Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-17
From tho Homo Circl
Edgar AShcrOit's Bad Luck.

Edgar Ashcroft hurried through the streets
at an unusually early hour in the morning
for in general he was given to late evening
htur, getting up in the morning whenever he
felt ike it, lie did not pause til he reached
/ the door Of a plain brick house in quiet
street Ringing the bell rather oxcitody, he
inquired of the servant who answered his
summons
Is your master in ?"
/ Yes, sir"
Hand him my card, and ask if he will
see me-"
The servant quickly reappeared, with the
request that Edgar would follow her into her
masters presence.
( Elgar Ashcroft was ushered into a pleas
ant sltting-room, where his friend, Charles
Holden, sedatc man at least ten years older
| than himself, was seated at table on which
rested a small trunk Of business documents,
which he had brought home for examination,
his business being that Of a lawyer.
What brings you here at this early hour,
Ashcroft ?" asked the lawyer, in surprise
Bad news" said Edgar, thrusting his
hands into his waistcoat pockets, and speak
I ing in an excited tone
Bad news am sorry to hear that
I But what is it ?"
You remember | consulted you three
months since about investing my money in a
copper mine somewhere up in the Lake Supe-
rior region"
| remember it perfectly. | advised you
to have nothing to do it,
| wish 1 had taken your advice but |
was fool enough to be dazzled by the brilliant
promises Of the directors, and the long and
the short Of it is, | invested my entire for
tune in the concern
d" Is it possible?"
| wish it wasn't, but it is"
"Well, how has it turned out ?"
The shares are selling for five dollars,
where paid hundred"
How many have you ?'
Five hundred. That is l invested fifty
thousand dollars, and | could only sell out
for twenty five hundred to-day"
Sell out" said Holden lacouically
What and sacrifice nineteen-twentieths
of my fortune ?"
Better that than the whole"
But don't you think it worth anything ?"
Not a cent
aY."N 49, :,
True but TINS was got up by swindlers to
Gheat the c9nnuihg pup.c Out oil the'r money
II ",,i go uown 10 no,hing,
But twenty hundred dollars won't sup
port me- sliq ashcroft IN dis"ay'
10 no as l. uo' 'hen'
W W nat =,
Earn your nylns yl Dy your own eNer'i3ns'
r.. put s.Iu --iS Ilsar' nave never pocn
prougn' up 10 worn;
'ypouy ought 10 10 sonie'n'ng ~
Du, eois'uer my ue'pa'c neu''n' Wy
constitution I, IS very weak l can assure you
l suouiu 'liinN Z" hlighl pc: lou turn
h'gnO '','o ,; uay anu aay in'o ".Ene, .I. AaIe m
nouls al PaI''es' 'o'rees anu .nco'ros are
enough 10 u'oeluniuo Nny constitution "noii
'"Ii'Tu G 10 'ue e1o's1 yJu a'o carry 5"s '"oi''
70 YOU Iea''y ''''iN II Is al
e. l uo' . en. p,
never 'nIue"t Il mat o'iiuPs you
may DC riShT nut II ni l were apio 10 work.
"na' Gou,u an 10 " ho "ou'u engage me as
oieTk
HOW "ouiu you "No 10 ioi'o" my pro-
'esslon ..
Tsn ~ lawyer
1es'
ne 1sti l. 1t haia worN n
vi oIurso is' Anypouy wa. eAPuo's
10 sueceeu IN profession must look ior"aru 10
naru wv worH; 80,
QUIZ you rooonnnielu 1t
wou'p ~, Iecoinliquu Iun you 10 'ry' III leil
you "nal | Il 10 | Il engage you Us my
on 0Ihce clerk ana pay you hi'y dollars month
A"a' VIII po al you Will earn inc hrs. year.
hernals pS i"oro pu' II "srge gN9 ~
iheI you eau sen OUT your shalcS' ana gol
one nunuIou anu my uoliars anhual interest
ou VIVA, ID ieit' ina' VIII give you seven
nunureu II, anu my uo'ihrs a yea, income;
no" eau h'o on 'hat asked Edgar
III ulsuay' assure you my 'alior piils
amount 10 nearly 'ha';
men you ha'o ilus' enange your tailor, en
,ec'' you must 0nsnso your wnoi9 pau o' me
You must uTop 'he man OF iashion' anu De-
come s.eauy- oierA'
1t VIII DC na,u' sa'u 'he young man.
TINS expression lhuica'lis lneh'al struggle
Dut !. Is necessary linen again. con
siner 'ha' II Is oh'y iOr '''ho' IL you "orE
WIN energy you WIN soon command goou
income am "i'llhg 10 extend every assist,
ahce III my power, ana upon you must uepehu
the rest What 40 you say
GU really .lilhS my heaith VIII allo" oil
the necessary labor
do''
Then VIII make up my mind to IT,
Come IN next Monday; Meantime make
the neediul arrangements
30 am going to be a lawyer thought
Edgar Ashcroft, as he lett his friends house.
II any one had told me that month ago L
should have pronounced HIM insane Wen,
circumstances alter cases that IS certain
What will my fashionable friends say r.
| This was, after all, the greatest trial TO