Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-02-25
lose his custom some day or other. /"

| p"'N ~ biS bC" tiduCouoh lc ODtalI
ed an abatement of one dollar an
ninety cents, odd money, but actual
paid three dollars more than was inst
ly due. Still, he was very we'll salts
fled, imagining that he had made
saving of one dollar and ninety cents
The not over.scrupulous tradesma,
laughed in his sleeve and kept hi
| customer. Ia. ..
Having withdrawn bis supper
from Leonard, it was the candid opin
ion of Mr.. Baker that he was going
to the dogs" as he expressed it, abou
as fast as man could go. He Otter
passed his shop and rarely saw q Gus
toner. ... :.
No WONDER be would say to him
self. A man like him can't expec
and don't deserve custom"
In the eyes of Baker, the very gras.
seemed to grow upon the pavement
before the door Of the declining trades
man. Dust settled thickly in his win
dows, and the old sign turned grave,
aud grayer in the bleaching air.
" Going to the dogs, and no won
der" Baker would say as he went by
He appeared to take strange inter
est in watching the gradual decay ot
the mechanics fortunes. One day a
mercantile friend said to him
" Do you know anything of this
Leonard ?"
Why 7" asked Baker.
4" Because he wants to make a pret-
ty large bill with me-"
"On tiilc Z" ...
Yes, on the usual credit of sis
months"
Don't sell him. Why, the man is
going to the dogs at a railroad speed.
d" Indeed !" ... .....
=" Yes. I'm looking every day tc
see him close up. lie might have
done well, for he understood his bust.
ness. But he's so unaccommodating
and | might say insulting to his GUS
toners, that he drives the best ones
he has away. | used TO make la rye
bills with him, but have not dealt at
his shop now for some time"
"Ah | was not aware of that.
am glad | spoke to you, for | shouldn't
like TO use six or seven hundred dol.
lars"
" Six or seven hundred dollars Is
it possible that he wants to buy So
recklcssly? Take my advice and do
not think of trusting him"
When Leonard ordered the goods
the merchant declined selling, except
for cash
AS you please" returned the me-
chanic, indifferently, and went else
where and made his purchase.
1t happened that Mr.. Leonard had a
very pretty and very interesting
daughter, on whose education the me-
chanic had bestowed great pains and
it also happened that Baker had a son
who in most things was I" chip out
of the old block" Particularly was
he like his father in his great love of
money and he had scarcely reached
his majority ere he began to look
about him with careful eye to a good
matrimonial arrangement, by which
plenty of money would be secured.
Adelaide Leonard, on account of her
beauty and accomplishments, was
much carressed, and mingled freely
in society. Young Baker had met her
frequently, and could not help being
struck with her beauty, intelligence
and grace ..
There's chance for you," said a
friend to him, one evening.
:" In Miss Leonard 2" 4
Yes" Fta
"She is charming girl" replied
the young man, ~ wonder if her ia
ther is worth anything 2. E
" People say So" ...
Indeed |" ~
" Yes. They say the old fellow has
laid up something quite handsome ;
aud as Adelaide is his only child, she
will of course get it ALL" st..
% | was not aware of that"
"lt's all so | believe"
After this, young Baker was exceed.
ingly attentive to Miss Leonard, and
made perceptible inroads upon her
heart. He even went SO far as to Wis.,
it pretty regularly at her fathers
house, and was meditating an avow-
al of his attachment, when his father
said to him one day:
What young lady was that | saw
with you on the street yesterday af'
ternoon ~ ......
Her name is Leonard"
"The daughter Of old Leonard in
- street 7"
Yes, sir"
Mr.. Baker looked grave and SHOOK
his head. -
"Do you know anything about her ? ,
asked the son. a ....a
Nothing abont her, but l know
that her father is going to the dogs
as fast as ever man went" gs
Indeed ! thought he was very
well off,"
"Oh, no rve been looking to sc,
his shop shut up, or to hear Of his be
ing sold out by the sheriff, every day
for these two years past"
Miss Leonard is q very lovel
girl"
She is the daughter of poor, vul
gar mechanic. 1t you see anything
lovely in that. Henry. you have !
strange TASTE" aaala
"There is no gainsaying Adelaide
personal attractions" replied the son
"but if her father is in the condition
you alledge. that settles the matte
as far as she and l are concerned
| am glad you introduced the subject
for l might have committed myself
and, when too late, discovered my ell
ror."
"And q sad error, it would hav
been, Henry. In any future matte
of this kind, | hope you will be pei
fectly frank with me. l have niue
more accurate knowledge of the COZ
dition and standing of people tha
you can possibly have.'
! Tho son promised to do as the +;