The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-09-01

seS eSssSs W yoes ysSS.s, ea~ ss'~S -
Icarian fight, from which you tumble
headlongw .-..-.-
The young merchant promised to gov.
err himself, and the counsellor took hi,
leave. .......1...
AS may readily be supposed, Sylvester
did not long continue in this undecided
frame Of mind. He found another coun
sellor. one who had just retired from bus
iness, and who had l.lenty Of money to in
vest in anything which promised to pay
well. Caleb Broker was his name
and it was about as proper in its signifi
cance as any name could be. To hin
then, our young merchant made known
his wishes and aspiration. Broke,
heard him through before making any an
swer. .. i...-.
"You'll have to do it, he then said
"in order too keep up with the times
Years ago it would do for man tc
keep on in the same careful track; bu,
times have changed now and we must
keep pace with them"
The result was that Caleb Broker
placed in the hands Of Sylvester Rodney
five thousand dollars, for which the latter
gave the required bords upon all his prop.
erty. Broker reasoned in this wise:
if the young man felt determined to en-.
large his business, he must have capital,
ank woul have it. Why not, then, sup.
ply him, and take the risk? If the bus.
mess proved successful, it would be good
investment Z; if otherwise, he should keep
sharp lookout for his money.
The proposed alterations were made |;
the FIVE thousand soon invested, Sylves.
ter wondered where it all lay whe he once
more threw open his store, for the figures
seemed immensely larger than the increase
in his business. Yet he was surely upon
the right track now, and he must wait for
good results.
One year passed quickly away. To
young Rodney it seemed TO fly, so rapid
was the passage Of months and weeks.
Yet his prospects were no better than one
year before-all in all, he believed not
so good. The increasing style Of the store
rendered additional expenses necessary at
the house. New furniture must be pro.
cured, aud when this was done, the old
carpets looked so faded and out Of place
One Improvement suggested another and
rendered necessary the thire, till not on
ly were the profits from trade consumed,
but numerous heavy bill run up on credit,
which would require to be met sooner or
later. I Still tho young merchant
did not feel any especial alarm, for he
was too wholly wrapped in the present to
contemplate the future. Thus it was
that Mr.. Broker found him at the end Of
the year, when he call for the interest up
on that money. ut was no matter" he
said, with apparent kindness. I" 1t could
be paid or not; the first year was always
the hardest, and. If not convenient. II
could run on. drawing compound interest
until the next year." ts. 80.
This was kindness indeed SO thought
Sylvester. aud after stating the many
causes which had rendered the first year
unpromising, he accepted the lenicncy OF
his creditor. .l'
A second year passed. The bills con.
tracted before had fallen due. new i'm.
provcmepts and new outlays became ne.
cessary. Sickness in the family was add
cd to other misfortuncs, and when two
years had elapsed, he was in the same
condition as before. Mr.. Broker called
with the note, but Sylvester had no mon
ey. His bank account was nearly drawn,
and he could not raise Fifty dollars. dc
represented his affairs to Broker, and
with many misgiviDgs. for he had really
hoped to see the young man prosper, the
capitalist consented to wait one more
year. '"..' .... OBJ
This tine Sylvester bent his energies
to the task, and he succeeded in a meas
ure. But he had no idea Of the gigantic
nature Of the task. This was needed.
that must be done, all requiring an out.
lay Of "cash." Goods must be purchased
aud the stock kept up, else surely all his
efforts were vain. Yet his stock in tho
hank gradually Increased, and when the
important day arrived he had about fvo
hundred dollars in store. This he would
pay in. and surely Broker would wait q
short time for the balance sl4 .Fa.
The day came, and with it Caleb Bro.
ker. i' 'eI
al hope You find It convenient to
nay of the interest Of those notes TO.
day." he said. blandly. sr,I iys. : ..
"I think can nearly pay it." was
the answer. and I hope you will be
willing to await the balance for a. few
days"
Oh, certainly anything for accom-.
mediation, il il is not too great" to
"Have you the amount OF the inter
est ?" = .I. 'a 81. l. ''3.,-. 3., ,,.,, Z,
"For three years. I suppose You
mean?" ?" vore.-t sti ie#5 g.-i5t |
b "lCertainly {! ucl.fD s,a,lo.E. ia -.
b "One thousand. one hundred and
twenty-five dollars and twenty-five
cents" -. - t..J -.-..t. =.
"Impossible. It cannot bc SO much"
said tho young merchant with n
start III.
) But here are the figures" returned
Broker, quietly. "The interest on i've
thousand Tor one year. Mt seven per
cent. is threo hundred and fifty dollars.
Add this To the principla, and the IN.
7. n = IL. Ixsx