Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-13

RUINED


"The man is ruined-hopelessly, ire
trievably ruined !" .-.
The words startled me.
Il hope it is not SO bad as that" said
the individual to whom the remark was
made.
Even so bad.n
"Of whom are you speaking, sir?" L
Ventured to ask.
"Of Jacob Atwood
l started to my feet with sorrow and as
tonishment. He was one of my old init
mate, and long-tried friends.
Ruined, did you say? That man ru-
ined! Impossible! [ cannot believe that
he is ruined!n .
"There is no doubt of it. 1 received my
information direct from those who have
the very best'right to know.n
whatever has he done to cause his ru-
in?" | asked, eagerly.
My question was received in silence, as
if the meaning was not clearly apprehend
ed.
Is he defauter ~
mo" The answer showed unusual
surprise at my question
HAS he betrayed an honorable trust re-
posed in him by any of his fellow men ?"
mo, sir his integrity is. without ques-
ton. In all his public relations he was
true as steel to principle"
what then? &? Has he placed any por-
ton Of his property beyond the reach of
creditors who have just claims upon him ?n
He has given up everything-even to
the furniture of his house. Not pound
has been retained and he goes forth into
the world perfectly penniless in fact, he
is ruined man."
"Oh, no, said l, speaking out warmly,
Not i'll any sense a ruined man. The
merchant may be ruined, but thank God
the man is whole"
The little company looked at me for a
moment or two, half in surprise.
1.-THE man is all right" / went on.
"Only the scaffolding on which the work
man stood who was building up his char
acter has fallen. Erect, calm, noble, hon
est he stands, now, in the sunshine and
storm. Arour d his majestic brow the
clouds may gah,er; upon it the tempest
may beat; but he is immOvable III his
great integrity"
Some smiled at my enthusiasm. To
them there was nothing of the sublime in
a ruined merchant. Others looked more
thoughtful than before; and one said feeb
ly:
"There is something after all in what
you say"
Something in that! 1 should think
there was
1t was the first intelligence l had received |
of my friends worldly misfortune, and it |
grieved me, In the evening L went to see
Jacob Atwood. The windows of the ele- |
giant residence where he had lived for |
years was closed 1 looked up at the |
house-it had deserted aspect. / rang |
the bell no one answered my summons.
l could not repress the feeling of sad
ness that came over me. The trial must !
have been severe even for q brave heart |
like that of my friend.
II must find him." said l. And l did |
find him; but far away from the neigh
bOrhoOd where merchant princes have
their palace homes. The house into
which he had retired with his family was
small, and mean, and comfortless in COM
parison with the elegant abode from
which he had removed. 1 rang and was
admitted. The parlOr into which I was
shown was small room, and the furni-
ture not mucn better than we often see in
the houses of well-to-dO mechanics or
clerks on moderate salaries. But every
thing was in order and most scrupulously
clean.
had made only hurried observation,
when Mr.. Atwood entered. He looked
care-worn; his face was paler
than when last saw him, his eyes a little
duller, his smile less cheerful. The marks
of trial and suffering were plainly visible.
1t would have been almost miracle had
it been otherwise. But he did not exhib-
it the aspect ola ruined man. He grasped
my hand very warmly, and said it was
pleasant to look into the face of an old
friend. l offered him words of heartfelt
sympathy.
1.-The worst is over" he answered with
manly cheerfulness, land nothing is lost
which may not be regained. / have found
the bottom, know where | am, and there
is strength enough left in me to stand up
amid the rushing waters. The best of all
is, my property which has been apportion-
to my creditors, ,,OiU pay every debt. That
gives my heart its lightest pulsations."
II heard that you were ruined, said l
as we sat talking together; but find that
the man is whole. Not a principle inva-
ded by the enemy-nOt sentiment lost
not a jewel in the crown of honor miss
ing"
He took my hand, and grasping it hard,
he looked in my face very steadily for
some moments, and then in q subdued
and tremulous voice, he made answer
II trust it is even SO, my fIiend. But
there were seasons in the worst than Egyp-
tian IIight through which 1 have passed,
wITn the tempter's power seemed about
to crush me. For myself | cared little;
far my wife and children everything. The
thought Of seeing them go out from the
pleasant home l had prvided for them,
and to step down, far down, to lower lev
ell in the social grade, half distracted me
fora time. For them [ would have braved
any thing but an evil deed. That is a sin
against God. l could not bow TO that.
And so L passed the fiery ordeal, and have
come out, through a more than human
strength, trust, better man. No, no,
no, my friend, l am not ruiued. L have
lost my fortune, but not my integrity.
And so the man stood firm. 1t was not
in the power of any commercial disaster
to ruin him. The storm ragged furiously, the
stood immovabie, for his feet were upon
solid rock.
The Boston Post says of England: 1.-THE
shadow lies upon the land; the most intel
ligent and celebrated of Englishmen see it
and talk of If dailV. the reVOlutiOn (which