The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-18
She was right. 1t was a servant.

She was right. 1t was servant.
"Here's a letter for you that the post
boy just brought, Miss Norris
ga letter for mel" repeated Helen
Morris, in surprise, taking it from the SER
wants hand. "WhO can have written to
me?"
"Maybe it's valentine, Miss said the
girl. laughing. You know this is VAL
entines day. More, by token, I've got
two myself this morning. Ones karak-
ter (caricature), so mistress calls it. Just
look at it,
Bridget exhibited highly embellished
pictorial representation of female hard
at work at the washtub, the cast of beauty
being decidedly Hibernisn.
Helen Morris laughed absently, but did
not open her letter while Bridget remained
"a little to the disappointment of the Gu =.
rious damsel
Helen slowly opened the envelope. a
banknote for ten dollars dropped from it
to the floor.
She eagerly read the few words on the
paper" From St. Valentine!
Heaven he praised! she said, folding
her hands gratefully. "This sum will
enable me to carry out the plan l had in
view.''
Eight years passed away. Eight years
with their lights and shadows, their joys
and SORROWS They brought with them the
merry voices of children-they brought
with them new-made graves-happiness to
some and grief to others
Towards the last they brought the great
commercial crisis of 81, when houses that
seemed built upon rock tottered all at
once to their fall. DO not many remem-
Der that time all too well, when merchants,
with anxious faces, ran from one to an
other to solicit help, and met only averced
faces and distrustful looks?
And how was it in that time of universal
famine with our friends-Stacy and Will
bur?
Up to 1857 they had been doing an ex-
cellent business. They had gradually en-
larged the sphere of their operations, and
were rapidly growing rich, when this crash
came.
They Immediately took in sail. Both
were prudent, and both felt that this YVES
the time when this quality was urgently
needed
By great efforts they had succeeded in
keeping up till the l 18th Of February, 1858.
On that morning note of two thousand
dollars came due. This was their last
peril That surmounted, they would be
able to go on with assured confidence.
But, alas this was the rock of which
they had the 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.
"Look out for number one superseded
the golden rule for the time being
As | have said, two thousand dollars
were due on the 1st of February
How much have you got towards it %
asked Wilbur, as Stacy came in at half
past eleven.
"Three hundred and seventy-tive dol
lars" was the dispirited reply.
"Was that all you could raise 2" in
qnired his partner, turing pale.
"All."
care you sure you thought of every
body?'
81 have been everywhere. I'm tagged
to DEATH" was the weary reply of Stacy,
as he sank exhausted into chair.
"Then the crash must come,' said Will
bur, with gloomy resignation.
81 suppose it must"
There was silence Neither felt in
c!ined to say anything. For six months
they had been struggling with the tide.
They could see shore, bat in sight of it
they must 60 down.
At this moment q note was brought III
by boy. There was no postmark. Evil
IDENTITY he was special messenger.
1t was opened at once by Mr.. Wilbur,
to whom it was directed. 1t contained
these few words only:
eff Mr.. John Wilbur will call imme-
diately at No. -, Fifth Avenue, he will
learn something to his great advantage. u
There was no signature
John Wilbur read it with surprise and
passed it to his partner.
"What does it mean, do you think ?"
~ don't KNOW" was the reply, "but
advise you to 60 at once"
=" 1t seems to be in feminine hand
writing" said Wilbur, thoughtfully.
Yes. Don't you know any lady on
Fifth Avenue?"
None"
Wen, it is worth noticing. We have
met with so little to our advantage lately,
that 1t will be refreshing variety"
In hve minutes John Wilbur jumped in
to horse car, and was on his way to No.
-, Fifth Avenue
He walked up to the door of maun;6.
cent brown stone house and rang the bell.
He was instantly admitted, and shown in.
to the drawing-room, superbly furnished
He did not have to wait long. An ele.
gantly dressed lady, scarcely thirty. en-.
tered, and bowling, said, "You do not re.
member me, Mr.. Wilbur"
! "No, madam" said he, in perplexity.