The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-02
A NnGEgr a. vHRROR.

fbre. soure wears and ten During tifty-hve
Of those wears | was actively engaged IN the
linen trade. | successively occupied The po-
sition of w0rking-man, beok-keeper, JunIor
partner and head Of the establishment. Inc
events Of the last twenty years seem forgot
ten ike the years before the Hood out lh5
davs of nv life half a century ago, with all
their labsrs. sorrows and ! 'ys, are as IreSu
iu my recollection as ON the day succeeding
their occurrence. In this, my happy soit-
rude, ! live retired. My surviving Children
have all gone to distant 'ands,
Here. stiIl united to the dear partner OF
nv life, who has shared with me the events
To which | alluded. | am passing through
the closing scenes Of my earthly pilgrimage
Nearly all ! ever $50 now of the outer world
L. the waving of the laurel trees from my
chamber wiuioUs and almost all | hear is
the distant sound Of the engine in the works
where my life has been spent, and which Is
cutjuuei by young hands with as much reg
rarity and success as if | bad never been
born | also hear at stated hours, and some
times got 4 momcutary glance of the passing
train on the railroad in the valley below, and
talcy it resembles my life 1t is seen, it i
heard, it Is looked upon for brief period.
then it passes away lrcm our sight aud leaves
no trace behind
Ia my early days the linen trade was diff
fcreut from that Of the present time. Then the
spinning Of the arm, and the weaving of IT.,
were performed in the cottages cf Ulster. 10
every dwelling the cheerful sounds of the
spinning wheel aua shuttle were heard. The
markets of the north Of Ireland were where
the brown linen webs were sold to the linen
merchants. Now the spinning and weaving
are performed by machinery in huge factor
les, aud country markets are 90 longer the
al I, nd mo
chants meet to sell and buy their merchan-
diss. In those days, sverv merchant IN the
linen tIade attended the markets Of the sur
r.undiug country to buy his goods, and
would frequently be absent from home many
days in succession.
Once while commencing mercantile tour
Of this kind. with two thousand pounds in
my pocket, stopped ali night, by invitation,
at the home Of Mr.. Robert Thompson, an in
innate friend of mine, who was then an ex~
tausive linen bIeachcr at Wolf Glen, some
nine miles from here. | had often before
been the guest Of this gentleman, and he and
bis family had as often been welcome visitors
nt my house. About this time it was whis~
pered that he was financially embarrassed
some visionary speculation had been attend
ei with heavy loss, and lie WAS believed to
la destitute Of the means 10 carry on his
business. Shortly after my arrival at his
house, he took me to his stable and showed
rs 4 beautiful! pair Of horse. he had lately
tpus sht. From thence We went to lock at d
rsw aud elegant carriage which had been
II He'd to his rolling stock. | congratulated
rIm upon the recent purchases aud was hap
~ to see such evidences If wealth and pIos>
} Gritty.
You regard this in its true light" he
snil. NO gentlemaa can afford snch things
except he bs a man of wealth. There is not
uoblemau in Belfast who has a fler turn
ont than have"
We then retired to a private office, where
my friend desired to consult me on s1me
matters Of business. lie tneu iufJrmel me
that lis trade was never in so furnishing a
condi ion as ct that time. He bad made more
than in all his previous life. Ia a few days
h. woul receive bills Of exchange from New
York fer so 900, the proceeds of goods he
had exported some ten months previous.
LA fact" he continued, Il hold thesa let
ters say ing that the bills will be RENTED by
the Xt packet. 1 am not in need Of money
mt present, but as | desire to keep good
balance 20 my credit in bank, l wish you to
accrmmodate me by accepting this bill for
g 500. Tho bIuk will discount it, ana
ethaps next week l will return you the
mDley to meet the payment, so that you will
10 the gamer, and not [. Dyu't you see
that it Will be for our OWu buuCG p
[ inquired what was the nature ef the
transaction between us thatrcquireI this bill
L. balance it. liz replied:
There Is noue; it is ouly an acconlmola-
tion to me 70 place tho amount TO my credit
ia the bank. Just soon as | reysve the
bills from New York 1 will return the money
aud you can use it in your own business until
tho payment becomes due"
\ bill Of this kind, given merely to borrow
money on, is called kite | never knew
one Of them to be used except by men en- the
eve of bankruptcy. saw the whole trans
action at once. Mr.. Thompson was 10 a
great financial difficulty, and he was too
proud to confess it. His recent extravagaucs
in living was only to conceal mis- emburrass-
meut. Ii | accepted this blll the evil day
awaiting him might be lostponed. but vould
not Oe prevented. Ia the cad | would be
certain 10 lose oil the money which my sig
nature would enable him 10 procure. there
fore gave him firm and decided r,fu.al. All
his pleadings aud eutreales could not move
ne, ankle taaiiy gave up his opportunities
10 ponder upon some new scheme.
We then withdrew TO the house and soon
rat down to supper. Wine was after wards
introduced, aud some "muuutaiu dew" the
prod Of a secluded g!ea IL the neigh
borhood and which was guiltless Of tue iu-
spsction Of any officer Of his maiesty's SER
vice. The two daughters Of Mr.. ThUmpg
and lady visitor, entertained the company
with most iavprite airs on the piano. Sew
eral songs were sung, aud it was not until the
watchman. making his accustomed inspec~
tion outside, told the hour Of retiring, that
thought of going 10 my bed room. Mr.
Thompson conducted me TO my chamber. and
placing a candle on the table, bade rue coed
Mol I CLOSED the door. and dctarled ,l..O,rt
s;airs.
Wkilc I uuiresscd and extnsuished the
light, l heard the distantsouud Of the church
click Of Belfast chime the midnight hour,
and the shout, Past tweIvel'' from tfty
voices, came laintly from the guardians OF
the night. slept sJundly for few hours
until some dream awakened train e IDEAS
that aroused me. At this moment heard
or faucied | heard, the low and caution.