Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-19
srItfl TaItg.
rllE BANKRUprs WIFE.

envy al the tenants of the splendid warehouses in
our great commercial cities. Busy porters roll or
lit packages Of goods in and out; clerks hustle
round with pens behind their ears principals seem
eisurey to overlook the transactions which are ac-
cumuating for them mines OF wealth. They seem
by some happy chance 70 have escaped the SEN
tence: " In the sweat Of thy brow shalt thou cat
bread" They look like merchant princes, to whom
the general direction Of commercc Is but recrea-
ton while the dull and aborious details are per-
formed by others.
But il those who envy could only know all--the
worry the anxiety, the pain ia ioreCasing the iu-
lure tEo regrets in recalling the past the incessant
wear and tear Of mind, aud WEAKNESS Of body
they would concede that the fair externas do not
truly exhibit the reality Perhaps no profession
in life is subject to 80 many adverse chances and
none is subject TO such dsasters growing out Of
circumstances which can neither be foreseen nor
controlled. Ihe ramideations and connections Of
trade are so complicated aud various that the most
prudent cannot eniirely guard against them. lie
is wonderfully suca Sol man indeed who has
conducted business through many years without
the partial or complete experience Of the morth-
cation aud the horrors ol bankruptcy.
Henry Marshall had struck upon the commercial
reefs lle was far from being alone IN his difficult
ties, il that circumstance could be any comfort to
him. One OF those disastrous states Of trade had
happened which men call crisises."
Women in crisis" have their full share OF the
suffering. without the comfort Of being Of any use
nor is their vanity usually considered 10y appeal to
their advice. In Iced women are usually regarded
AZ such times with about the same consideration
that th-y receive on deck in storm at sea. They
are told almost n terms. and sometimes quite
plainly. that they are only 10 the way, and had
better 60 aside aud wait and trust.
Waiting and trusting all very well when YOU
are first advised of the extent Of the danger and
the nature OF the remedy But to wait in terrified
ignorance is no such easy matter.
The poiut OF this itte sketch is to show that
women can be OF service. it the lords Of creation
will give them che opportunity.
Henry Marshall we have said, bank
rpt. A business which had yielded him more
than ample support, ami which bad promised at
no distant day to enable him % retire upon a for
tune. came 90 a sudd ~ standstill. His stock be-
came suddenly un ,aabls. and his paper assets were
of no use 10 him. Nothing which he had could be
converted % cash 10 meet thick-coming liabilities ;
and ii he could have sold everything he had ia
stock az current rates in panicy market the sale
would not have net,ed enough TO carry him through
fhs could have waited a few months or a year he
could have kept hls feet, bat what man wait
when the notary is IN gleeful hurry, and protest
follows protest like the peals in thunder storm?
All the proceeds Of che labor of years were gone ;
and he hal no choice hui 20 make the humihatng
confession that he was a bankrupt He ha moth
ing to reproach himself with IL had nut been
careless imprudent or eXtravagaut. lie had TAX
en- no money out OF his business for outside specu-
lations. and hal wasted nothing in show ex-
travagance, far less in vice.
One investment he had made. such a snccess-
ful business man is justified in making. lie had
provided a home for his family. He had bought
house, and furnished and improved it, molestly
but tasteiully; and the purchase was made at such
time. and on such terms, that it helped rather
than embarrassed him. IL had been TO him as he
called it. his nest whittier he could retire for
quiet and comfort after his days work was done
Three little ne,tngs were there, and their moth
er. She was as much attached to their domicile
as her husband ;-an4 az % the Children their word
was =. home aud everything outside seemed to
them something foreign. Mrs. Marshall is taste
aud care and honest pride had arranged and
completed all, within and without, that the house
lifted the inmates, and the inmates the house.
They seemed TO have grown into each other
He hal not settled the house upon his wife /;
though according to received notions OF prooty he
might have done so. For when be bought it he
was clear OF all the world. and could have answer
ed all demands upon hm, and still have retained a
surplus. lie did not contemplate the danger that
he could ever come TO want; AMI If the thought
had crossed his mind he would have reasoned thus
My house and social position are part OF capital
II secretly put what stIl remains of my property
out OF the reach of my creditors ! am living under
false pretenses. II openly ahenate my tnle am
eau ing suspicion, or, at the very best, deprlvng
myself OF part OF my capital' Thus Mr.. Marshall
reasoned, Perhaps he WAS right Perhap, he was
wrong. But though he choked little over it, his
conscience appliuiel him, when he added his house
$ and furniture 20 the schedule Of his effects to be
surrendered for the benefit Of his creditors
lie called a meeting Of those who held demands
against him and submitted a statement OF his af-
fairs. The gentlemen were not a little astonished
when they found his house and furniture included
t in the schydue
"Why, Marshall, exclaimed one OF them, "sure-
ly you are not going to heggar Yourself IN thus
way We are not Shyocks, and will not have the
pound of flesh. That house should have been set
+ tied upon your wife years ago, when you bought
| itl'
! Perhaps" said the bankrupt, with sad smile.
" But 1t is too late now
Il do not know that said his friend casting a
look of inquiry round the circle.
II do know it," said Mr. Marshall quietly.
" Aud while | appreciate your kindness, | must
beg that the question be not opened
" What do You propose /" asked the gentleman
who. in virtue Of holding the largest demand act
{ ed as chairman OF the melancholy committee.
a." Nothing" said Mr.. Marshall, except that
you take my books and assets, divide the proceeds
among my creditors, and, if you are satisfied OF
my honesty, give me release Whatever deficit
there may be give my word 10 make up. if my
life is spared, and am in any degree prosperous,
after this storm has blown over"
Many heartfelt and sincere compliments were
, and so ended their first meeting. The next pro-
ceedngs would be held without the presence o
Marshall, and of the resnt OF their deliberations
3 he could not have had high hopes. He felt that
he was right; and a celebrated statesman but
spoke the feeling of every honest man when he
said, 4" had rather be right than be Presdent!n
H.
But Marshall's heart did fail, Notwithstanding
as he turned toward the home which he felt woull
soon be his home no longer. His wife was wait
e ing his return TO dinner. She was anxious bu
g not impatient. She was anxious because she ha,
been properly apprised of the diliclties in hel
husbands business. But she was not impatient
+ for she knew that she had greater troubles to NEE
than the mere cooling of dinner And she wish
, ed her husband 90 receive that cordial wolcom,
Il home which should remove in some degree, th,
i pressure OF troubles without The children, OF
, the other hand, were not anxious but inpatient
n What could they know Of the troubles of life AN,
of business? But they did know that they wer,
L hungry and they had heard the cook say tia
, every thing was spoiled, So they bounded with
e camorous complaints though not il-natured-t,
p meet their father. lie stopped their voices with
kiss apiece and answered their mothers look o
! enquiry in the same manner. lie turned his hea,
u a moment, and though he made a great noisu il
! his handkerchief, avn sure that il the eyes an,
o 'nose could have been called, the eyes ha,
: it!
Dinner went of in sad composure. Marshal