The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-04-08
MY UNCLE's CASHIER.

fMy dear Charles, it is a question for you
not for me-you must decide yourself; I car
only state the condition upon which that de-
cision must be founded, It you go1to college
you must go with very small allowance in
deed, and you must work for fellowship OF
some kind, and can leave you nothing, as you
know that, beyond a provision for your mother
and the unmarried girls, I shall leave nothing
behind me when go. IF you do go to col
lege, you will enter circle, the entering of
which will multiply ten-fold your chances of
success in after life; it will give you a posi-
ton in society of which nothing but bad con-
duct on your part can deprive you, and will
put you in the fair road to become what 1
should Ike to see you-a scholar and gen
tlenan. IF, on the other hand, you accept
youriuncle's offer, you will have far larger
allowance, as salary, than can give you un-
der any circumstances, the chance of succeed
ing him in very good business, and soon be-
coming man of importance in the CONNER
cial world. need say no more-you must
choose for yourself; shall want your answer
Tomorrow in time to post; go and think it
over. Don't say anything to your sisters, or
they'll pursuade you to go to Paris, for the
chance of visiting you there ae5 as25
Such was my fathers address to me at the
age of seventeen. It was difficult question
to decide-Oxford or Paris. Still I did de-
eide, and next day announced that decision
Il should prefer going to college, father, at
all events
sGlad to hear it, my boy though the other
course would have been cheaper for nae !; still
/ am glad to hear it. I can't do much for
you, but in sending you to college I can do
more than can in any other way. If there
is anything in you it will come out there; if
not, you will not be spoiled for other things
afterward 80 Gcd speed you my boy
5, To college therefore went, with only one
werd of advice from my father. As left
the gate in the nired chaise for the station, he
said !:
.God bless you, my boyi If you mean to
be any thing, don't hear midnight strike too
often.' ~
Three years passed, and I was getting on, ?
as my mother used to tell her friends in
few months more I had hopes of getting some
thing worth having in the shape of my degree
with honors and a fellowship. Alas my
hopes were vain. I had hardly returned to
college at the end of my third long vacation
when received telegram announcing nv
fathers illness, and reached home too late to
see him again alive. My college dreams were
over-I had not a penny in the world-I
must work for all was to have. 1F 3
My uncle now wrote to repeat his former
offer. I joyfully accepted it; and month
a1tCi AiJ idtucE uedIH was III L arlS..
2 My uncle's house was in one of the small
streets lying between Rue Viyienne aud the
Rue Mont NaItre, just north of the Bourse
1t was, as may be supposed from its situa-
ton, an old rambling pace, with the banking
Offices on one side Of. the court yard and the
residence on the other. The Offices, the scene
of my new duties, consisted of suit of three
rooms, communicating by swinging doors; in
the farthest sat my uncle, the next was the
chief cashiers or clerks, ard the third the
office proper. A counter stretched along the
whole length of the room, and on top Of the
sounteT ran a high, strong wire guard, = with
'wo or. three small circular openings, through
which money was passed and papers were fa- !
keD. Behind this guard I was to, sit as, third
cashier. or clerk. j.. Ny uncle's business was |
hat of banker, bill-discounter,,9 and money!
ender, and tojudge by the rate at which he |
iyed, he must for some years have employed
very large amount Of capital, or have lent