The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-15

wards me.
"ScOtt is just grubbing up the old hop-yine,
Nelly" said my friend to his wife.
This remark called forth quite a chorus Of
regretful expressions, and made me ask for in
formation as to the cause of such universal in.
terest.
Patience, James," said Swinton; and
Dinner said q servant at the same mo-
ment so / was fain TO marshal my hostess TO
the dining-room, and endure overwhelmingly
several jocose remarks on the subject Of hops, y
which were evidently generally understood,
though | could not comprehend their mean
ing
Much as I admired my hosts charming fam
lily | felt glad when he and | had the dining
room to ourselves, with the prospect Of an I'M
restrained chat.
Ny wife was very fall-in-love.with-able
person, seven-and-twenty years ago" said Luke,
after the door had closed upon that lady.
You need not tell me what she was, old fel
low / replied; " she is charming still and
would soon let her know my opinion, if she were
a widow"
Thank you. / have no wish TO test your
sincerity in the mode you so feelingly hint at.
But, take my word for It, in those by-gone days,
Nelly would have been bad to match. | was
intended for the church, as you are aware, and
went TO college with that profession in view;
but, during my first vacation, met Nelly at
Christmasparty, and she changed everything"
Did Nelly object to parsons, then
No; but her father did. The old man was
very rich, and had amassed his wealth by trade (;
80 he was determined to have a merchant, and
no other, for son-inlaw. Nelly was dutiful-
though she owned her regard for me-and would
enter into no engagement unsanetioned by her
father. So the end of it was, that never went
back to Cambridge, but entered the old mer-
chants Office as clerk"
Very chivalrous, am sure but / presume
you would have resigned crowns as well as
mitre-in prospective--to win Nelly"
Say as you will, it requires some selfdenial
to give up such fair prospects as | had, and
take TO plodding and quill-driving, with no very
definite notions of any reward. Old Stanley
Nelly's father-would only say that, if through
my own unaided efforts, / should win good
position in the mercantile world, he would not
refuse me when ! asked for his daughter In
the mean while, was allowed free communica-
ton with my beloved, and we were both young
enough to wait a few years for | was only
twenty when we first met, and she was twelve
months younger.
For three years, | toiled like galleyslaye
in my new vocation. Old Stanley smiled APP
provingly. and advanced me fairly enough but
still there was an awful hill to climb before
should dare to say a word about claiming Mel
ly, or, indeed, before circumstances would per
NIT me 10 marry without pecaniary aid from
her father. Ny whole capital amounted TO
$4,000; it was legacy from maiden aunt of
mine; and many times during these three pro-
stationary years had / been tempted to specu-
late with it, in the hope of taking fortune by
storm, as 1t were, instead of winning it bit by
Bit
Il cannot fancy you a Spectator, Luke,
said /, though l always considered you a par
ticulsrly wideawake individual Do you re-
member your school nick name, All Eyes > "
To be sure / do; and deserved it. Still,
as you say am not naturally speculative. /
make the most of things in a regular way Of
business, but run no needless risks. Above
all, / hold that he who endangers pound more
than he actually possesses, commits breach
of the command, " Thou shalt not steal" Yet
] have speculated desperately; and it is of my
one gambling transaction | am going to speak
1 had made such satisfactory progress under
old Stanley's tuition, that at length he proposed
l should invest my little capital, and become
his partner TO the amount have named above
Well do remember leaving home on the morn
ing of the day on which he made this PROPOSE
ton. AS passed through the gate which led
into the little shrubbeTy-you recollect the
place, James, for You spent many iOvial day
at our house when we were lads--I was attract
ed by the beautiful appearance of hop-vine
which twined lightly around a sapling hard by
] had watched its growth, and now, as its flow
ers trembled in the soft wind, ] paused to adj
mire it before | passed on my way. Before |
returned in the evening, had made arrange
ments for becoming a partner in the great
house of Stanley CO., and my little capital
was, may say, in my hands, ready to rein
vest --
ANY person would suppose that, under such
circumstances, | should be too much absorbed
IN meditating on my commercial prospects to
notice small external objects. But such was
not the case. As usual, | was all eyes and
when | reached the little shrubbery-gate. I no
ticed that the plant which, in the morning,
looked so beautiful was now shrunken, and ap-
peared as though scorched and withered Gu
rious TO know the cause, went Immediately to
the library and took down a work which would,
] thought, enhghten me. In il / found a de-
scription of what Is termed the hop-blight 9
and, on comparing my own experience with it.
l could scarcely doubt that my favorite plant
had been thus suddenly struck with the disease.
Still, ! was not quite satisfied; so | consulted
the gardener, who happened to be at work on
the lawn. he shook his head when he saw the
vine 1t is the blight, sure enough, said he.
Very few hops will there be this year 1t comes
in this way, and covers great extent of coun-
try all at once, just as though fame had
passed over it.
80 Then you think said |, the crop will be
spoiled?'
d" Not bit Of doubt of that, sir
That will do; thank you. felt anxious
TO know what had spoiled my vine so sudden
ly.'
"The man returned to his work. and 7. never
waiting for dinner, hurried back TO town, to
purchase every pocket of hops l could lay hold
on. It was desperate game, for l risked every
farthing possessed, bat no more. Hops were
then particularly cheap, for the preceding year
had been one of remarkable plenty, and few
hours before began to buy there was as good a
prospect for the coming season. Thanks to my
being all eyes ] was first in the field. | made
no conGdant-I did not even tell Nelly what
was doing. When old Stanley alluded to the
partnership, ] quietly requested permission to
reconsider the matter. His face told that he
deemed me a fool for his offer was certainly 3
thing to Jump at, and he informed Nelly. in my
presence, and with a perceptible sheer, that
was considering whether a partnership with
him would or would not be advisable The
dear girl herself seemed almost hurt about il
but whispered to her that she must trust me
entirely, and she said no more. Nelly had won
derful faith in my infallibility then 1t would
have been great comfort to me to tell her all
about that venture of mine, for | grew uuite
haggard with keeping IT to myself And how
watched that solitary plant If ] saw the
least signs of amendment in its appearance.
trembled and the more the leaves drooped. the
more did Ray spirits rise. / was like a fellow
by the sick bed Of one from whom he expects
a rich legacy. on see ! embarked not onl,
nv cash, but all my future prospects. in tbi.
one venture. If lost the money, knew