Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-22
Shattered by the First Storm.

almori with indignation. "lt is folly"
And gain ten said old Mr.. Melville
Tho earlier young man goes into bust
ness, the oftener he has got to fail before
he u Tvs wise enough and strong enough
for success. My advice is TO wait until
you are thirty There will be ten chances
in your favor then to one in your favor
now
But Harry considered his father old
fogyish and behind the times, and so lei
bis prudent counsel 90 for naught lie had
been three years in a jobbing house on
Market street, and considered himself fully
posted up in business matters, and quite
equal to the common run Of merchants
Indeed, to hear Harry talk on matters OF
trade was quite edifying and an uuinitiated
listener wonld hardly fail to give him credit
for considerable more than was his due.
Harry Melville had ten thousand dollars
left to him by an uncle. At twenty-one, the
property came into his hands. 1t was in
the shape Of State stocks, and readily con.
vertbIe into money. Upon this sum be
commenced business, in company with a
young friend about his own age, and about
equally experienced.
Ten thousand dollars 10 cash was some
thing Of basis for credit; and although
our young merchants expended twenty-five
hundred dollars in fitting up their store,
they found no difficulty in stocking it with
more than all the goods they needed.
TIE times were propitious. Credit was
cheap Everybody bought and everybody
sold, with scarcely the iormality of inquiry
as to the basis upon which confidence rested
lu less than two years, Melville Il Morris
were doing business at the fast rate of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars per an
mum, and making fabulous profits To
marry and set up fashy domestic establish
ments came as a natural result Both the
young partners committed this additional
folly. To marry would have been well
enough, if modest Prudence had smiled her
quiet blessings on the rites. But, as it
was. silly Pride and weak Ambition reigned
triumphant.
Old Mr. Melville shook his head, looked
grave, and demonstrated 10 private with bis
son but Harry grew impatient at the old
gentleman's narrow-thoughted interference,
and finally requested him to cease the rep
etiton Of language that was only felt as an
annoyance. OF Ofcourse, the father was hurt,
aud did not 90 near his son again for some
weeks. As peace-offering, Harry bought
new house, for which he paid down three
thousand dollars in cash, and gave his notes
for the balance thousand With the
title.deeds in bis pocket, he called at the
modest paternal residence. Mr.. Melville
received his son kindly, yet not with the
old cordiality, for one or two sentences ut.
tered during the last interview stung him
severely, and the pain had not yet subsided.
What are these ?" asked the elder Mr..
Melville, as Harry laid upon a table, be-
fore his father, the title papers Of the new
house.
Read them" was the smiling answer.
With a half-curious manner. Mr.. Melville
opened broad parchment sheet. His eyes
glanced hurriedly over the contents; but
his face, instead of Frightening, grew
clouded Explain this, Harry" he said
looking up at his son.
Docs it not explain itself, father2'
No"
, Mr. Melville shook his head, to make hi
. " no still more emphatic.
Il have always looked forward to thi
, time with pleasure that words can hardly
express, said Harry, leaning towards hi
, father, aud speaking with sudden warmth
, Of manner. These papers are simply thu
j ttle.deeds Of house, which is yours
+ Take them, as some small return for al
that | owe you. A sons debt to a GOO
= father can never be wholly cancelled"
E Mr. Melville was touched by this act
! aud softened by the manner of his SON Fo
q almost a minute he sat with his gaze upor
/ the floor. Then, looking up, he said, in
low voice that trembled with suppresse'
r feeling My dear boy, it pains me deepl.
= to refuse what, in the generous impulse o
f your heart, is nos so freely offered. Blu
. this house is not yours to give, and, there
f fore, honor and right compel me to decliu
0 its acceptance"
!, Not mine to give? Father, what d
- you mean2"
$ " II belongs to your creditors, Harry"
!. My creditors! Am |, then, only
G bankrupt in your eyesP Father, this
Y too much 90
|. "You are scarcely two years in business
: my son; aud now you propose to take troI
Il that business two-thirds Of your origini
6 capital, aud put it into house for me-"
II +" But we have made over fifty thousan
dollars, and are actually coming money
our business
"Profts on paper at best" answered Il
incorrigiblo old man. =" But my word #
it, if the footing up is SO large, there is
>, mistake in the figures somewhere. III
7. thing regard as simply impossible. Yc
| are dashiug ahead at too desperate spee
d my sou, as | have before declared at
u Just as sure as any disastrous change
pr the business world takes place, will you
is hurled to swirl destruction"
As In anger, Harry parted with his fath'
d on that day. On the next, his bank offe
b, ngs we're all thrown out. He called,
At surprise, upon the cashier, to ask the rel
y son. There was a stringency in the mark
in --an unusual demand for money depos
10 tors were drawing out heavily, aud u
lie bank was restricting its loans. This wi
lu tue comfort nc received. hc uleu W W.
h, row from accommodating neighbors; b'
10 everybody had been cut down or of I
At the bank, aud 50 everybody was "shorl
10 A pulse Of fear throbbcd suddenly in Il
heart Of Harry Melville, He took dow
sundry bank notices from a rack, and a
~ certained the amount which must be pa
Of before three O'Clock. The sum reached Il
rs uncomfortable aggregate of fifteen ;housar
p. dollars, while the bank balance was belo
A three thousand SO there were twelve tho
III sand to raise
ly Young Melville considered himself gre
no as 6nancier. His self-conddence owe
! ! Ieaped all possibilities and impossibilltie
10 But the time Of trial and proof had con
I'd now. Credit and confidence are sensiti'
things. When banks restrict, private len
ers take the alarm and the price Of mon'
tn goes up to ruinous figures. So our your
~ merchant found il. Melvile's fnancieriI
y operations on that day were things for aite
or remembrance. lie has, probably, not 70
gotten them up to this time AT thr