Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-02

Work at the WasntuD, the cast OF Deauty De
ing decidedly Hibernian.
Helen Morris laughad absently, but did
not open her letter while Bridget remained
"a little to the disappointment Of the curl
Gus dansel.
Helen slowly opened the envelope. A
bank note Of cen dollars dropped from it Ia
the floor
She eagerly read the few words on the
paper-''from ST. Valentine"
"Heaven be praised!'' she said folding
her hands gratefully. "This sum will cna.
ble me to carry out the plan / had in view.
Eight years passed away. Eight years
withthsir lights and shndowss their joys afld
sorrows. They brought with them the MGR
ry voices of little cbildren-they brought
with them new made graves happiness to
some and grief to others.
Towards the last they brought the great
commercial crisis OF 1867, when houses that
seemed built on rock tettsred all at once
to their fall. DO not many remember that
time all too well, when merchants, with
anxious faces, ran from one to another to
solicit help, and met only averted faces and
distrustful looks?
And how was it in that time Of universal
famine with our friends-Stacy & Wilbur?
Up to 1857 they had been doing an excel
lent business They had gradually enlarg-
ed the sphere of their operations, and were
rapidly growing rich, when the crash came
They Immediately took in sail. Both
were prudent, and both felt that this was
the time when this quality was urgently
needed.
BY great effort they had succeeded in
keeping up till the l4th Of February, 1858.
On that morning note of two thousand
dollars came due. This was their last per.
ii. That surmountcd they would be able to
go on with assured confidence.
But alasl this was the rock of which they
had most apprehension. They had taxed
their resources to the utmost. They had
called upon their friends, but their friends
were employed in taking care of themselves,
and the selfish policy was the one required
then. ........ .....,.. .'t
Look out for number one" superseded
the golden rule for the time being.
How much have you got towards it?'
asked Wilbur, us Stacy came in at half past
eleven. s... .-
Three hundred and seventy-fYe dollars, +"
was the dispirited reply.
WAS that all you could raise2" inquired
his partner, turning pale.
"All"
Are you sure you thought ofevercbody
81 have been everywhere I'm tagged
to death" was the weary reply of Stacy, as
he sank exhausted into a chair"
Then the blow must come" said Wilbur
with gloomy resignation.
" suppose it must" a-
There was silence. Neither felt inclin-
ed to say anything. For six months they
had been struggling with the tide. They
could see shore, but in the sight of it they
must go down. ..... ..,.. -. .-.'.
AT this moment a note was brought in by
a boy There was no postmark. Evident
ly he was special messenger.
1t was opened at once by Mr. Wilbur, to
whom it was directed 1t contained these
words only:
IF Mr. John Wilbur will call immedi.
ately at No. -, Fifth Avenue, he will learn
something to his great advantage"
There was no signature.
John Wilbur read it with surprise and
passed tito his partner. What does it
mean do You think?"
t"l don't know, was the reply, 'but ad-
wise you to 90 at once"
1T seems to be in feminine hand wri-
ting" said Wilbur thoughtully.
Yes. Don't you know any lady on
tl1tn .AVenueI
None"
"Well, it is worth noticing. We have
met with so little to our advantage lately,
that it will be refreshing variety"
In five minutes Wilbur jumped into
horse-car, and was on hi. way to Fifth Av-
enuo.
He walked up to the door of a magnii-
cent brown stone house, and rang the bell
III ntl,y a1,a;ttal nj lcho
the drawing room, superbly furnished.
He did not have to wait long. An ele-
gantly dressed lady, scarcely thirty entered,
and bowing, said, You do not remember
me, Mr.. Wilbur" -
No, madam" said he, in perplexity.
1--WE will waive that then, and proceed to
business. How has your house borne the
crisis in which 50 many Of our large firms
have gone DOWN. ..r
John Wilbur smiled bitterly
I'VE have struggled successfully till to-
day." he answered But the end has
come. Unless we can raise certain sum of
money by two O'Clock, we are ruined.
What sum will save your" asked the
lady. , ....
"'rhe note duo is two thousand dollars -
Towards this We have but three hundred
and seventy-fve." .l...F..|. ... ru'
Excuse the a moment" said his hostess.
She lett the room but quickly retured.
There" said she, handing small stip
of paper to John Wilbur. ''ism my check for
two thousand dollars, You can pay it at
your convenience. If you should require
more come to me again"
Madam, you have saved u.s." exclaimed
Wilbur, springng to his feet in delight
"What can have inspired in you such
benevolent interest in our prosperity"
''Do you remember. Mr.. Wilbur said
the lady, "a certain valentine, eontaininga
ten dollar note, which you sent to young
girl occupying an attic room in your lodging
house eight years since?" =
II do, distinctly. have often wondered
what became of the voting girl. l think
her name Sas Helen Morris" o - 4..it H..i
She stands before you, was the quiet
response. - on. Al ,...i'si
starting back in amazenent, s'You, sun
rounded with luxuryP" Iloi iloii
''No wonder you are surprised. Life has
strange contrasts. The money which you
sent seemed to nae to come from God.
was on. the brink Of despair With it
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