The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-12-02
miserllanp.
TWO UNFORTUNATES.

-, vzera stiII ont at this unreasonable time 4
yonng man was coming hurriedly from the city
while from the OPPOSITE side an old man Wa
stealing along. Thsy had not met yet, wheI
the latter turned, snd walking to the parapet o
the bridge, made unmistakable Preparations I,
precipi,ate himself into the Thames. The
yonnr man, who had followed him, drew him
back.
81 think. sir that you wish to drown your.
SELF"
You think right, sir; but what business is
that of yours?'
..None in the least sir bur only wished to
ask of you the favor 70 postpone your purpose II
few moments and allow me to join you. Let Us
embrace each other closely, aud make an airy
leap together. The 9sa OF Undertaking th, ex-
petition in the company of PERFECT stranger.
who has come here with the nae pur pose ~
myself, appeared SO piQUlnt 10 me that cpGil
not help asking you TO alew me to join you.
Really, sir, nothing has seemed . deiiyh,iui to
me in long time; and | should never have be-
iieved that anything 30 agreeable GOULD have
happened to me in my dying hour. Do you ac-
cept, sir. l have not asked favor tor years Of
anybody. So please do not refuse my last and
only request. l also do not remember OF ever
before having made such long speech AS this
one"
With these words he offered his Maud to the
old man, who did not hesitate to clasp 1t, and
the young man continued with enthusiasn,:
Let US clasp each other closely. arm.in.arm
and then forward. 1t does me good to rest II
few moment on the bosom Of human being-I
do not ask whether you are n william or not
Come
The other, who had been at frat in such haste
to make the acqp inJance of the cold water of the
Thames, hesitstei now, and restrained the i'm.
petuosity OF his young companion, by holding
his hand and drawing him back.
Hold, sir" said he, while he tried to distin.
guish the features OF the young man opposite him
by the dim midnight light. "You are still very
young, aud already wish to renouuce life am
afraid you are too rash. For man of your age,
life must still have joys and pleasures"
'Nothing but deceit and falsehood, selfish.
ness and conceit, vice and crime. Come, let US
leave this
Young as you are, you seem to have already
had sad experiences, and appear to regard all
creatures bearing the form or shape of man ss
vipers."
"Vipers are noble beings compared with men,
for they only follow their natural instincts !;
they are no hypocrites with virtue on their
tongues and vice in their hearts,
IL pity you, for, believe me, there are many
honorable exceptions to the rule you hsve esta6-
Aished"
"Ha, Ia Exceptions ?" laughed the younu
man, sneerng bitterly II have never found
OF J."
"Then can give you at least the poor conso.
Aat'on that in this solemn hour you have found
one. Much MS men are given TO lying, there are
very - who will do SO in their dying hour,
When they are about to enter the mysterious
ETERNITY. l have never lied during my life. AID
would, under no circumstances, enter the Valley
OF Death with a lie upon my lips. You will be.
lleve me, then, when tell you that am Ii" vii.
lam, as you appear to think, bnt a good and
honest man"
Really? Thatis interesting ] must have.
Fta4etoro, met the only hOle-t m,u whom have
" eve seen. just IN time to bid, in his company,
quo to the world
Let me 20 alone, and you remain. There ex.
As' may more just as good and honest men, who
eau Deautify your life. II you will only see X
you arc bound to find them
WsiI, st any rate, have found Que Blu. if
Al!e presents Itself to you in such p,ra6ise-like
view, why, then, do you wish TO leave it like
mey"
Zee use am poor and old, and at the same
Iimo sick aud feeble man, who can not earn
any thing, and who Cannot bear any Longer To see
his only child, an angel in daughter, toll al.
nc's 20 death day AID night, to support miser.
ace and usele', pcrsou-yes, even t. procure me
ss0ane little pleasure. No, sir would be brute.
barbarian, were to exact i, any longer"
"What, sir cried the other as If frightened
you have daughter who sacrifices herself for
YOU"
ga with what patience and gentleue.s with |
what perseverance, and love does she do it. |
see her fade away under her work and depriya
'ion, and yet no compliant escapes her lips She
works and s,arves, anu has always loving
word and cheerful smile for me-"
And you want TO drown yoursalf Az. van
mad 2" 'N
"Cdn allow TIE angel to kill horsel; by &c.
efees! At ~ what lscerates my heart" wept
and sob6e the old man
sir you must dr'"E bottle of wine with I'M.
al the fesfaui"ht I e, and relate ~ me YOUR
story Ii you like, will return the compliment
you mine. Py.orehand, however I will
you need not jump down there, for am
, very rich mn; and if your story proves
. that you have contide1 to me, there will b..
no need of your daughter working any more.
nor viii either one of you have to suffer huu.
ger"
The wsepn! cd man allowed himself to be
led away. They entered the bar-rocm Soon
they were sitting comfortably at table over a
bottle of wine, and regarding each other cu,ioualy
by The lid Of the brig, light.
My story is soon told, commenced me older
oi 'he TWO, IN !irm tone. ~ am merchant,
but fortune has not smiled upon me; had no
money Of my own, and had loved aud married n
povr and lovely girl For this reason was ney.
sr "o1e to establish myself on my own footing,
o"t was obliged TO serve in other mercantile
houses, as cIerk or hook.keeper, till they could
NOV make any further use of mo, or rather would
not do so, and preferred the service. of Younger
men u mine. Bat ii my means were limited IN.
happiness OF homo YVES not My wife was An
arsoi OF goodness love aud gent'eress, pious and
tfr.' industrious aud Intelligent, and she based.
n n "A l,4sl do, -,