River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-12-23

| III you please, Sir, sald the Iofe-
most of the party, "we would like to
leave our money in your hands. Eth z"
And the speaker turned toward his
companions, who uttered hoarse muir.
muir of assent.
leave your money in my hands ~
said the merchant.
"Just so, Sir, )" was the reply. eve
hear tell how times are hard with
Worthington Brothers, and the house
in difficulties. Now, We don't want our
money as yet, Mr.. Worthington. Eth 2
Do you Z"
And he looked toward those in the
rear. Another growl of assent replied.
All which, the spokesman added,
"goes to show, sir, that we are not in
want. Keep the money, Mr.. Worth.
ington."
The merchant gazed, with deep
emotion, at the rough, honest faces.
"Thanks, thanks, my kind friends |"
he said. This proof of your friend
ship touched me deeply--but 1 cannot
accept your offer. Such a small sum,
besides, would be of little service. No,
no keep it, and may God bless you
and yours !"
The employees retired on this, not
daring, it seemed, to intrude further
on the head OF the house.
"Father in Heaven, thank Thee !"
murmured the merchant, and, turning
away, he picked up the evening paper
to hide his emotion. AS his eyes fell
upon it, paragraph attracted his at
tention. 1t announced the failure OF
the bank in which his old ok-keepers
savings had been deposited. With a
sigh he handed it to Joe Darling, and
said
81 deeply regret this, my old friend.
Ny ruin was enough !"
Old Joe read the announcement with
sinking heart, and echoed the sigh of
his old friend.
"The Lords will be done, sir !" he
said "you ought to have all--but
am now pen1iless. Your trouble is
greater than mine. Any letters, sir,
by to-niGht's mail Any resources oil
important intelligence 2"
"No resources, Joe, and bad news
almost worse than all. -
Worse, sirl"
eyes, yes, You remember my son
Charley; of course you remember him.
You know he went about two years
since TO live with Van Zandt & Co. at
Antwerp3"
Yes, sir. What OF him2 Don't
tell me he is not dead, sir Z"
No-that pang is spared me, but |
have bad, very bad news OF Charley,
my old friend. | wrote recently, an.
nouncng our situation, and recon.
mending his return, aud Messrs. Van
Zandt & Co. replied that he left them
nearly year ago
" Left theml"
Eyes, yes. He had fallen into evil
courses, and tdey reprimanded him
when be went of, No one knew where.
Letters were written TO me by the
house, but they must have miscarried.
Nothing has since been heard of Char.
ley. / fear he has taken to more evil
ways still. He may be dead indeed
Unhappy that / am all connected
with me seem to turn out badly
The merchant uttered groan. Old
Joe looked at HIM with deep commits.
seratlon.
am more unfortunate than you
are, Mr.. Worthington, he said, in a
low tone, 4" | had a soma noble boy
he is dead, sir You knew my Ed
mundl He was so handsome, so spir.
tied, so bold and he was lost at sea
/, He was on n whaler-the ship foun.
! dered, and the crew were lost. My
poor Edmund We are truly unfortu-
nate fathers, sir l'
There the conversation ended, and
the merchant and book-keeper separ-
ated.
Through tho following week untir-
ing efforts were made to collect the
resources of Worthington Brothers.
But slight success crowned the mer-
chants efforts TO rescue the house.
Friends of past years seemed 20 have
grown cold, and regretted their ina
bility TO render assistance; aud it was
, only by great sacrifices that the house
! succeeded in making all payments NJ
the day before Christmas. In this
however, the firm succeeded, and as
, Mr.. Worthington locked his safe, and
put ON his hat, he drew n long breatl
of relief. Then, taking his old book
] keepers arm, he went homeward Will
~ tnWAhiui hNtAtf hAlAf 10 ttAtN = Hhlhltt
at the corner, he murmurcd
Let US keep a good heart yet, old
/, friend -
III.
Christmas morning, and the snow
was falling and the wind whirling il
around like mad A thousand COLLINS
seemed laughing and turning summer.
sauts and haIling each other as they
spoited round tho gables and whistled
through the keyholcs and chnnneys,
wild with mirth at the coming OF
Christmas, aud old Joe Darlings small
Louise, in remote street OF the great
city, seemed especially honored 10y the
hobgobhns, who shook the windows
| till they ratified again.
A great fire was burning and the
. eakfast-table was set, and ola Joe
% was rubbing his hands in front of the
blaze and looking out OF the window.
S when voice behind him, with rush
of laughter in IL and sounding like a
I silver bell, exclaimed
Il Christmas gilt, father, dear ",