Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-12-31
MY Fair Weather Friend.
THE NARRATIVE OF a SENSITIVE MAN.
BY JEREMIAH cYNGco.

Yes, sir, said Mr.. finder, the Sensitive
Man, yes, sir, valued John Perley'
friendship above all things on this earth,
until adversely taught me to suspect even
Ei,a of coldness-Of ingratitude,'
The Sensitive Man paused and gazed
ssiyAsely at the door-knob of the opposite
state-room, as il he had serious thoughts
of wrenching that useful appendage from
its proper position. We were travelling
together from St. Louis TO Cincinnati, on
The steamer Ohio, occupying the same
state-room, and naturally soon became ac-
ouainted. Mr.. Tinder appeared troubled
in mind, and /, being OF rather nquisl-
tive turn and good listener, m managed
TO draw him into the narration above COM
meneed He was so long engaged in his
severe contemplation of the door knob,
that began TO believe that he would not
get any further in his story than the be-
ginning, and so / stirred him up by echo
ing his last words
'Of ingratitude?' tt
Yes he replied, Withdrawing his eyes
from thedoor knob and deYoting his at
teution to the coal l-scuttle-'of ingratitude
Of base ingratitude.' Then relapsed in
to a reyerie and more strict examination
of the coal-scuttle.
Seeing that Mr.. Tinder was rapidly los
ing consciousness of surrounding objects,
ana fearing that he would leave my curl
osity unsatisfed, stuck my foot into the
coal-scuttle and asked
How so?'
'O, excuse me- said the Sensitive Man
lam somewhat tabsent-minded tonight
AS l was saying, in the day of misfortune
! learned 10 suspect even my ola Trend
John Perley, of coldness, deception and
ingratitude." Then my companion con
tinued more .briskly. You see, sir, John
/ Is friead of over twenty years standing
fondly imagined that1h his nature wa:
made up of every noble essential that be
longs TO man. gave him his start in bu
lsiness, and he is now wealthy. To be sure
he paid me back every copper had ad
ivanced him; but what of that? He still
owed me debt of gratitude-didh't he!
I nodded. 'r., -:
fUf coarse-of course; YET II Is egotlstI
cal in me to say so. / know you think il
is. I think so too. Well, well, its natu
raj enough, sir, TO recpr TO such things
particularly when your friend makes a
Shabby return for all your Kindness
And did your friend do so?' ! asked,
! 5.Well, sir, as you appear to be of an in
ouiring mind and somewhat interested il
the matter'-and Mr.. Tinder looked al
me askant as he said this-1 will tell you
all about it. You can then Judge for your
self if have not good and sufficient rea
sons for regarding John Perley in the light
of a fair weather friend.
| hitched up my chair closer to my com
municative companion, and caught every
word as he proceeded:
AT one time John and were partner.
in business at St. Louis, where Istill re
side. He began with no other capita
than his business qualifications, which
were of the most remarkable kind. Thai
man, sir, after we went in together, seem
ed to possess ten philosophers stones, fol
everything he touched was sure to turI
into gold He had happy knack of pur
chasing articles at precisely the right time
and OF selling them again in the shortes
period at the most remuneratlve prices
/ neTer met with so successful u trader IL
my life, and don't believe anybody els'
ever did. Why, sir, | have known hin
to buy oats at so much per bag, and after
wards TO sell the bags dtoHe for what TIT
whole lot of oats cost US; and then he dis
posed of the oats en- plaSse, at a clear prof
of five hundred per centuml~ Did yoI
ever before hear of the like of that, sir!''
Never | replied, with great emphasis
During the five years Of our partner
ship. resumed Mr. Tinder, our busines
ouadrupled. Previous TO that time, haC
been logging alone making money, to b
sure-surely but slowly. With Jacks ait
| however, our balance sheet, each year, eX
hibiten such fair figures that ] began (,
think of retiring from business 'altogeth
er. But you know how it is, young man
a miner, digging into a hole containing
the precious metal, is notapt TO relinquisl
his pick-axe so long IS every stroke b
makes brings up big lump So / KEEP
on, piling up the money, whilst luck,
Jack did the digging Mr.. Gynggo, hoy
often have | wished that possessed hal
the business ca pacity of John PerleyH
The Sensitive Man here made anothe
4 pause, and commenced a scrutiny of tn
chandelier that hung over our heads.
waited patiently until he had eontempla
ted that ornament to his satisfaction
4 Then he continued:
You may, therefore, conceive my sur
prise and modification, when, at the ex
! piration of our term of co-partnership
Jack came to me and proposed dissoIu
ton! At first | didn't know what to max
of it. After having done what had 70
him, these egotistieal notions aoiH obtrud
themselves, you know, upon our privat,
thoughts, latter having given him hi
start in the world, it grated roughly upol
my feelings to see him desire to break oi
iour business connection when his service
were SO necessary to the success OF our bu
siness. 1t struck me that his object Il
| leaving the firm was selfish one; although
upon considering the matter over in m!
own mind, / don't know but that, afte
all, my motive in wishing him to continu'
with me, were the more selfish of the two
Don't yOlt think sp?'r -,..~TF e.
I I nodded. i -
| You do, -eh?' said the Sensitive Man
looking sharply at me, and twitching un
easily in his chair. Well, sir, it was ma
suraE that should fare up about it, wasn'
it? And did flare up about it. Made
jackanapes of myself, too, expect; don
YOU think | did!'
/ / ventured TO answer, 'perhaps,' no
knowing precisely the mOdgs operahd b
which he could effect such transmits
ton as that alluded to. JOBS. =
'Yes. SIR resumed Mr.. finder, 4 flare
up. John Perley turned red in the face
and merely replied, Tom (my name
Thomas Tinder, SIR Tom, you misundel
stand me, altogether. Knowing your sen
sitiye nature, was actually afraid to men
ton the subject to you. Bat did no
anticipate that you would regard my me
l fir,os in this Erhf I home Won will be