Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-24
friends q, Can I assist you IN any

/
And the speaker turned toward his
companions, who uttered a hoarse MUIR
muir of assent.
"Leave your money in my hands e.
said the merchant.
"Just SO, sir" was the reply. owe
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. Eli ?
Do you2"
And he looked toward those in the
rear. Another growl of assent replied.
CAL 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. 'EThis proof of your friend
ship touched me deeply--but I cannot
accept your offer. Such 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, a paragraph attracted his at
tention. 1t announced the failure OF
the bank in which his old book-keeper's
savings had been deposited. With a
sigh he handed it 10 Joe Darling, and
said
'eI deeply regret this, my old friend.
My 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 penniless. Your trouble is
greater than mine. Any letters, sir,
by to-night's mail Any resources OF
il1 portant intelli gence 2"
"No resources, joe, and bad news
almost worse than ALL"
. Worse, sir J"
'Yes, yes, You remember my son
Charley; of course you remember him.
You know he went about two years
since to live with Van Zandt & Go. at
Antwerp?"
eyes, sir. What of him? Don't
tell me-he is not dead, sir 2"
enc that pang is spared me, but I
have bad, very bad news of Charley,
my old friend. I wrote recently, an
nounclng our situation, and recon-
mending his return, and Messrs. Van
Zandt & Co. replied that he left them
nearly year ago"
Left them?"
eyes, yes. He bad fallen into evil
courses, and tue, reprimanded him
when he went off, no one knew where
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 I am all connected
with me seem to turn out badly"
The merchant uttered a groan. Old
Joe looked at him with deep commits
seration.
81 am more unfortunate than you
are, Mr.. Worthington," he said, in a
! low tone, 81 had son-a noble boy
he is dead, sir! You knew my Ed
mund! He was so handsome, so spir-
tied, so bold !; and he was lost at sea
He was on whaler-the ship foun
dered, and the crew were lost. My
poor Edmund We are truly unfortu-
nate fathers, STRIP
There the conversation ended, and
the merchant and book-keeper separ-
ated.
Through the 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 TO have
grown cold, and regretted their ina
billty to render assistance; and it was
only by great sacrifices that the house
succeeded in making all payments up
the day before Christmas. In this,
however, the firm succeeded, and as
Mr.. Worthington locked his safe, and
put on his hat, he drew long breath
of relief. Then, taking his old book
keepers arm, he went homeward with
a thankful heart, and, as they separated
at the corner, he murmured:
g Let us keep good heart yet, old
friend"
II.
Christmas. morning, and the snow
was falling and the wind whirling it
around like mad. A thousand COLLINS
seemed laughing and turning summer
saults and halling each other as they
sported round the gables and whistled
through the keyholes and chimneys,
wild with mirth at the coming of
Christmas, and old Joe Darling's small
house, in a remote street OF the great
city, seemed especially honored by the
hobgoblins, who shook the windows
till they ratified again.
A great fire was burning and the
break fast-table was set, and ola Joe
was rubbing his hands in front of the
blaze and looking out of the window,
when voice behind him, with a rush
OF laughter in it and sounding like a
silver bell, exclaimed:
Christmas gift, father, dear! I've
caught you"
Old Joe turned round. AS he did SO
pair of rosy lips pressed his cheek
and two arms cluug around his neck,
belonging to little fairy of seventeen.