Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-07
Gales aud Skftehes.
THE HEART OF ROBERT HAMMOND.


and other securities that were not perhaps
quite as legitimate collaterals.
A cold, hard man, whose blood might
have been icc-water, and whose heart was
only machine to keep his brain in work
ing order. For Ralph was one of those
workers who ate his bread in the sweat OF
other mems brows, and rather prided him.
self upon the fact.
lie had married simple, illiterate wo-
man Tor her money, and as she quietly
slipped out of life after giving birth to .
son and daughter, leaving all her property
10 her husband, he was not disposed to
consider his marriage as an unwise specu.
lation.
How the children grew up suppose
their good angels knew. He gave them
food and clothing and shelter, and sent
them to school. But every year he be-
came conscious that they were growing to
an age when it would be impossible long,
er to ignore their existence. And this fact
struck him rot unpleasantly one fine sum-
mer evening. when they returned together
Tor the long vacation.
Robert the eldest, had become really
handsome fellow, and the father acknowl-
edged this the more readily because in ap-
pearance he
Stooo Uesiue MIN ike his own yOuth.o
But here the resemblance ceased. Moral.
y and mentally no too men could be more
unlike.
Lucy Hammond was brighter, fairer
copy OF her mother; pretty, gentle girl,
Not too bright or good,
FOR human natures daily food.o
So. Ralph coming one night to the dull.
silent house which is called "home' found
| oh ylyhi oh ha
knew how to manage. For though he
hardly acknowledged any love for his
| children. he was very sensitive as to what
ever touched his own pride and comfort;
and it gave him new sensation of pleas.
ure to consider this fine. manly youth as
his son. and the bright, pretty girl as Q
bond TO his wishes and commands.
However he did nothing on impulse,
He thought over all the circumstances
which might, could or would affect his own
welfare, and then resolved to take Robert
into his office and make Lucy the manager
OF home which he refurnished with os-
tentatious but grudging extravaganza.
AT first Roberts share in the business
was confined to its most legitimate aspects
and being apt and clever he won his wav
very rapidly into his fathers favor. But
as he became more familiar with the BUSH
ness, and found friendship, honor and in
tegrity only SO much stock in trade, bitter
disputes arose between them.
Not for this. however, had the elder
Hammond any idea of dissolving the busi-
ness relationship he had formed with his
son. UnwiItingly to Robert, his open
countenance and free, gentlemanly man
ners were useful in aluring that conf
dence which his own crafty countenance
would never have gained.
In the second year of their alliance,
however, these disputes grew every day
more determined in character, and Robert
finally summed up all his faults by ro-
mantle and improvident marriage with Z
girl whom old Ralph declared in a passion
OF anger, was not worth a penny" For
youth, beauty. virtue and love were not
marketable assets to a man who knew no
standard but 'cash"
The result of this marriage was total
estrangement between father and son.
and the erasure of the son 8 name from
the business. do not believe the last
result troubled Robert much, for he had
always spoken in contelnptuous terms of
the principles on which it was conducted.
Besides that he had made the girl be loved
his wife, had one thousand dollars in hard
cash and unlimited funds in the bank Of
faith and hope. The latter, however, he
found always below par in the market,
and ere long ne was pushed very close to
the wall indeed.
Very hard indeed were the first two
years to the Adventures. Poverty, suf.
tering and pitiful sense of the incongru-
Gus clements among which they had fall
len, had made up their life. But natures
like Robert Hammond's, though they may
be stunned for time, have in them such
an element Of life and strength that COM
plete prostration is impossible.
From the first blank despair, hope arose
with a strength and intensity exactly suit
ed to the circumstances. Work, manual
work. was first obtained, and its results
carefully used. In two more years he
had saved capital sufficient in those days
OF small pretensions to buy few thousand
feet of lumber.
l don't know quite how such things hap
pen-l suppose they are a natural Sc
quence of eyents-but gradually, almost
imperceptibly, the thousand became tens
of thousands of teet, and the small lum-
Der yard gradually extended itself along
the low sluggish Illinois river; while q
small fleet OF lake schooners waited on
the yard. aud there every arrival and de-
| PAL tuTc icit u odiauCc ou tuc IiSQt eiuC Va
Robert Hammond's books.
| For the first seven years desultory
correspondence was kept up with Lucy,
but the last news had all been unfavora-
BILE. Lucy had spoken Of great losses and
reverses, and intimated that she was
afraid they would have to relnquish their
old home.
Nor were these all her troubles; it was
evident she suffered much from her faith
er's growing irritability and unreasonable
ness, and that this was especially so at
any mention of Robert or his wherea-
bouts.
The unpleasantness of the news from
New York was in such direct contrast
with the surroundings Of his home, that
Robert might well be excused for not
seeking more Of it. Besides. his business
was constantly increasing, and required
all his thoughts during those hours In
which men may work; SO that when he
reached his home. the atf.ctionate care of
his pretty wife and the encircling arms Of
IcoXTNUIp ON youRrH pAoE.J