The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-10-21
Rdssr Ashcroft's Bad Luck.

Edgar Ashcroft's Bad Luck.
Edgar Ashcroft hurried through the
street at an unusually early hour of the
morning; for In general be was given ta
late evening hours, getting up in the
morning whenever he felt like y. r
did not pause till be reached the door Of
. plain brick house In . quiet stsset.-
Ringing the bell ratAsr exeitsiedly, he
inquired of the servent who answered
his summons: 80
ITS your master in?'
eyes, SIR" ..
"Hand him my card, and ask him II
he will ses me-" La -
The servant quickly reappeared with
the request that Edgar would follow
her into her masters presence.
Edgar Ashcroft was ushsred into .
pleasant sitting room, where his friend,
Charles Holden, q sedats man, at least
ten years older that himself, was seated
at table on which rested small trunk
Of business documents. which he had
brought home for examination, his bu-
siness being that Of lawyer.
"What brings you here at this early
hour, Ashcr,'ft?" asked the lawyer In
surprise. E#
bad news" said Edgar, thrusting
his hands into his waistcoat pockets,
aud speaking in an excited tone.
"Bad news! I am sorry to hear that,
but what IL that" 30 g. 49,
"You remember consulted you
three months since about investing my
money in copper mine somewhere in
the Lake Superior region?"
II remember It perfectly. advised
you to have nothing to do with It."
II wish had taken your advise; but
I was fool enough to be daxzled by the
brilliant promises Of the directors. and
the long and short of it is have invest
my entire fortune in the concern"
rs it possible?'
II wish it wasn't, but is Is. Tho
shares are selling for five dollars, where
paid = hundred"
"How many have your"
"Five hundred. That 10 I have in
vested fifty thousand dollars. and I
could only sell out for twenty Ave hun.
dred to-day"
"Sell cut, }" said Holden laconieally.
"What! and sacrifice nineteen twen-
tieth of my fortune:"
"Better than the WHOLE"
"But don't you think it IL worth any
thing7n ".
mot one cent"
"Thcre are some good mines there"
"True, but this was got up to swindle.
to cheat the confiding public out Of their
money. 1t will go down to nothing"
"But twenty i've hundred dollars
won't support me-" said Ashcroft, dis
mally. ..t,
"Do a. do them" s."f;&
"What?" ...... II
Earn sou living by your own e1-
ertions." a-. 4
"But, have never been brought up
to work" said Edgar.
Everybody ought to do something"
"But consider my delicate health
My constitution is very weak, I can as
sure you.
II should think It might be. You
turn your night into day and your day
into night. Late hours at parties, SOL
rees and theaters are enough p under
mine any constitution, when carried to
the excess you carry them" sr.ss
"Do you really believe 1t IL that?"
ayes, I do" ~.rE fF
II never thought Of that. Perhaps
you are right; but If were able to work
what could do? Who would engage me
- clerk?'' s@S@ ~@ N'$@'@>5 Fs'.3
"How would you like to follow my
profession p " y
AS q lawyer" ...
"Yes."
isn't 1t hard work ?" .a.. -.
"Of course It IL. Anybody that ex-
poets to succeed in profession must
look forward to hard work.
"Would you ree0mHaeHd IT." s-..4
II would recommend you to try. I'll
tell you what: I'll engage you as my Of
Zoo olcrk, and pay you ATTY dollars |.
month. That will be all you will earn
the first year, perhaps more; but I'll en-
gage to give you it. Then yor can sell
out your shares, and get one hundred
and fifty dollars annual interest on
what is left. That will give you seven
hundred and fifty dollars . year in
come"
"How can I live ON that?" said Edgar
in dismay. II assure you my tailor's
bin amounts to nearly that"
Il "Then you must change your tailor.
In fact, you must change your whole
plan Of life. You must drop the man Of
fashion and become . steady clerk"
1T will be hArd," said tho young
man, his expression indicating mental
struggle.
"But it is necessary. Then again
consider that it is only for time. II
you work with energy, you will SOON
command large income. am willing