Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-07-21

shook the window and found its way through
the crevices. 's
Poor child Life had very black aspect
for her on that winter day. She was alone
| IN the world. There was absolutely no one
on whom she could call for assistance
though she needed it sorely enough The
thought came to her more than once in her
discomfort sis it worth while living any
longer9" But she recoiled from the sin of
suicide. She might starve to DEATH but she
would not take the life that God had given
her.
Plunged in gloomy thought, she contin-
ued to work. All at once step was heard
ascending the staircase which led to her
room Then there was a knock at the door.
She arose in some surprise and opened it,
thinking it must be the landlady or one of
the servants.
She was right. 1t was a servant.
"Hcre's letter for you, that the post. boy
just brought, Miss Morris"
"a letter for me!' repeated Helen Nor
ris, in surprise, taking it from the servant.
"wbo can have written to me !"
"Maybe it's Valentine, Miss" said the
girl, laughing. "You know this is Valen-
tines day. More by token, I've got two
myself this morning. Ones karektcr
(caricature) so mistress calls it. Just look
at it."
Bridget displayed highly embellished
pictorial representation of a female hard at
work at the wash tub, the cast of beauty be-
ing decidedly Iihernian.
Helen Morris laughed absently, but did
not open her letter while Bridget remained,
a little to the disappointment of that curious
damsel.
Helen slowly opened the envelope. A
bank note for ten dollars dropped from it to
the floor
She eagerly read the few words on the
paper From st. Valentine"
"Hcaven be praised :" she said, folding
her hands gratefully. "This sum will ena-
bic me to carry out the plan which had in
view
Eight years passed away. Eight years
with their lights and shadows, .heir Joys and
sorrows. They brought with them the mer-
ry 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 '57-when houses that
seemed built upon rock, tottered all at once
to their fall. Do not many remember that
fall 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 panic, with our friends-Stacy &
Wilbur?
Up to 1857 they had been doing an excel
lent business. They had gradually enlarged
their operations, and were rapidly growing
rich, when the crash came.
They Immediately took in sail. Both were
prudent, and both felt that now was the
time when this quality was urgently need
ed.
BY great efforts they had succeeded in
keeping up till the 18th of February, 1858
On that morning note oftwo thousand dol
lars came due. This was their last peril.
That surmounted, they would be able to go
on with assured confidence. .0
But this, alas, was the rock on which they
had most apprehension. They haG 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
of them.
Look out for number one" superseded
the golden rule .or the time being
AS have said, two thousand dollars were
due on the 14th of February
"How much have you got toward it Z"
asked Wilbur, as Stacy came in at half-past
eleven.
Three hundred and seventy-fv dollars"
was the dispirited reply.
WAS that all you could raise ~ inquired
his partner, turning pale "Are you sure
you thought of eyerybody9"
I've been everywhere | am tagged to
DEATH" was the weary reply of Stacy, as he
sank exhausted into chair.
tThpn tha crocb ,n,,ut cop,o Nco;J NV;IIrr
with gloomy resignation.
IL suppose it must"
There was silence. Neither felt inclin-
eG to say anything. For six months they
had been struggling with the tide. They
could see the shore, but in sight of it they
must go down.
At this moment a note was brought in by
a boy. There was no postmark. Evidently
he was special messenger.
1t was opened at once by Mr.. Wilbur, to
whom it was directed. 1t contained these
few words only:
'lf Mr.. John Wilbur will cali immediate
ly at No.-Fifth Avenue, he will learn
something to his great advantage"
John Wilbur read it with surprise, and
passed it to his partner. "What does it
mean, do you think 7"
81 don't know" was the reply, shut ad-
wise you to go at once"
1T seems to be in feminine handwnting,n
said Wilbur, thoughtfully.
"Yes. Don't you know any lady on Fifth
Avenue 2"
"None."
swell, it is worth noticing. We have
met with so little to our advantage lately,
that it will be a refreshing variety"
In five minutes John Wilbur jumped into
horse car, an9 was on his way to No.
Fifth Avenue
He walked up to the door of magnifi-
cent brown stone house and rang the bell.
.lIe was instantly admitted, and shown into
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" sald he, in perplexity.
"We will waive that, then, and proceed
to business. How has your house borne the
crisis in which so many of our large firms
have gone down Z"
john Wilbur smiled bitterly.
I'VE have struggled successfully until to-
day." he answered., "But the end has come.
Unless we can raise a certain sum of money
by two o'clock, we are ruined" "'sa
"What sum will save you 2" was the latiy,s