Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-08
his life: 40 Luev says. They would break


sential to his health-but they have five
little children, and I'll their dependence is
on Mr.. Cline's saisry. The change on
which his life depends they cannot make.
Their case is very hard one, and | have
been very sad over it ever since l saw
Lucy
l made no response, and Mrs. Gold
smith said nothing ferther on the subject
| felt uncomfortable. I am not cruel: oply
little hard, at times, in exacting nv own,
and not always as considerate toward the
unfortunate as genuine humanity would
prompt. The fact is, | can never put
clearly out of my mind suspicion of
wrong when | do not get my own. Ipa7
every body honestly, and expect everybod
to pay me honestly. Failing to receive
what is justly my due, lapse into the i'm
preston that wrong is intended, which
often induces line of conduct that nv
feelings cannot afterwards approve. That
it was so in the present case need not af.
firm. | saw things under certain relations.
The morning rides On horseback had been
to MIR. Cline as essential as food. They
made au item of cost in his living that
could no more be dispensed with safely
than the item for meat or bread. Taking
my Constitution ard state of health. horse
back riding might be INDUCED in or dis.
pensed with, andtonly slight differences of
loss and gain appear. This contrast in the
two cases, now so clearly seen, troubled
me not little.
But as bad not seized Mr.. Chne's horse
only made it necessary for him to part
with the animal TO prevent my selling it
under eXecution-I could not see the Way
clear in any act looking to the restoration
Oh state of things which my unfortunate
proceeding bad disturbed. So pushed
the matter resolutely aside. But the con-
sequences OF our acts continually witness
; against Us, had done wrong; and the
/ wrong lifted its hands and cried ont.
1t so happened now that l met Mr..
Cline, on my way TO and from business,
almost every day. We seemed to have
adopted the same hour for dining, and to
occupy about the same time at our meals.
10 get rid OF this pale, rebuking face, and
his large bright eyes, that seemed to look
at me accusingly, | altered my dinner
time, so that it might come half an hour
later.
| The sound of hoofs were in the street
one morning at halt-past six O'Clock. |
"
stance could have given me more pleasure
than the sight Of Mr.. Cline on horseback.
He might have ridden the gayest animal
In town without annoyance to me. But
the pale clerk was not out for an airing.
turned from the window with a sigh,
thinking OF his wasting form and his five
little children.
Il will make him the present of a
horse !" said l, under the impulse of
troubled feelings. And | turned this has
thy formed purpose over in my thoughts,
but soon dismissed it as out of the cues.
ton. OF course he would not accept
horse from me. Why should he9
That young man of yours has bad
cough" said |, listening toward the count
ing room, from which c.me the sound
that arrested my attention. l had called
upon merchant for the transaction of
some business.
YES he answered, with a slight
change of manner "a cough that will
soon take him to his grave, poor fellow |"
Our business conversation was then re-
sumed
Dreadful" could not help ejaculat-
ing, as another paroxysm of coughing
seized the clerk.
at is very painful" said the merchant,
showing nearly IS much annoyance as
sympathy. The fact is, he is not fit 10
work, and ought to be at home instead of
in the counting room. I've intimated as
much several times but he will come,
day after day, and tie himself down to
the desk, though it is killing him."
Has he a family % l asked.
Yes wife and five children" replied
the merchant.
ooh dear That is bad"
"Yes hard case enough, and I'm very
sorry for him. It's Mr.. Cline, lately in the
firm of Pettis, James & Co. He had a few
thousand dollars left him by an aunt, and
Pettis and James took him in for the sake
of lis capital, which was lost in year or
two. He is a kigh-toned, honorable man,
and the failure hurt him a great deal more
than the loss OF his money fer it was
bad failure, IS you are aware. Well, you
see, after he was thrown out | gave him a
place in my counting room. But con-
tinement at the desk soon began to break
him down, and his doctor SAID that he
must ride on horseback every morning.
He made some demur, on the ground of
his condition as debtor, and said that it
would subject him to untavorable iudg-
ment In The minds of certain people. [
joined with the doctor, who is my own
physician, III overriding that view of the
case, and went so tar as to advance money
to purchase horse. The morning rides
worked to a charm. He gained in flesh,
and went through his counting house la
bors without further apparent detriment to
health. But this was not to last. A keen
sighted creditor of Petts, James & Co.,
discovered that he was keeping fast
horse and enjoying himself at his expense;
SO be bounced on him in order to get the
horse. The poor fellow broke down at
this, sold the animal, and returned the ad-
vance | had made. / offered to buy it
back, and hold it as my own, he simply to
pay the stable keeper's bill, and use the
animal as before. To this he would not
consent. 1t will only subject me to mis-
understanding and annoyance.' he replied.
will walk in the mornings; that will
keep me up But the walks exhausted
instead of invigorating him. He's been
running down very rapidly ever since, and
is past all hope, fear, of benefit from
medicine, exercise, or change. It's o hard
case; and there are many more as hard.
This pressing the unfortunate to the wall is
cru process, Mr.. Goldsmith, and often
entails great wrongs and sufferings. Bet.
ter let two rogues escape than crush the
lie out OF an honest man lying helpless at
your feet"
|. answered nothing. Then ensued a
pause then l went back to business, and
finishing that, retired. In all the CITY there
was ScSrCeIy a more unhappy man