Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-12-27
g Capital storp,
CHANGE AND MISFORTUNE.
BY OLIVER OPTIC.
CHAPTER |.

"Well, I am going to do something
now," said Peter Pendant, as he seated
himself at the tea-table.
"What are you going to do now?" asked
the wife, though not with that exhibit
ton of interest which would have been
expected under such circumstances.
"I have taken the agency for large
insurance company in New York. l am
going to open an office, and am satisfied
that I shall make my fortune in few
years.
"I hope you WILL" replied the lady,
tho she appeared to be rather incredulous.
II know l shall; there is not the ghost
of doubt in regard to it, The commits
sions the company will give are very lib
eral, and 1 han't help making good
thing out of it. Now, Mary, if you want
a piano you can have one"
"Perhaps we had better wait until you
have realized some of the success for
which you hope
"There is no doubt in regard to that; l
would not give anybody sixpence to
guarantee me three thousand dollars a
year; and you know, with our econom-
ical way of living, we can save at least
two thousand dollars of this sum-"
every easily, if you can only get it to
save from. You have never made more
than seven or eight hundred year, and
most of the time since we were married
you have made but five hundred"
"But it's all right now; have always
been unlucky. l have turned up vein
now, and all have to do is to coin the
money. If I had got this chance five
years ago, 1 should have been rich man
now"
ri don't believe much in it yet, Peter,
replied Mary, with very incredulou
smile.
"Why not, Nary" asked the enthu
siastic husband, apparently much hurt b.
the doubts of his more prudent partner.
81 have seen too many of these thing
before"
"What do you mean by that?"
Haven't you changed your business
half dozen times in as many years.
And each time You were confident you
fortune was already within your grasp.
"Well, | was simply mistaken in thes'
cases." answered Peter, who could no
deny that he had often before built stron;
hopes upon cherished schemes.
"May You not be mistaken in this in
stance?" suggested the lady.
ut is utterly impossible that in this
can be mistaken. l have figured up tn
affair Iwith the utmost care, and l an
dead sure am right this time"
"Well, l hope you are, Peter,."
Peter. chagrined at the incredulity Q
his wife, proceeded to demonstrate th
practicability of making a fortune out @
the agency he had accepted. l will nc
trouble the reader with the elaborate cal
A culation he made to convince Mrs. Pend
ant Of the feasibility Of the plan and tn
{ certainty of success.
IL have only reckoned what regar
as certain. / expect my income will b
very large, and then my fortune will /
made in short time"
"But suppose your income is not {
large as you expect"
!, II don't think you want to believe
Q my good fortune, Mary" replied Peter,
little vexed. ...
II am sure I do"
/, Then why don't you believe.
"Because think it a foolish calcul,
tion," said Mary.
"Foolish, Mary?"
Certainly. have heard you talk {
before. hope your calculation ms
D. prove correct" ...
ss "Well. wait, Mary. and you will fin
' that l am right.
81 hope shall. What are you goir
to do with your present situstion?"