Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
HARD TIMES.
BY MARY E. c. wYETH.
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTER 1.
now HARD TIMES CAME TO GLENwooD BANKS.
The panic introduced Hard Times to thous-
and homes in the grand old city of the Southwest
within whose extended suburbs Glenwood Banks
are situated but even the panic could not make
worse the adverse circumstances that already
had settled about the beautiful and honorable old
homestead wherein three generations Of the
Glenwoo1s had been born and reared.
The happy time had been when Glenwood
Banks, comprising in its domain hundred acres
of heavily wooded knobs, sweeping proudly up
from tho river to the highest summit of land to
be found for miles, had been but the centre of a
largo and highly cultivated farm, upon whose
fertile acres ascore OF negro slaves toiled cheer
lily enough, under kind aud honored masters and
from the proceeds OF whose wisely-guided labors
an ample revenue was derived
The Emancipation Proclamation had emptied
the picturesque white cabins that dotted the
further slope OF Glenwood limits, and other
'chances Of war had shorn tho magniiceSf5do-
main OF many Of its acres long before tho date at
which our story begins. For our story of Hard
Times is story of to-day. And in years 'twixt
then and now the city crept and kept creeping
closer to the borders Of Glenwood Banks farm,
and made its aggressions felt by including the
greater portion of the farm within tho corpo-
rate limits; until, at length, that mighty reducer
of acres to lots, the tax assessor, conquered.
Glenwoood Banks WIS subdiyided and laid out
in city lots, which from time to time were sold,
until at the time when Mr. Frederick Glen
woods family of daughters were in the first
bloom OF womanhood there remained to the
Glenwoodvname only the homestead buildings
and the solitary 'block" upon which they were
reared. To he sure, the mansion was grand and
the grounds were rarely beautiful and both
mansion and grounds were furnished with ap-
pointments suitable. Two noble bays still tossed
rao in min ota
once had housed as fine Ia stud as the whole
broad State could produce.
OF the score of servants once belonging to the
estate two foithful servitors yet remaned-con-
tent from simple fealty to serve the old house
for love.
From an outside point of view Glenwood Banks
and its owners were alike enviable yet. Beauti-
full for situation was the estate elegant, refined,
and attractive were the inheritors Of it. And 80
long as MIR. Frederick Glenwoods income con-
tinued there was indeed no reason why the dwell
lers at Glenwood Banks should not be reckoned
among the favored few in point of temporal
prosperity as well as of social position.
Az long as the income lasted there was no hurt
that harmed at Glenwood Banks.
But the income ceased.
Not all at once, though nearly so.
The long lease from which Mr.. Glenwood de-
rived his large rentals expired and this, of
course, all at once.
1t was the first ebb Of fortunes tide.
Then burlington went into bankruptcy. The
best part OF Mr.. Glenwood's funds outside his
own business, was loaned to Burlington. Close
upon this second ebb the price OF flour fell Mr..
Glenwood dealt in flour. He had an immense
stock on hand at the time of the Decline He
decided to hold it over until the market improv-
ed. disastrous fire swept away his warehouses
and stock and left Mr.. Glenwood a poor man;
for his insurance policy having expired only
few days before the date or the confagration be-
ing pressed for means he had neglected to renew
it, and his loss was total and irreparable.
There remained of his late large possessions
only his homestead and its appurtenances. I'm
daunted by these successive reverses, and full
of hope and firm resolve, the upright and earn
est man began again tue battle of life.
But the tide was still at ebb. Everything he
touched seemed to whittier in his hand. Pros
perity had ceased to crown his labors and his
ventures with success. And into his lovely
home now stalked a rude unwelcome visitor,
whose hateful presence should henceforth be
felt at board and hearth until some mightier
power should drive BIN thence. Hard Times
had come to Glenwood Banks.
Notes fell due. The carriage and the noble
bays were sacrificed upon the altar OF the mon
ster Debt. The same relentless dragon devour
cd the elegant furniture of the grand salon.
And all the while the family, seeing the press
ing need, were steadily retrenching and econo-
MIXING in every possible direction and, retiring
from society and its demands, were patiently
and cheerfully hoping for the turn of the tide.
Yet still and steadily it ebbed and ebbed, and
seemed to bid fair to leave them stranded on
Adversitys bleak shore.
The fathers hair turned gray and his step lost
its wonted elasticity. Hard Times bore rigor-
ously upon the master of Glenwood Banks. The
mother aided by her willing daughters, did what
she could to drive the hateful presence from the
home. But at best she could but contrive to
Turkish up the family wardrobe and make pdsse
suits and styles do present duty in making a
presentable appearance without the aid of fresh
material. IL was work to be compared only
to the old, old labor assigned BY cruel task
master when Hard Times ruled supreme in the
land Of Goshen and the children of Israel were
perforce compelled TO make bricks without
straw.
Miss Glenwood, the elder and Miss Gerty and
Mis- Mable, and even Rae, tho light-hearted pet
of the family, came to look thoughtful and anx-
ious, az day after day and month after month
brought only fresh discourageml mt and darker
prospects.
Hard Times had it all his own way at last,
when the Sheriff came with an execution and
proceeded to strip the house of its remaining
furniture.
Glaring posters were stuck up on the stone
copings of the fence, on the trees of the beauti-
full lawn, on the very door-posts of the mansion.
A glaring red flag hung out at the window above
the grand entrance hall, and stranger eyes peer
cd and stranger feet strayed through the broad
halls and into the spacious apartments, invad-
ing the privacy OF every sacred nook and bore
their unenviable part in this sad drama of Hard
Times-the dsmantling of home.
IL.
now HARD TIMES WAS DRIVEN FROM aLENwooD
BANKS.
Mrs. Glenwood and her daughters, without
doubt, somewhere in sad seclusion had swept
their womens tears" over this last grim victory
of their enemy, Hard Times but when the latest
football of departing stranger had died upon the
car, the last load of goods had been carried from
the wide-open gates of Glenwood Banks, these
brave ladies' came forth form their seclusion
and, with resoute steps and CHEEKY words, set
themselves at work upon the arduous task Of re-
fitting few of the desolated rooms and of gath
ering again about the ingle somewhat of the in
sigma of home. There was an accumulation of
household stuff in the garnet and the stable
lofts, which the Sheriff had deigned to reject as
worthless.
From this treasure heap Of worthlessness-
the refuse Of three generations Of Glenwoods-
the present family must now select its house
furnishings.
The old, curiously-carved high-post bed
steads, oapacious chests of drawers, heavily COR
niced wardrobes, round tables Of ancient styles
all, but of rare, rich, dark mahogany, that took a
polish like a jasper stone-these were brought
forth from their resting places in the lumber