The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-02-15
THE HElREss' CHOICE.

great wealth I'D mercantile business, but
now, in the prime of life.he was to leave
it all behind him. His wife had been dead
several years, and his only near and dear
relative was his daughter Ada-the only
child that had ever been born to bless
him-and = blessing indeed had she been
lin the light of. his home; the pride and
joy of his heart; aud the one sweet, pure
flower that had shed celestial fragrance
over the later years of his life. ~
The daughter stood by her fathers bed.
side both her hands clasped in his. :
"4ada," said the dying man, "whenI
am gone you will be left the mistress of
great wealth,.and / need not tell you of
thcmanf stffsis and temptations youmay
be called dupon to endure, nor the mani4
fold snares which designing people may
set in your path. l have tried to educate
you well and truIy,and 1 know you have
been diligent student in all the things
appertaining to life. But you must allow
me to speak one word more of parental
counsel. In three years you haze reach
ed your majority, aud will then become
sole guardian of your property. j hope
you may live long to enjoy it; but that
enjoyment must depend much on the
character of the partner to whom you
shall give your hand and heart. Qh,my
child, be wise-be circumspect. Marry
no poor man simply because he is hand
some and good-hearted, and choose no
scion of wealth simply because of his
wealth Let your choice be governed by
sterling merit; and to that end do you
cultivate self-respect without pride, and
a virtue of life and Judgment without
ostentations God help you, sweet one,
in that important ordeal. Remembcr-
the last prayer of my soul shall be to that
end" 4 9
No maiden could be more generally
courtcd by the marriaa young gen
tlemen of her acquaintance than was the
beautiful orphan hciress, Ada Atherling.
At the age of eighteen, by provision of
her fathers will, she came in full pos
session of very nearly million of dol
lars. A girl with more naughty pride
might have kept all poor admirers at a
distance; but so mild and so kind was
she, so respectful to all whom she con-
sidered worthy to be held as friends-so
deferential to modest merit-and SO ut
terly oblivious of all qualities Of rank
and fashion, when linked with selfishness,
that young men of humble station ere
long learned that she could be kind and
respectful to them, and that she could
smile upon them as sweetly as upon those
more favored of fortune.
at length, when Ada had reached the
age of twenty, there we're two men who
had come nearer to her heart than had
any others. One was Phillip Nettleton,
and the other was Amos Ribbins. Both
were book keepers in heavy New York
houses, and both had prospects Of soon
being admitted into actual business part
nership. Both were honorable, sober,
kind hearted men, and both were called
handsome. Phillip Nettleton was the
more intellectual of the two; the more
studious, meditatiye, ,and reserved. Amos
Robbins was the more polished, spark
ling, witty,aand freely social. M
Both OF, these young men loved Ada
Altering, and though she had ncver.by
word or sign, given either of them to
understand that she could return that
love, yet she had shown, in many ways
that their positions in life did not in the
least, limit her respect and esteem; but
on the contrary, she treated them with
far more consideration than she did those
who came floating about her on the gol
den sea Of fortune. m
The sad and darksome weeks Of the
autumn of1S57 were passing. Financial
ruin swept up and down the business
highways of. the great city. On Tues
day, October 13th--the day that saw
twenty banks in New York suspend
when ten thousand people had beer
thrown out of employment in the New
Jersy city-the house in which Robbins
was connected failed; and on the mex
day the house where Nettleton had all hi:
hopes of business anchored, went by the
board. They had been among the bes
houses in New York, and had held out tt
the last; but the besom had swept theil
credit away, and the ruin was absolute
So Philip Nettleton and Amos Rob
bins were without employment and with
out money; for, in anticipation of enter
ing into partial proprietorship in\theil
respective establishments they. had al
lowed their surplus salary to remain il
the hands Of their employers, and ii
neither case had dollar been saved
The man who,. on the morning Of tht
first day of that eventful month of DC
tober, might have retired from business
with fortune, now found himself tn,
owner of not one solitary dollar.
Phillip Nettleton was sorelT distressed
He was an orphan, and sick sister hat
been depending on him for support 70
over year. That sister now lay pros
trate. and she must have succor aud com
fort. He sought all up and down the bu
siness part Of New York, where he wa
acquainted. for employment as a clerl
or salesman; but there was no opening
Then he sought in New Jersey city wher
he had lived, but without success. Wear,
and sick at heart, he was on his wa,
homeward, when he met the butcher o
whom he had that morning bought som
meat, and to whom he had told the stor,
of his great need. a
swell Phillip, what luck today"
The young man shook his head sadly
."Nothing turned up, eli ?"
Nothing" And Phillip would hav
passed on, but the frank, well-meanin;
old butcher detained him.
"Looke Phillip don't want to insul
We, nor hurt your feelings; but if yo
amt above putting on clean white fiock
and driving out my market wagon, an,
delivering goods to my customers, ca
give You a job, and pay ye as much a
they would pay ye these times to SCI
silks and satins. My man, Furbush
down sick, and can't be out for mont
or two. What say I"
Phillip Nettleton gazed up in.o Nj
Dwinal's honest face, .aad then locke
down upon the pavement
81 know it's rather a como down for