Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-01-01

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ss,Ilne Man SIS Ifuircd."
"The man Is ruined--hopciess,y
ruined"
The words startled me. .#.....
go bad as that ~ said the indi-
vidual TO whom the remark was
made. s....r.
Even so bad"
"Of whom are you speaking" I
ventured to ask.
"Of Jacob Atwood"
started to my feet. He was one
Of my old, intimate, and long tried
friends. f..
Ruined, did you say. That man
ruined Impossible ...
"There In DD doubt oft. / received
my information from those who have
the best right 10 khow."
"What has he dope?" / asked en-
getty.
My question was received In o.
lence, as IL the meaning Was not COM
pretended. .. -
"Is he Gefauiter?"
"No." The answer showed sur
prise ut my question.
"Has lle betrayed an honorable
trust reposcd In him 10y his fellow
man"
"No, sir; his integrity is without
question. In ali his public relations
he was true as steel to principle.
"What then: has he placed any
portion of his property beyond the
reach of creditors who have just
claims upon him ?"
"Iie has given up every thing--ev-
cn the furniture In the house. Not
a shilling has been retained, and he
goes forth into the world O ruined
man. ..-f
20 no! I" said I, speaking out
warmly. "Not In any sense n ruin.
ed man. The merchant may be ru-
ined, but thank God! the man is
whole"
The little company looked at me
for u moment or two, half la surprise.
"The man Is all right" / went
on. only the scafIolding on which
the work man stood who were build.
ing up Ills fortune, has fallen.
Erect, calm, noble, half divine. lie
stands now In the sunshine and in
the storm. Around his majestic
brow the clouds may gather upon
IL the tenlpests may beat but he In
immovaLle i'm his great Integrity
Somessfniied at my enthusiasm. To
them there was nothing Of the NOR
nj sublime I'm o ruined merchant.
Others looked little more thought
ful than before. and one said feeLiy,
There Is something In that"
Something In that / should think
there was.
IL was the first intelligence of my
friends worldly misfortune that /
had received, and IL giieved me. Iu
the evening l went 10 see Jacob At
wood. The windows of the elegant
residence where he had lived for
years were ciosed--it had deserted
aspect. I rang the bell no one an
swered my summons.
could not reprcss the feeling of
saedd.....css that came over me. The tri-
al must lave been severe even for
brave heart like hls.
"I must find him." said I. And
did find him, but far away from the
neighoo,iioOd where merchant prin-
ces had their palace homes. The
house In which he had retired with
his family was small and mean, aud
comfortless, I'm comparison with the
elegant abode FROM which he had re-
moved. rang and was admitted.
The parlor into which l was shown
was small room, and tho furniture
not much better than we often see
In the houses Of well O-do mec han
les, or clerks on moderate salaries.
But every thing was In order, aud
scrupulously neat.
had made only hurried obsefva-
tion when Mr.. Atwood entered. He
looked something careworn-his face
wrs palef than when last saw him,
his eyes little duller, his smile less
cheerful. Tie marks OF trial and
suffering were plainly visible. IL
would have been almost miracle
had IL been otherwise. But he did
NOT exhibit the aspect Of ruined
man. He graspcd ms hand warmly
and said IL was pleasant to look into
the face Of an old friend. / offered
him words Of sympathy.
s"The worst In over,n be answered
with manly cheerfulnes, ''alid moth
ing 10 lost which may not be regained.
/ have found the bottom, know
where i am, aud there IL strength
enough left I'm mo TO stand up secure
ly amid the rushing waters. The
best of all Ii, my property which has
been apportioned to my creditors will
pay every debt. This gives my heart
Its lighfe.t quotations.
"I have heard t!,at you are ruined"
said ] "a we sat talking together
''but find that the man IL whole.
Not q principle invaded Ivy the enc
my-not moral sentiment lost-not
jewel In the crown Of honor miss
Ing" He took my hand, and grasp
ing IL hard, looked into NY face cad.
lily for come moments. Then, In q
subdued voice, he made answer.
II trust that IL In even so, my
friend. But there were seasons In
the worse than Egyptian night
through which passed, when the
tempter's power seemed about to
crush me. For myself cared but
little. For my wife and children, ev-
erything. The thought OF seeing
them 20 out OF the pleasant home /
had provided for them, aud step down
To lower level In the social grade,
half distracted me for time. For
thing but an evil deed; that II siu
against God. could not bow TO that
and 50 ] have passed the fiery ordeal,
and have come out, through more
than human strength, trust . bet
ter man. No, no. roy friend, I am
not ruined. | have lost my for
tune, but not my integrity
And 30 the man st0od firm. IL
was not In the power of cmmercial
disaster TO ruin him. The storm
ragged furiousiy; tito waves beat mad
w against him but be stood iinmov-