Ea
Indies where he married n young lady witt
out any fortune. Good luck, howeve
seemed to attend him hscotton plantation
throve well and yielded large returns, al