National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-28

repulsive business. One day he
rushed into Johns store, haggard
and worn with anxiety and exeTti0n.
with that sterotyped inquiry:
'Havc YOU anything over to-day p
Il am sorry, Alfred, to say that
have not; but the fact is, | have been
this morning taking the advantage
of these tight timesto lay in p thons-
and dollars worth Of stock, which
| purchased at an exceedingly low
figure.'
These are deuced hard times.'
Hard indeed but have you much
to make up!
The tune of five thousand dollars
'Monstrous do. you think you
can accomplish it.
Il must accomplish it or become a
ruined man.
'It cannot be so serious as that
you can Judge for yourself. 1t is
now past twelve o'clock, and / have
not raised one fourth of the sum-
Can you not borrow it Il
Everybody seems to be in the
same fix, and the banks won't hear
the word discount
Have you applied to Mr.. Cling
hamD
TO tell the truth I owe him eight
hundred dollars already, and lie mas
too much to manage to assist me
further; but / must be stirring. If
can get through this terrible day,
you wont catch me again III such Il
fix
Down the street he started as fast
as his weary feet could carry him,
but everywhere he met anxious faces
and persons on similar errands as
himself. At halfpast one he had
not added a dollar to his amount !;
still his hopeful nature would not
allow him yet to despair, and he re.
doubled his cxeriions to save his
sinking fortunes. 1t was only when
the bell OF the Old South struck the
ominous hour of two. that he fully
awoke to the consciousness that he
was a bankrupt beyond hope.
Mr.. Gingham had watched the
career Of the young men with a anx-
ious eye, for he was deeply interest
ed in the welfare OF both. The one
who had commenced so auspiciously
had miserably failed the other who
started so humbiy, had achieved a
proud success. The crisis passed
and business men once more breath
ell freely ; but Mr.. Gingham felt his
health failing him, and was aware
that, unassisted, the cares of hi:
business were too much for him.
After weighing the matter thor.
ough,y in his mind, he sent for young
Marshal, and offered him an equal
interest in his splendid store. Plac-
ing his own caI Iital as an Offset to
the youth and ability Of his forlnel
clerk. John was asjounGed mt the
brilliant prospect thns offered him.
and expressed his gratitude in the
most earnest manner; but true tC
his cool nature, he requested his
late employer to allow bin the nigh,
to think of it, and he would wait on
him III the morning.
Meanwhile Jenkins' affairs were
in such state that he was Obliged
to enter into insolvency, and his
assets did not promise twenty cents
on the dollar. Crushed and humiii
atcd, the same day that John had
received the proposal from Mr.
Gingham, he had applied to lis
Young friend to give him simpl,
c!crkship. Marshall treated hin
with great kindness, and babe hin
call on the morrow and he would ST,
if he could not do something for him
John of course accepted Mr.. Cling
hams proposition, making his Owl
store and stock the property Of ;
new firm. Altred's position wa:
then discussed. and it was decide,
that he should be allowed to carr,
on that store as their agent and i
he proved .iudicious and become eur
ed OF his former iollies, III a shOr
time they would trust him with thei
whole stock and allow him to tr,
his fortune once more. Their ole
was gratefully accepted, and bi
conduct was So satisfactory That ii
q short time he was entrusted will
full possession.
After the lapse Of year, Kat
entered into something more than
business co-partncrsiip with MAJ
shall. Alfred, too, has married, an
is "a rigid believer in the cash pril
ciple which has made him n success
FIJI man. Many of our fair lad
readers purchase goods otboth, will
out ever dreaming that they are tn
, subjects of our sketch.
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RArrpnAf WyTI .ponolu III