Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-08-24
MoraI TaI..
The Norlands.
By HARRIET W. sTILLMAN.

lau, ealu MRS. NOTldn0, as her huS-
band took his accustomed seat at the
supper-table. Has anything gone
wrong to-day IN.
"Yes; all has gone wrong with
our business, Carrie"
!, Never mind. Don't look 80 bro
ken-hearted about it. Come, cheer np
The cloud will pass over, and the sun
shine out bright again. Do not be
disheartened."
| Mr.. Norland did not reply. He
took mechanically y the cup of fragrant.
steaming tea which his wife handed
him, set it down without looking at
it or tasting it, and, bending over tho
table, hid his face in his hands. His
sudden emotion must have been VIC.
lent, for his strong frame trembled so
that the table visibly shook.
William, something terrible must
be the matter with you. What ia il 3n
inquired Mrs. Norland, going round
to her husbands side and laying her
hand gently upon bis head. "TeIl
me, dear husband, what great trouble
has fallen upon YOU"
Mr.. Norland struggled silently for
few moments with the emotion that
had 30 suddenly overpowered him !:
then he lifted his head saying "Car.
rie, wife, have mastered it. lam
myself again, Eunice," be added. turn
ing to the servant in waiting, "you
can 60 to the kitchen and stay until
we ring for you. Where are the chill.
dren. Carrie Z"
katie and Charlie have gone 10
take baby airing in his carriage. They
will be here soon but / would not
wait supper for them, because knew
you were tired and hungry"
Now, Carrie--there will be no BET.
ter time-sit here close by me and let
me look into your eyes while | tell
you all. 1t cannot be long kept from
You and it is better that l should
tell you than some heartless, falsely.
styled friend, who will perhaps rejoice
to fling your misfortunes in your face.
This is the bitter news-Thomas and
myself are ruined. We hare failed.y
"Oh. William, it cannot be ?v
" 1t IS" said Mr.. Norland, soIemnly.
my Carrie, how will you bear this
sudden sorrow? If l were alone l
could harden my heart to it but it is
thinking of you and the children, of
the tarnished name, Of the deem dis.
grace that l must bring upon them
and you, which has 80 unnamed me.n
"Tarnished name! disgrace What
are you saying, William ?"
Men fail in these days to make
money, Carrie and because wicked
men do thus, honorable men who are
thrown down by their fall share their
shame, and are said to act from the
same base motives. The great firm
Of Pinch 4 Snap has failed for Eve
hundred thousand dollars. Their fail
ure has ruined us. The very best
Thomas and can do if we keen our
homes-and that we must do. for our
families must have a roof to shelter
them-will be to pay twenty five cents
on dollar. We must retain our
dwellings, for we mast have a place
to live in; but 1t will be impossible
to keep up our former style of living.n
"We can greatly reduce our ex.
penses, William. We can part with
many articles of luxury, and we will
keep no servants"
THAT will be hard for you, Carrie,
"But | can do without servants.
and will"
Then they shall be dismissed i'm
mediately."
Yes, We will economic in every
possible way. | know that you can
redeem your name"
We could get started in business
again. But we shall have nothing
left to begin anew with"
Some way will open, William. I
feel sure of it. Your purposes are
honorable. and you will yet have a
chance to prove it to the world
Shame and disgrace !! Who shall dare
to couple such words with the name
OF Norland ?" Mrs. Norland's usual.
ly mild black eyes now flashed indig-
nant fame.
Many hare dared to do il already.
As | turned corner on the way home
tonight, | heard Mr.. Dennis say. with
an oath, that Tom aud Bill Norland
were rascally knaves, and a crowd of
bystanders cried hear hear i and
that's SO >"
what vile slander What un-
charitable people II
Such things will be said, Carrie.
and We can neither stop them nor
avenge them. All We can do is to
bear them"
But you and Thomas have not fail.
ed in order to cheat your creditors.
You are poor men. 1t is cruel and
unjust to call you mean and dishonor.
able"
"We cannot help it. If We can
ever succeed in business again, we
may prove to the slanderous world
how honorable have been our inten-
tions. But how we are to start anew
when all is taken from us, that is q
question for which l find no answer :"
can give you one," cried pleas
ant voice from the dining-room door.
"Oh, mother I" exclaimed William
and Carrie Norland, springing for
ward to meet the widow Norland, who
had entered unnoticed. and had been
standing in the door unwilling to
break in upon their sorrowful tae-a-tsse.
|, " | can give you an answer, my
children. ! have just talked it al
over with Thomas. l have enough
property of my own to set you up in
! hs.,
trouble to heart, children. l can
help you out Of it,"
You must not, mother. II will be
too great risk for you. If We lose
again"