The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-26
\ GOOD INVESTMENT.

Mark Coleman was an Industrious
hard working young man, who had be.
gun the world with nothing, but who
had very firmly settled one thing in his
mind, which was, that he would some
day be rich. Another point was, if pos.
siblc, still more firmly settled, namely,
that he would never run i'll debt to the
value of II dollar. He had worked hard
for several years, as journeyman, at his
trade of carpenter, to obtain the means
to erect a small house and shop of his
own. He had been for some time attach
ed to an estimable young woman, as poor
in the world as himself. Their union
had been so long deferred, that both
parties grew impatient for the time to
come. Though only two rooms in the
house We're finished so as to be habit
able, they resolved to wait no longer.
But small sum of money remained to
furnish even these two rooms. But,
scanty as was the furniture which this
sum would procure, they adhered to
their first resolution not to run in debt,
but to wait until more could be pro-
cured without obtaining it on credit.
One day visitor was announced at
their humble home-no less parsonage
than the wealthy Mrs. Ives.
"You seem to be setting out right in
the world, my young FRIEND" she said,
as she looked around their room. 81
suppose you intend to be rich one of
these days, and L think you will sue
ceed."
"We hope some day to be better off
than we now are, replied Mr.. Coleman
8" know we have begun life differently
from most young people," he added,
casting his eyes around the scantily fur
nished apartment, "and the most of
our ncighbors think the worse of us
for it. Bat the fact is, we have both of
us set out with the determination never
to contract debt"
4" doubt not you will soon be able
to finish your house and furnish it neat
ly," said Mrs. Ives, kindly and ap-
provingly. 81 admire your spirit of
honest independence, and should be
sorry to do anything to wound it. But
we have some furniture in our garret,
which has been stored there to make
room for more, and if you will accept the
loan of some chairs aud table until it
is convenient for you to purchase those
which will suit you better, it will crafty
Aiio vi liiAiNli w ltu Npu
This offer was made with so much
kindness aud delicacy, that Mr. Coleman
could not refuse it, or feel wounded by
it. After Mrs. Ives had left, he ex-
claimed:
"That is what L call kind-hearted,
true hearted woman. She has made me
think better of all the world than / did
half an hour ago"
This was true. This delicate act of
kindness had stolen the bitterness from
the heart of the proud man-for proud
he was, and it had taught him to think
more charitably of all his race.
Years passed on, and Mark Coleman's
dreams of wealth We're more than real
lied. His house was soon finished, and
neatly furnished, after which he had no
reason to complain of the shyness of his
neighbOrs. But he did not remain there
many years. He remoN ed to larger
place, where he could extend his bust
ness operations. After the first few
years wealth flowed i'll upon him as rap
idly as he could desire. But it is not
our purpose to follow him through his
course.
Our tale now passes over period of
some years. In pleasant village, many
miles distant from its opening scene,
stands an old, dilapidated dwelling, of
that peculiar hue which the suns and
storms of three-fourths of a century i'm
part to the natural color of wood. This
dwelling is inhabited by poor widow
and her invalid granddaughter, girl of
fourteen. The couch of the invalid is
placed in the most comfortable corner of
the only comfortable apartment the
dwelling contains. A stand is placed
close by the side of the bed, covered
with clean white cloth. On this stand
the widow s preparing to place their
simple evening meal.
The family were very poor.
This was evident from all the suffer
ings of their humble home, and from
the tone of the young girl as she asked
anxiously
"Will the food we have last longer
than tomorrow 2"
81 think not, )" was the reply of the
widow.
"Does not your faith begin to fail
you yet, grandmother 2" she asked, as
she looked at her grandmother's coun-
tenance.
"Why should it, my dear9 We have