The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-01-11
Edgar Ashcroft's Bad Luck.

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Edgar Ashcroft hurried through the
streets at an unusually early hour in
the morning, for in general he was
given to late evening hours, and get
ting up in the morning whenever he
| felt like it. He did not pause until he
reached plain brich house in a quiet
street. Ringing the bell rather ex-
citedly, he inquired of the servant
who answered his summons:
Is your master in p - ~ -. -.
!" Yes" .sazeF 7af'El
Hand him my card, and ask him
if he will not see me. 80
The servant quickly reappcared
with the request that Edgar would
follow her into her masters presence.
Edgar was ushered into a pleasant
sitting room where his friend, Charles
years older than himself was seated
at table on which rested a small
trunk of business documents which
he had brought home for examination
his business being that of a lawyer.g I
"Whats brings yoa here at this early
hour, Ashcroft ?" asked the lawyer in
surprise.
ssBad news" said Edgar, thrusting
his hands into his waistcoat, and
speaking in an excited tone.
g Bad news? I am sorry to hear
that. But what is it ?"
"You remember / consulted you
three months ago about investing my
in the Lake Superior region"
II remember it perfectly !; / advised
you to have nothing to do with it,
"I wish I had taken your advice !;
but was fool enough to be dazzled
by the brilliant promises of the direc-
tors and the long and short of it is I
invested my whole fortune in the con-
cern."
d" Is it possible?"
ML wish it, wasn't, but it is.1nf -szes-s
Well, how has it turned out ?"
~" The shares are selling for five dol
lars where paid hundred"
r @How many shares did you take?"
Five hundred. That is, I invested
fifty thousand, and could only sell
out for twenty-five hundred to-day"
"SeH ont, said Holden, laconically.
What, and sacrifice nineteen twen-
tieths Of my fortune ?1 ca HIS 10
"Better that than, the whole"
GO But don't you think it worth any
thing 2"
"Not a cent"
There are some good mines there"
"True, but this was gotten up by
swindIers to cheat con5iding public
out of their money. It will go down
to nothing"
"But twenty-five hundred dollars
won't support me- said Ashcroft.
pfa" Do as de, them"
What 2u
~ :. Earn your living by your own ex-
"But,n said Edgar, 81 have never
been brought up to work"
Everybody ought to do some
thing" @a
g But consider my delicate health.
My constitution is very weak I can
assure you"
"I should think it oughtto be. You
turn night. into. day, and day into night
Late hours at parties, soirees and the
atres are enough to undermine any
constitution, when carried to the ex-
cess you are carrying them."
edo you really think that?"
Yes, do."
I never thought of that. Perhaps
you may be right; but if I were able,
what could do? Who would en-.
gage me as clerk w 80
:" How would you like to follow
my profession ?"
Gas lawyer?"
"Yes."
.'Isn't it hard work ?"
"Of course it is. Any body that ex-
poets to succeed in any profession
must look forward to hard work"
VIII you recommend it p
1 would recommend you to try it.
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll engage
you as my Office clerk, and pay you
fifty dollars a month. That will be
all youswill earn the first year, per-
haps more, but I'll agree to give it.
Then you can sell your shares and get
one hundred and fifty, annual interest
on what is left. That will make you
seven hundred and fifty year. in
come"
"How can live upon that" asked
Edgar in dismay. II can assure you
my tailer's bills amount to nearly
that" tl,4 HI 7sa y
I" Then you must change your tailor.
In fact, you must change your whole
mode of life. You must drop the
man of fashion and become the steady
going clerk"
cit will be hard" said the young
man, his expression indicating a men,
tai struggle. -.efer
But it is necessary. Then again
consider that it is only for time. You
will soon command good income.
am wiling to extend every asai stance