Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-03-01
avail. annnosr Won are lo

Mr.. Fleetwood showed little irritation.
IL wouldn't put on sad face about it,
and talk of giving up. just so long as my
ship was off the breakers, I'd keep her off
If strong hands and skill in navigation
we're of any avail. I'd look right away
from the seething danger, out into the
clear sea, and head that way. I'd take
counsel of hope-not of despair"
"It's easy to talk, said Mr.. Fleetwood
"Easier than to work, know. But that
dosen't take away the obligation to work.
If all men sat down in dependency at
the sight of difficulties, who could accom-
plish anything in the world?"
III cant stand up under the blow, and
its no use for me to try. Every man
knows his own strength; and | know
mine," said the despondent merchant.
"That's just where you are in error
Every man dosen't know his own strength
as you, for instance, don't know yours.
If the oak didn't react on the tempest, it
would go crashing down at the first strong
shock. 1t is in trial and difficulty that
true power is developed. You may need
just the discipline this trial will afford, to
give hardness and enduring strength for
some after effort in which large success is
involved"
"You don't know anything about it, I"
replied Mr.. Fleetwood, gloomily.
II can tell you what do know" said
the friendly merchant, in a tone of reproof.
"Say on, was the half dogged response.
"That you are even now ueglecting one
the means of extrication which Providence
has brought to your hands"
"You speak positively"
| because / know what am saying
Here you sit in idle dependency, while
your store is full of customers, who are
trusted to clerks, not one OF them half as
competent to sell as you are. saw two
good cash buyers from the country as
came in, and I'll warrant sale Of two or
three hundred to each if you take them in
hand yourself. If you do not, their pur-
chases may not reach fifty dollars Is this
the way to take care Of your own interests
and the interests of your creditors
think not. Look at the bright, hopeful
side, Mr.. Fleetwood. Be up and doing
OF all times in mans life, the time oi
difficulty is the one in which he should be
most active and efficient"
On this hint Mr. Fleetwood left his desk
and went in among the customers who had
come to his store. The friendly merchant
who had called to help him, if that were
possible, took newspaper ard sat down tc
await the result of the first effort of Mr.
Fleetwood to move in the right direction
He waited for over an hour before he wa!
disengaged. By the expression Of hit
countenance, as he came back to whore h,
was sitting, the friend saw that Mr.. Fleet
wood was in better state of mind.
"Did you sell them anything2" he asked
eyes"
"How much?"
!, "Between two and three hundred to one
and over four hundred to the other
The tone of voice and expression Of Mr.
9 Fleetwood's face were altogether changed
"Cash3p
eyes"
$50 much towards making pu your los
by Hartley's failure"
Mr.. Fleetwood's countenance fell in
stautly, and he replied
"The profit on these sales is only dro
in the bucket A hundred dollars, or
hundred and fifty at most, bear no hope
full relation to fifteen thousand"
= "See here, friend Fleetwood" said tn
u merchant, laying his hand on his arm, an
i, speaking earnestly, "if you are wise ma
. you will look to the daylight side of tn
9 sky. Turn your eyes away from that par
=. of tho horizon where the sun went down
y and fix them on the East. You'll see tn
= dawn uplifting already"
= !. "But I'm not worth fifteen thousan
u dollars, all told"
"Pshawl Don't look in that direction
u so determinately. Fifteen thousand, re
member, is your demand against assets
. Now, suppose they only reach Fifty cent
u on the dollar, which is very low, your los
sinks to seven thousand five hundred q
once. If they should be seventy five cents
which is more likely, your loss will be uu
der four thousand dollars. Now, are yo
ready to go into bankruptcy-be throw
on your back, with little chance Of eve
getting on your feet again-because of
=. loss like this?"
% "But you forget, my friend" answere
Mr.. Fleetwood, "that | shall have to foC
- up the whole of this large sum as the not'
= mature, and wait for six months, or a yes
perhaps, for my dividend Now, it is sin
ply impossible for me to do that. can
- add fifteen thousand to my payments
- the next four months, and go through. I'll
y position is hopeless"
T. at certainly will be if you so give it ou
,e Tell everybody that you can't get througI
,e and the thing is settled. But, resolve
st go through, if energy, wise forecast an
m persistence will carry you to safe resul
r and the chances are ten to one in your Fl
a. vor All men fall, at some time in life, il
90 to positions of eAminent danger, so
fe speak. But only the brave, resolutc one
I who fix their eyes on the light and tai
courage, pass the difficulty unhurt. Ia
). me ask question Who knows the el
~ tent to which you are involved with Har
~ lev2u