The Shasta courier., 1870-03-05

| "AaA eHSii lSnL duQ SudQOHS, tnGlE IONS
aud sorrows. They brought with them the
merry voices of chldren-they brought
with them new made graves-happiness to
some and grief to others.
Towards the last, they brought the great
commercial crisis of 81, when houses that
seemed built npon a rock tottered all at
once to their fall Do not many remember
taat time all too well, when merchants
with anxious faces, ran from one to another
~ 81 help and meet ouly averted / .,ss
and distrustful looks
And how was it in that time of univer-
sal famine with our friends-S.acy and
Wilbur?
Up 20 1857 they had been doing an ex
cellent business. They b d gradually e,l-
larged the sphere of their operations aud
were rapidly growing rich, when the crash
came.
They Immediately took in sail Both
were prudent. and botn felt that this was
the time when this quality was urgently
needed.
By great efforts they had succeeded in
keeping up till the 14th of February, 1858.
On that morning note of two thousand
dollars came due. That surmounted, they
would be able TO 90 ou with assured cou
idence.
But, alas. this was the rock of VIII CHI
they hid most apprehension. They had
taxed their resources to the utmost They
had called upon their friends, but their
friends were employed in taking care Of
themselves, and the selfish policy was the
one required then.
Look out for number one' superseded
the golden rule for the time being.
As | have said, two thousand dollars
We're due on the 18th of February
How much have you got towards it :?
asked Wilbur, as Stacy came at Lalf past
eleven.
Three hundred and seventy five dollars,
was the dispirited reply
Was that all you could raise? inquired
his partner, turning pale.
All
Are you sure you thought of every
body ?
| have been everywhere I'm tagged
to death, Was the weary reply OF Stacy,
as he sank exhausted into chair.
Then the crash must come, said vii.
bar, with a gloomy resignation.
suppose 1t must
There was IA silence. Neither felt in
cllned to say anything. For six months
they had been struggling with the tide
They could see shore, but in sight of it
they must 90 down
AT this m9ment a note was brought in
by boy. There was no posrmark. kvi
IDENTIFY he WIS special me, enyer.
1t was opened at once by Mr. Wilbur.
to whom it was directed. 1t contained
these few words only If Mr. John Wilbur
Will call immediately at No. Fifth Ave
nue, he will learn something to his great
advantage
There was no signature.
John Wilbur re; d it with surpris and
passed it to his partner what does At
mean, do you think ?
| don't know, was the reply. but
advise you to at once
1t seems to be in feminine hand writ
ing, said Wilbur, thoushtfully.
Yes. Don't you know any lady on
Fifth Avenue p
None
WE'LL it is worth noticing We have
met with SO little to our advantage lately
that it will be "a refreshing variety
In i've minutes John Wilbur jumped
into horse car, aud was on his way to
No. Fifth Avenue.
He walked up to the door of magniG
cent brown stone house and rang the bell
He Was instantly admitted and shown into
the drawing room, superbly finished
He did not have to walt long. An
elegantly dressed lady, scarcely thirty, en-
tered, aud bowing, said, You do not re-
member me, Mr. Wilbur 2
No, madam, said he, in perplexity.
We will waive that, then, and proceed
to business. How has your house bornc
the crisis in which so many of our large
firms have gone DOWN.
John Wilbur smiled bitterly.
We have struggled successfully till to-
day, he answered But the end has
come. Unless we can raise "a certain SUN
OF money by two, We are ruined
W hat sum will save your was the
ladys question.
The note due is two thousand dolllrs.
Towards this We have but three hundred
and seventyfve.
Excuse me moment said his hostess
She lett the room bu: quickly returned
There, said she. handing IA SUI Ill strip
OF paper to John Wilbur, is my check for
two thousand uollars You can repay ii
at your convenience. If you should re
quire m' re, come to Inc again.
Madam, you have saved US ? exclaimed
Wilbur, springing to his feet in delight
What can have inspired in you such a
benevolent interest in our prosperity?
Do you remember, Mr.. Wilbur said
the lady, a certain valentine, containing
ten dollar note, which you sent to a
young girl occupying an attic room in your
lodging house, eight years since 2
| do distinctly. l have often wonder
ed what became Of the young girl. | think
her name was Helen Norris
! She stands before you,' was the Quiet