The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-02-11

esAASA Ok 4hA-'
In the present case Mr.. Simmons, a /
worthy and respected citizen, had |
made a movement for retrenehment in
the expenses of the town. Luke's |
employer had been in the habit of fur
nishing certain articles to the town,
and under the new system his bill was
iikeTy'to fall below the amount he had
in former years. So he thought Mr.. |
Simmons had meddled too much in |
town affairs, and Luke took up the
strain and piped freely upon it. He
knew nothing of the causes which had
led Mr.. Simmons course-he only |
knew that gentIeman's character was
before the public, and he went into it.
But this was not the only case. A
man who can.speak fecklessly of one
individual will speak in the same man |
ner of others; and man who can
thus thoughtlesslyk speak at one time,
is likely to so speak at any time. tftas
Luke Wharton had been for some
time anxious to go into some business
on his own account, and the oppor
tunity at length presented itself; or,
at all events, he saw good chance to
make arrangements to that end. His
old employer, who had done business
enough, was willing to sell out. He
told Luke if he could find partner
who would pay cash down for half of
the store, and its good will, the other
half m ght remain for several years
on mortgage. So Luke cast about
him, and was not long finding the
man he sought. Thomas Lyon, a
young man of neighboring town,
was ready to enter into such partner
ship, and he considered that the thor
ough knowledge of the business,
and the intimate acquaintance with
the customers which Luke would
bring to him, would offset the interest
/ he might have to paw for, the money
he would be obliged to hire. a ii..i.
1t was all arranged, and Luke Whar-
ton was happy. Thomas Lyon would
raise the four thousand dollars neces-
sary to be paid down, and lie would
soon be in position where he could
not only enjoy the honor and satisfac-
tion of doing business for himself, but
where he knew he. could lay up mon
ey. And he was the more satisfied
because another party had been talk
ing of purchasing the. store. a4Ifea +,
I" / wouldn't trust him as far as
could throw a fat hog by the tail, up
hill ?" asserted Luke Wharton. He
spoke of Mr.. Samuel LoEejoy, man
who lived in Q distant part of the
town, and who was the individual that
had some talk of purchasing the store.
g g What do you mean by that?" ask
4 ed Mrs. Wharton. f- 45~5r A.,
:. 81 mean just what 1 say,'' returned
Luke. &C i wouldn't trust him an inef1.' .
9 g But what do You know against
him, my son?" s s.55 b4ifi.
81 know enough. He would have
bought our store if he could and he
!. meant to do it in an underhand way.
He knew that 1 wanted it, and yet he
, tried his best to work me OUT .85fs.-
"But how do you know this!" trs.
, How dol know it?-wiy know
it well enough. know that he, went
to my employer, Mr. Green ;etfered to
[ purchase the whole; and I know that
he intimated that I might never be
able to pay my half.f,I tell you he
!, isn't to be trusted" ,fs4 a4s,l..t
Z" hope you have not spoken thus
| to any one else" said the old lady.
: with much earnestness. 5g ass Fgo
- Why do you hope that? Eaa
!, Because it would have been very
r wrong. know Mr.. Lovejoy isan cecen.
[ trie man, and very set, and even bitter
E in his prejudices; but I never heard 6
lisp against his character for honesty
: and -upr;ghtness. Have you spoken
. of him out of doors ?"
81 have spoken my mind of him,
replied Luke, somewhat stubbornly
o "and 1 shall speak SO again."
. "Stop !" said the mother. Sh'
! spoke sternly, yet tenderly. sDo no
, say so. You are too free in the use o
! that tongue of yours. You are ne
sure that Mr.. Lovejoy has spoken on,
;, word against you, and you have nj
right to speak so against him. IF thi
. should go to his ears it might injur
? you. If you are going into business
:, you should endeavor to make friends
= and not enemies. Let me assure you
my son, that you should break your
self of this bad habit, just look at
in.fhis one light, and you ought not t
d look further. 1t is a habit from whicl
a no good can possibly flow, but fron
Q which much evil must results Ism
N that reason enough for giving it up
A. y While they were yet speaking tn
d doorbell rang, and the servant 500
w handed in a letter for Luke Wharton
sh saying that the postman had just lei
ia it. .ii't iiof3iE9tni iNi'sa0irt97o2:
,h The young man broke the seal an
= read as follows:|f - sf5i8 a4adA a@e-
d FRIEND WHARToN,-I am very sol
ry to be obliged to inform you tn;
w our plan for purchasing the store
IN partnership cannot be carried. out.
to had SO arranged to have the none
. from my uncle, Samuel Lovejoy who
NJ you well know, but he will not allo
. me to move, as intended. | may |
he we'll be frank with you as not. L
no says he will purchase the whole stol
to for ME, or he win allow me to tai
such share as I wish. A week as
lst he had resigned all his previous
IN. formed plans in your favor, but he h
- met with something which has mo
.he strangely changed his mind. He sin