The Ottawa free trader., 1874-01-24
ANNA BELL.
BY MARY J. MACINTOSH.

When John Bell the old merchant retired
upon capital of one hundred thousand dol
lars, the people of his native town thought
him man OF almost ineXhaustible wealth
for those were times when men lived com
fortably on an income of $500, and luxuri
ousy ON one of $1,000 John Bell was All
old.tashloned man. He had carried con
science into his business and, what was per
haps 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 wcalth-far more
than he would have done the prefix honorable
TO his name, won, as he knew that title too
often is, by cklcanery and intrigue. John
Bell was still hale man of middle age when
he withdrew to the town of E, in New
Hampshire, with a son sixteen years old ard
daughter only eight That son was the un-
suspected cause OF his pausing in the full
course of successful trade, sitting the prompt
ings of ambition and the eager strivings OF an
active nature, and settling himself down 10
the stiffness of country town, within sight
Of the house in which he was born, and the
academy in which he had received his cduca-
tiOn 10 the great modification of his more
aspiring son, the name OF Robert Bell had
been placed on the rolls of this same academy
To the remonstrances of the young gentleman,
who, having declined collegiate course,
and entered the counting house of a New
York merchant two years before, considered
himself as already IN the class of men, and
beyond schools, the father replied
II put you there, hoping that it will not be
too late for you to unlearn some things that
your New York associations have taught you
If could only see you boy again, | should
be happy indeed"
This could not be. The shadow went no.
back upon the dial plate for Robert Bell. A
boy in years he was a man in heart; his
strongest desire, to have "a clear field for the
exercise of his powers.
MY father was only a shopkeeper," he said
to his wondering sister, 81 will be the Napo
leon among merchants A hundred thousand !
il may do 10 yegctate upon in country town,
but that will not do for me. | shall be a
millionaire, and then, Annie, will send for
my pretty sister to preside over the most luxu.
rious establishment in New York"
Such were the dreams of the boy-dreams
excited by the silly boasts of his companions
at school, and by the hattering homage which
he saw paid to wealth, even by those who
were reputed wise and good men
John Bell had hoped, in transferring his
home to "a country town, that its unsoplisti
Gated society its simple pleasures and nam.
the freshness of his boyhood But, ere The
five years had passed which lay between
Roberts removal to E-and his majority
the father saw that this could not be, and
weary of the sulen discomfort of his son, and
fearful of It's influence on the happiness Of his
pet Annie, he sent his boy, at eighteen To
New York, consiguing him TO the care of an
old friend who was doing n large business in
Wall street a. Il banker and broker.
Years passed by, bringing nothing but goot
10 the merchants home, where Annie Bel
grew like some fair young flower, gathering
sweetness and brightness from all around her
There was sunshine in the ripples of her gold
en hair. sunshine ia her dimplcd smiles Il,
fairy dancing ia greenwood shades eve
moved more lightly; no bird ever carOle,
more swcctly And beneath all this light
ness lay womaBs tenderness and a rar
strength If principle. Robert Bell made II,
annual visit at Christmas to his father, bring
tng Annie costly presents, and his father sucl
letiers from his I'D friend as made him for
get his fears, and rejoice in his sons abilil,
and success
When Annie WAS eighteen, and Rober
fweniv-six. John Bell died--died suddenly
having failed To 10 what be had often callct
other men fools fo- not doing-to make
will II was OF l'.tlc consequence, pcopl,
said. be would have left all to his children
of course. and RobcT will take care of An
nies portion ~ well a, his oSn.