Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-23
The Heart of Robert Hammond

Thirty years ago Ralph Hammond was
a famous operator " in money, bonds
and other securities that were not perhaps
quite as legitimate collaterals.
4 cold. hard nan, whose blood might
have been ice-water, aud whose heart was
only a machine to keep his brain in working
order. For Ralph was one Of those who
ate his bread in the sweat of other men S
brows and rather prided himself upon the
fact.
lie had married simple, illiterate
woman for her money. and as she quietly
slipped out Of life after giving birth to a
son and daughter, leaving all her property
to her husband he was not disposed to
consider his marriage as an unwise specu
aton.
How the children grew up suppose
their geo angels knew. He gave them
food and clothing and shelter, and sent
them to school. But every year he became
conscious that they were growing to an
age when it would be impossible longer to
ignore their existence. And this fact
struck him not unpleasantly one fine sum-
mer evening, when they returned together
for the iong vacation.
Robert, the eldest, had become really
handsome fellow, and the father ackuowl-
edged this the more readily because in ap.
pearance he
'styol beside him like hi. own youth"
But here thc resemblance ceased. Nor
ally and mentally no two 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"
So Ralph coming one night to the dull,
silent house which is called " home,'' found
there new element which he scarcely
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.
Aud it gave him a new sensation Of pleas
ure to consider this fine, manly youth as
his son, and the bright, pretty girl as
d 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 be refurnished
with ostentatious but grudging extrava-
gancc
At first Roberts share in the business
was confined to its most Legitimate aspects,
and being apt and clever he won his way
very rapidly into his fathers favor But
as be became more familiar with the busi-
ness, and found friendship, honor and in
tegrity only SO much stock in trade, bit
ter disputes arose between them.
Not for this, however, had the elder
Hammond any idea of dissolving the busl-
ness relationship he had formed with his
son. UnwittingIy to Robert, his open
countenance and free, gentlemanly man
ners were useful in aluring that conf
dence which his own crafty countenance
never would have gained.
In the second year Of their alliance,
however, these disputes grew every day
more determined in character, and Robert
finally summoned up all his faults by a
romantic and improvdent marriage with a
girl whom old Ralph declared in passion
of anger, "was not worth penny For
youth, beauty, virtue and love were not
marketable assets to man who knew no
standard not " cash.
The result of this marriage was total
estrangement between father and son, and
erasure Of the sons name from the bust.
ness. | do not believe the last result
troubled Robert much, for he had always
spoken in contemptuous terms of the prin,
ciples on which it was conducted, Besides