Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-11-10
SfIeft Story.
Edgar Ashcroft's Bad Luck.

Edgar Ashcroft hurried through the
streets at au unusually early hour in the
morning; for in general he was given to
late evening hours, and getting up in
IN ,rning whenever he felt like it.
He did not pause till he reached the
plain brick house in quet street,
Ringing the bell rather excitedly, he in
CURED of the servant who answered his
luminous
SIS your master III ?
Yes, sir.
Hand him my card, and ask him if
he will not see me.
The servant quietly re appeared, with
the request tina; Edgar would follow her
into her masters presence.
Edgar was ushered into pleasant
sitting room, where his friend Charles
Holden. a sedate man, at lea,t ten years
older than himself, was seated alta table
on which rested small trunk Of business
DOCUMENTS, which he had brought home
for examination his business being that
Of Ia yer.
What brings you here at this early
hour, Ashcroft 2 asked the lawyer in sur
prise.
Bad news sai d Edgar, thrusiing bis
hands into his waistcoat pockets and
speaking in an excited tone.
Bad news ! I am sorry to hear that
But what is it ?
You remember I consulted you three
months ago about investing my money
in copper nine somewhere up in the
Lake Superior region
4 remember it perfectly. advised
you to have nothing to do with it
1 wish had taken your advice but
[ was fool enough to be dagzled by the
brilliant promises of the directors; and
the long aud short Oft is, | invested my
entire fortune Ia the concern.
is it possible? ?
4 wish it wasn't, but it is
Well, how has it turned out ??
The shares are selling for five dollars
here paid hundred
slow many have you!'
Five hundred. That is, invested
fifty thousand dollars, and | could only
sell out for twenty five hundred to day
Sell out, sal! Holden, lacouically.
what and sacrifice nineteen-twcnti-
eths of my fortune"
Better that than the whole
But don't you think it is worth any
thing?
Not cent
There are some good mines there
True, bat this was got up by swiud
lers, to cheat the confding public out of
their money. 1t will 60 down to moth
ing
But twenty live hundred dollars won't
support me said Ashcroft in disulay.
Do as [ do, them
.What?'
Earn your living by your own exer-
tons
But said Edgar, 4 have never been
brought up to work
Everybody ought to do something.
but con ,ii;er NY delicate health. My
constitution is very weak | can assure
you
L should thihk it might be. You
turn night into day, and day into night
Late hours at parties and theatres are
enough to undermine any coustltu ion,
when carried to the excess you are cary
ing them
Do you really think that
Yes, I do
4 never thought of chat. Perhaps
you may be rights but if | were abe.
what could l do? Y no would engage
me as a clerk
How would you like to follow my pro-
fcssion?'
AS lawyer
Yes
Isn't it hard work 2
OF course it is. Anybody TIL ex-
poets to succeed in any profession must
look forward to hard work.
w oud you recommend it.
I would recommend you to try it..
I'll tel you what I'll do I'll engage you
as my Office clerk, and pay you fifty dol
IRIS a month That vii! be all you viii
earn the first year, perhaps more; but III
agree to give it, Then you can sell out
your shares, and get one hundred and hf-
" dollars annual interest on what IS lett.
That will give you seven hundred aud
fifty dollars year income
How can | live on that z asked ~
gar in dismaY. can a sure YOU my tai
lor's bill amount to nearly that
Then you must change your tailor. 10
fact, you must change your whole mode
of life. You must drop the man OF fash
ion and become steady going clerk.
1T will be hard, SAID the young man,