Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-29
ANNIE BELL.
BY MARIA j. MACINTOSH.

BY MARIA j. MACINTOSH.
WHEN John Bell, the old merchant, re.
tired upon capital of one hundred thou
sand dollars, the people of his native
town thought him a man of almost mex
haustible wealth, for those were times
Ia which men lived comfortably on an
income of twenty-five hundred dollars,
and luXuriously on one of five thousand.
John Bell was an old-fashiOned man. He
had carried conscience into his business,
and, what was perhaps more remarkable,
he had brought a conscience out of it.
He knew that he was called Honest
John Bell" and he priced the title more
than he did his wealth-far more than he
would have done the prefix honorable to
his name, won as he knew that title too
often is by chicanery and intrigue. John
Bell was still hale man Of middle age
when he withdrew to the town of E.,
in New Hampshire, with son sixteen
years old and a daughter only eight.
That son was the unsupported cause OF
his pausing in the full course of success
full trade, sitting the promptings of am
bitiOn and the eager strivings of an active
nature, and settling himself down to the
stiffness of country town within sight
of the house in which he had been born,
and the academy in which he had re-
ceived his education. To the great NOR
LITIGATION of his more aspiring son. the
name of Robert Bell was now placed on the
rolls of this same academy. To the re-
mOnstranCes of the young gentleman,
who having declined a collegiate course,
and entered the counting house of New
York merchant two years before, cOnsid-
cred himself as already in the class of
men, and beyond schools, the father re-
piled:
Il put you there, hoping that it may not
be too late for you to unlearn some things
that your New York associations have
saught you. If ] could only see you 8
boy again, | should be happy indeed"
This could not be. The shadow went
not back upon the dial-plate for Robert
Bell. A boy in years, he was man in
heart; his strongest desire, to have clear
aeld for the exercise of his powers.
MY father was only shopkeeper," he
said to his wondering sister, 81 will bC
the Napoleon among merchants. 4 hun
dred thousand! it may do to vegetatt
BpOn in a country-toWn, but that will MOI
DO for me. | shall be a millionaire, anC
then, Annie, / will send for my pretty
sister to preside over the most luXuriOu;
establishment in New York"
Such were the dreams of the boy
Streams excited by the silly boasts of his
companions at school, and by the flatter
ing homage which he saw paid to wealth
even by those who were reputed wise anC
good men John Bell had hoped, in trans
ferring his home to country town, tha
its unsophisticated society, its simple
pleasures and natural modes of living
would restore to his son the freshness Of
his boyhood. But ere the five years were
passed which lay between Roberts re
moval to E and his majority, the
father saw that this could not be, and
weary of the sullen discomfort of his son
and fearful of its influence on the happi
ness of his pet Annie, he sent the boy, a
eighteen, TO New York, consigning hin
30 the care of an old friend who was doing
very large business in Wall street as {
banker and broker
Years passed BY, bringing nothing bu
good to the merchants home, where
Annie Bell grew like some fair young
flower, gathering sweetness and bright
ness from all around her. There
was sunshine in the ripples of hel
golden hair, sunshine in her dimpleG
shades ever moved more lightly; no bird
ever caroled more sweetly. And be
meath all this lIghtness lay wOman'S
thoughtful tenderness and a rare strength
of principle Robert Bel made an an
nual visit at Christmas to his father
bringing Annie costly presents, and his
father such letters from his old friend as
made him forget his fears, and rejoice il
his sons ability and success.
When Annie was eighteen, and Robert
twenty-six, John Bell died-died sudden
ly, having failed to do what he had otter
called other men fools for not doing-tC
make will. Ii was of little consequence
people said; he would have left all K
his children, of course, and Robert vii
take care Of Annie's portion as well a.
his own.
Poor Anniel She struggled to b,
calm, but the brightness was al
gone as she saw the dear OLE
home dismantled the familiar things
hallowed by the touch of the hand sh,
had loved so tenderly, thrown aside value
less, or borne away as the property o
strangers. But she was young, and lift
again grew bright for her in Robert
home in the city-a home over which
fashionable wife presided, and wher
there was luxury and display quite new
TO our simple Annie.
why, Robert, how rich you must be-!
as she gazed around rooms rich with brC
rade and velvet, and dazzling wit
ormuIu, and whose walls were hung wit
pictures which seemed to her the choices
aSiIlv childr' cried Robert "all this
only my stock in trade. Who do 20
suppose would do business with poe
banker?"
"But then you must be rich to hav
such stock in trade" cried Annie dec
sively.
Robert answered only by aquick glanc
at his wife. She was reader Of tongue.
"Certainly, Annie" she said, must
or qoSH be, for appearances produce rea
tiles" -
Mrs Robert Bell was perhaps ais
lassed by Robert as part of his stock l