The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-05-25

tell you wha. I'll do. I'll engage you as
my Office clerk, and pay you fifty dollars
month. That will be all you will earn
the first year, perhaps more; but I'll
agree to give it. Then you 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 income
How can live on that ? asked Edgar
in dismay, q assure you, my tailor's
bills amount TO nearly that
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 a steady-going
clerk
Tt will be hard,' said the Young man,
this expression indicating mental strug-
gle.
But il is necessary. Then again, con-
slider that it is only for time. If you
work with energy, you will soon com-
mand good income, / am willing to
extend you every assistance in my power,
and upon you must depend the rest
What do you say
You really think my health will allow
OF the necessary laborF
Il do
Then | will make up my mind to do
Come in next Monday. Meantime,
make the needful arrangements.
so l am going to be lawyer
thought Edgar Ashcroft, as he left his
friends house. 'If any one had told me
that month ago, | should have pro-
nounced him insane. Well, circumstan.
ces alter cases, that is certain. What
will my fashionable friends say''
This was after all, the greatest trial to
Edgar. To subside from the position of
a man of fashion to humdrum clerk in
the Office of real-esiate lawyer, seemed
to him great decent, though in view OF
right.thinkng people it will be regarded
as an ascent.
In week the change was made. Eds
gar realized the sum he expected on his
mining shares, and invested it in sub
stant:al bank shares which yielded him
net income of one hundred and seventy
five dollars year. Upon this and his
salary he must live. Considerably
against his will, he took quarters in a
comfortable but moderate priced boards
ing-house, and began life on new foot
ing.
As he anticipated, there was consider
able talk about his change of fortune, and
most of his fashionable acquaintances
forgot to include him in their future invi-
tations, while some that he had known
intimately, appeared to forget that they
had ever known him. This troubled him
considerably at first, but there was ono
good effect resulting from his neglect by
his fashionable friends. Not being invited
to parties, he no longer had occasion TO
keep late hours, and his health and
strength visibly improved. This surprised
him, as he was occupied with Office work
during the day.
Il declare, Holden, he said one day,
I've gained fifteen pounds in the last
three months,
Work seems to agree with you, Ash
CROFT was the reply.
Il feel stronger than ! used to-
Il told you how it would be-
But didn't believe you at that time,
Late hours are more trying to the
constitution than hard work.
so | begin to find it,
Just so at first Edgar found his office
work task but it soon began to be
pleasant He became interested in the
profession he had chosen, and as he wa:
by no means deficient either in natura
talent or in education, he became, before
the year had closed, valuable assistant
to his friend Holden.
| Just before the close of the first year
the lawyer said
Edgar, if you have no objection,
mean to double your salary
Thank you, Holden; but | dom
want you to do it unless you think | an
worth the increase
/ do think 80. You have made your
self very valuable to me, and have fully
mastered the routine work of the Office
'Then ! will accept it gladly for
though don't want to 20 back to the
old scale of expenditure, would like {
little better room, ard little bettel
table,
So the new arrangements was made.
One day Edgar met in the street Mr.
; Bullion, heavy man in the psrlanc,
of the street, and president of one of tn,
city banks. He tried to avoid him, hav
ing two years before proposed for tn
hand of Miss Fanny Bullion, and, thougl
favored by the young lady, been unceri
moniously rejected by the father,
But, to his surprise, Mr.. Bullion ad
vanced to him and said cordially:
How do you do, Mr.. Ashcroft +
Very well, thank you, sir said Ed
gar, rather embarrassed,
Come round to the house. We shal
be glad to see you
Edgar's face betrayed his surprise.
'I'll tell you a secret young man. Tw'
years ago refused your suit for my daugh
ter, Shall l tell you why =
'Ifyou please, SIR
Because saw that yeu were mere
man of fashion, doing nothing useful, sur
to run out of money at last, and with NJ
occupation to fall back upon. You los
your money sooner than expected but
to my surprise, you have acted since lik
,, a sensible man. hear good reports o
your talents and industry. Come 10 m,