The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-03-31
A SAFE ANSWER

- tJCuLS o AS nsfH Du TSIf PbE-
pred.etiue-TAe number efhis farms knorn only to him
odopfed to soiue rae mysfsry-And the result
Reuben Mitchell belonged to an old quaker
family in the Southeastern part of Massachu-
sets, and had been brought up in the straIghtest
peculiarities Of the sect. His dress was in all
respects in the modest quaker style, and his
speech retained the once universal soleinnity of
the second person. Ills calm and quiet temper
was In unison with the gentle austerities of the
sect and the last thought of Reuben Mitchell's
heart was to adopt the Innovations in language,
dress, and manner, which began to be attempted
in his childhood, by some of the youthful mem
bers of the once prosecuted but now respected
persuasion.
Reuben was brought up as a merchant, under
a prosperous relative, who first in the whale
fishery and then in general business had amassed
q considerable property. First as apprentice
and then as clerk, he went through the severe
routine of the old school. Early hours and the
performance or a great deal of manual and even
mental labor were then expected of all young men
devoted to a business life, although belonging to
what are called respectable families. Reuben
submitted to these hardships, if hardships they
are, with cheerfulness. In fact they were former
ly considered as a matter of course. and no more
to be complained of than the order OF the seasons.
With these feelings and habits Reuben Mitchell
passed through his business noyitiate, and was
soon admitted a junior partner III the house
by his late master, ON the footing, as he could
bring No money capital into the concern, OF
doing nearly all the work and receiving scarce
any Of the profits of the establishment. This ar
rangement however was not unusual nor deemed
oppressive. The gains which it yielded Reuben
were small, but they satisfied his modest wants,
and small as they were he saved something.
In due time Reuben's business connection with
his late master led to one of a gentler character
Hannah Folger was her fathers only child
khraa nr fpur orr ynr1nppr than Rpuhen ~ Y
and s~prightly after the type of Friends; dark
hair a smiling eye a dImpied cheek ; an air and
manner, which, among the worlds people, might
have been thought to possess a dash of coquetry.
but in Hannah serving only to create a pleasing
contrast with the quiet garb and Anticipated
speech of the sect.
1t was almost a matter of course that a tender
feeling should spring up between Reuben and
Hannah. We intend no disparagement by using
the phrase ssmatter of course" We have no
doubt there is as much of the romance OF Love
among Friends, as among the worlds people;
but it was all but impossible, that, with the con-
tinual opportunities which presented themselves
for friendly intercourse, something tendercr than
friendship should not spring up between them.
They bad grown up together Reuben had board
ed while an apprentice in her fathers family he
was now her fathers partner, ana possessed his
entire confidence; and it is altogether probable
that, in his quiet way and as far as Friends may
be supposed capable of entering into such calcu-
lations, he had for a long time intended that
Reuben and Hannah should one day enter into u
closer partnership.
In due time this event took place, and, as we
have said, pretty much as a matter of course ;
and without involving for any OF the parties a
great change in the even tenor of their lives.
They had always lived beneath the same roof
and moved in the same circle of friends. Their
simple mode of life admitted of but little variety
their quiet tempers desired none Her thoughts
were given to the duties and cares of an increas-
ing household his to the demands of a growing
business They sympathlzed and co-operated
with each other, as far as the relative sphere of
the sexes admitted, lived in harmony and pros
perity, and were remarked in the circle of their
acquaintance, as an exemplary, respected and
happy couple
At length the Father died and Reuben and
Hannah succeeded to the inheritance,-a sub
%stantial, one might say very large, PROPERTY
and the chief control OF an extensive business.
This event however changed little or nothing in
their mode of life; nothing in their household
arrangements and habits. It enlarged their
means of active usefulness and charity. Reuben
was enable to contribute more literally to the
public objects favored by the yearly meeting; and
Hannah's private charities, never stiated, became
more frequent and ample; but the change was
modestly and unostentatiously made. In a year
also n sleek pair of horses and a four wheeled car
rage superseded the more quiet one horse chaIse,
which had hitherto answered their purposes
The most considerable change that took place
in Reuben's habits was one which, as he conduct
ed it, attracted but little public attention at the
outset, though it eventually became a matter of
notoriety and remark. Though brought up to a
life of active commence, and succeeding at Mr..
Folger's death, to the entire control of an extern
sive and profitable establishment, Reuben was
wholly free from the ambition of charging his
operations or rendering his commercial house
more important and influential. He did not con-
tract, but be did not extend the sphere of his
operations. He built no new ships, and engaged
in no large speculations. On the contrary he in
vested his profits and the increasing surplus Of
his capital in real estate, and that not always of
a very productive character In II word he was
very much in the habit. when he had two or
three thousand dollars to invest, of buying one of
the numerous farms which are constantly on sale
in this part of the country.
Reuben had retained the possession of a little
estate of some sixty or seventy acres, where b
was born and passed the years of his boyhood.
The old house, the old trees, the old well, the
still older rocks had a charm for him. His very
first accommodations were laid out in purchasing
a small adjoining property. As his means in
creased, he successfully made the acquisition of
two or three other small farms. Land at that
time and in that neighborhood was inexpensive.
Railroads were unknown, and ten miles from a
large town there were few farms that could not
be bought for twenty-five dollars an acre, some
for much less. In this way, at the cost of a few.
thousand dollars, Reuben had, in a very few
wears, become the owner of six or eight farms.
1t was a period Of unusual vicissitude in the
Commercial world. The orders in Council and
the French DEGREES swept the ocean of American
commerce, and brought many a proud fortune to
the ground. Reuben was prudent and was for
tunate he escaped without serious loss, but was
confirmed in his preference of solid investments,
and his aversion TO expanding his commercial
operations. His business continued to yield him
ample returns, but he still invested the surplus
in real estate. As the grass was springing up
between the paving stones of the trading Cities,
it was not TO be wondered at, that he should pre-
fer good farms in the Country, to stores and ware
houses in the large towns, and SO Reuben annu-
ally bought more farms.
In these purchases he had an eye of course
principally to his own interest , but he also acted