Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-08-16
RUINED.


the individual to whom the remark was
made. .- lH ..F..t.f 81. ...... .....I d. tr.
'Even so bad.n ..t..I r-r
at"of whom are you speaking, sir2'
ventured to ask. -.. ..... .'t. .... ..
= "Of Jacob Atwood .rHa-
/ started to my feet with sorrow and as
constituent. lie was one of my old, init
mate, and long-tried friends. ..
Ruined, did YOU say? 1H,Qt man ru-
iued Impossible! | cannot believe that
he is ruined' lrs .-r. .Hr. .. ~,
There is 40 doubt of it, L received my
information direct from those who have
the very best right to know r.a.
Whatever has he done to cause his ru-
in?' | asked, eagerly. H... .
My question was received in silence, as
If the meaning wasnot clearly apprehend-
ed. ......tH ........t
is he defaulterGp tsn-aa.-# ...
b." Mo- The answer showed unusual
surprise at my question .a.
HAS he betrayed an honorable trust re-
posed in him by any of his ielOw-men Z"
mo, sir; his integrtyais without ques-
| ton. In all his public relations he was
| true as steel to principle.
"What then 2 Has he placed any por-
| ton of his property beyond the reach of
creditors who have justclaimS upon him?h
| He has given up eVerything-eVen to
| the furnitur of his house. Not II pound
has been retained and he goes forth into
the world perfect yrpennilcss i'm fact he
| IS a ruined Man, ru..Hg
| "Oh, no, saiti / speaking out warmly,
Not in any sense u ruined man The
| merchant may be ruined, but, thank God
/ the 7a03l is whole.li .t.ra.....
The little company looked at me for II
moment or two, half in surprise.
1.-The man is all right | went on.
| "Only the scatiolding 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. Around his majestic brow the
clouds may gahter; upon it the tempest
may beat; but he is immovable in 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 saw
Something in that! | should think
there was.
1t was the first intelligence | had received
of my friends worldly misfortune, and it
grieNed me, In the evening | went to see
Jacob Atwood The windows of the ele-
| giant residence where he had lived for
years was closed / looked up ut the
f house-it had deserted aspect. | rang
the bell; no one answered my summons.
| could not repress the feeling of sad
ness that came over me. The trial must
nave been severe even for II brave heart
like that of my friend.
81 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 wa,
small and mean, and comiOrtless in com
parison with the elegant abode from
which lac had removed. | rang and was
admitted. The paror into which ! wa
shown was Il small room, and the turni'
ture not mucn better than we often see IL
the houses of well-to-do mechanics 81
clerks on moderate salaries. But every
: thing was in order and most scrupulOusly
Il clean
! had made only hurried observation
when Mr. Atwood entered. He looked
something care-worn; his face was pale
, than when last saw him, his eyes little
\ duller, his smile less cheerful The marks
of trial and suffering were plainly visible
D 1t would have been almost II miracle hao
r it been otherwise. But he did not eXhib
Q il the aspect ola ruined man. He grasped
Z my hand very warmly, and said it wa
pleasant to look into the face of an ole
friend. L offered him words of heaTtfeli
sympathy. --lI- tt
'"l'he worst is over" lac answered will
manly cheerfulness land nothing is los
; which may not be regained. | have foun'
| IilS DDLlOlll, KNOW WIeI6 uiils anu lIiSi'
is strength enough left in me to stand M
amid the rushing waters. The best of all
is, my property which has been appOrtion
, to my creditors, grill pay every dc6t Tina
1 gives my heart its lightest pusations.'
~ heard that you were ruined, said
# as we sat talking together; but find tina
S the man is whole. Not principle inva
4 ded by the enemy-not sentiment lost
not jewel in the crown of honor miss
c ling .. .H.I ra ....
& He took my hand, and grasping it hard
e he looked in my face very steadily 70
e some moments, and then i'll subdue'
d and tremulous voice, he made answer
O II trust. it is even so, my friend. Bu
: there were seasons in the worst than Egyp
tian night through which L have passed
n when the tempter's power seemed abou
o to crush me. For myself L cared little
> far my wife and children everything. Th'
IS thought of seeing them go out from tn
e pleasant home i had prvided for them
. and to step down, far down, to lower lev
i el in the social grade, half distracted IN
: fora time. For them would have brave'
any thing but am evil deed. That is n iii
against God. L could not bow TO that
c Aud so passed the fiery ordeal, and hav
h come out, throughla more than humal
q strength, trust, a better man. No, nc
" no, my friend, | am not Tuiued. l hay
4 lost my fortune, but not my integrity.
h And so the man stood firm. 1t was nc
v in the power of any commercial disilste
b to ruin him. The storm ragged furiously, tn
4 waves peat madly against him, but Il