The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-25
FLOWER OF THE DAISY.
A Story Of Christmas.

Il
and, perched on his three.legged stool, in
the COnnting-rOom Of the great house Of
WOrthihgton brothers, old Joe Darling,
the ancient boOk.keeper OF the firm, was
finishing his Saturday nights entries.
While thus engaged, hand was laid on
his shoulder, aud, turning his head, he
saw his old gray.haired employer, the
) sole survivor OF the firm, beside him.
ut u the last time, my old friend" said
the merchant, pointing to the ledger; 1.-THE
news this evening decides everything.
Unless something happens before the first
Of January, WOrthingtOn Brothers must
close doors, and wind up business, Joe p
Old Joe started as he listened TO these
melancholy words, and tremor ran
through him.
Don't say that don't shy that, Mr..
WOrthingtOn, sir" he exclaimed. And
he dabbed his bald forehead with his old
bandanna handkerchief as he spoke.
Don't say that Worthington Brothers
will suspend payment sir p
worse than that, joe" returned the
old merchant, with heavg sigh. II see
no hope Of Tesuming The great failures
In Europe have hOpelesSly involved US
so that"-he stopped, with q gloomy ex.
preston in his eyes-'lsO that, on or be.
lore the first of January" he added, "the
house will close its doors, l conld bear
that but, when / think that the name of
WorIhington Brothers will be-dishOn-
Ored-" .... .........
There the old merchant broke down.
Joe Darling seized bis hand, and cried, in
a trembling voice;
Don't, don'tI-don't say that, sir
Don't use that word 'dishonored = It's
not SO bad !"
"'uin uinl-utter ruin p groaned tho
merchant ..
rNo, no; not ruin see here, sir. l.
ll-you sec, | have saved LITTLE w.
And old Joe drew from his pocket
book, with unsteady hands, certificates of
STaEeit sri 1t was made in your
service Honestly made-therc's not
dirty shilling NIT, sir. 1t is yours-and
-
He thrust the papers into the mer.
chants hand. But Mr.. WorLhington
pushed them back.
mo, old friend" said tho merchant,
signing deeply, but speaking In voice oil
resignation-"no, that is not the way
WOrthingtOn Brothers do business II
We fall, il shall DO Observation-Disclosures
honorable, exertion. We will not drag
down our frienL6i and you, Joe, arc our
Oldest and best No, the house has kept
faith and honor for fifty years, II ruin
comes, we will go down alone. 1t Is not
our fault. l will do my duty, and trust
In God, Joe, to the end p
AS he spoke, the old merchant went to
his sale and took out u roll Of bAnk.notes
Then he directed the various employees
to be sent for, and paid them all up to
the end of the week. lilo had kind
word Tor each, and an inquiry about eve.
ry mans family or concerns md then he
turned TO his desk. But tho men did
not go.
"What arc you waiting for, my friends
Can | assist you In any manncrw asked
the old merchant,
"lf you please, sir" said the foremost
of the party, 1--WE would like To leave our
money in your hands-Eh"
And tho speaker turned towards his
rough companions, who uttered a hoarse
murmlir Of assent.
leave your money in my hands " said
tho merchants.
Jest 50, sir" was the reply. ave hear
tell how times arc hard with Worthing-
ton Brothers, and the house In difficulties.
Now, VIC don't want our money rs yet,
Mr.. WorthingtOn,-Ehp DO you"
And he looked towards those 10 the
rear. Another growl OF assent replied
"All which," tho spokesman added,
"gocs to say, sir, that we are not In want
Keep the money, Mr.. Worthington
The merchant gazed, with deep emo.
tiOn, at the rough, honest faces.
"Thanks, thanks, my kind friends |" he
said. 81 now sec what II Is to try to do
our duty. This proof Of your friendship
touches me deoply-but ! cannot accept
your offer Such small sum, besides,
would he of little service TO me. No, no
keep It, and may God bless you and
yours " ~ ..."
The employees retired on this, not dar-
ing, II seemed, TO intrude further on the
head Of the house.
"Father In heaven, ! thank Thee
murmurcd the merchant, and, turning
away, he picked up the evening paper to
hide his emotion. AS his eye fell upon II,
0 paragraph attracted his attention. 1t
announced the failure Of the bank In
Which the old bOok.keeper's savings had
all been deposited With a sigh, he
handed II to Joe Darling, and said ,.
" deeply regret this, my old friend.
My ruin was cnOughH
Old Joe read the announcement with a
sinking heart, and echoed the sigh OF his
old friend. .H. . ..# .. =,
1.-THE Lords will DO done, sir !" he said
"you might have had 0ll-but | am now
Your trouble Is greater than
mine. Any letters, sir, by tOnights
mailY Any resources, or important In
telligence?
mo resources, Joe, and bad news
almost worse than al"
"Worsc, cir Pc lF.et8.
Eyes, yes. You remember my son
course you remember him.
You know he went about two years since
70 live with Van Zandt IL Co., at Ant
kerp"
ayes, sir. What Of himP Don't tell
Is not dead, sir |" III
"No-that pang Is spared inc, but
have bad, very bad news Of Charley, my
old friend wrote recently announcing
our situation, and recommending his re-
turn, and Messrs. Van Zandt Il Co., re.
Piled that he had left them nearly q year
ago"
I,eit tbem?1 ...... al,
"Ycs. YES. flo had fallen into evil
courses, and they reprimanded him
when lie went off, no one knew where.
Letters were written by me to the house,
but they must have miscarred. Nothing
has since been heard Of Charley. l lear
he has taken 10 more evil ways STILL He
may be dead indeed Unhappy that
nr,i ali cnnnprinI with mo seems To turn