Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-07-20
TRIED BY FIRE.

"The man is ruined-hopelessly
ruined !"
The words startled me.
$50 bad as that2" said the in lividual
to whom the remark was made.
"Even so bad"
"Of whom are you speaking% 1 ven
tured to ask.
"Of Jacob Atwood.
/ started to my feet.
He was one of my old, intimate and
long tried friends.
Ruined, did you saya That man
ruined2 Impossible j.
"There is no doubt of it. l received
my information from those who have
the best right to know"
"What has he done?" / asked,
eagerly.
Nv Question was received in silence,
as if the meaning was not clearly appre-
hended.
"Is he defaulters"
emo"
The answer showed some surprise at
my Question.
;" Has he betrayed an honorable trust
reposed in him by his fellow men :"
No, sir; his integrity is without
question. In all his public relations he
was true as steel to principle"
"What then Has he placed any por-
ton of his property beyond the reach
of creditors who have just claims upon
himf"
"Oh, no." said I, speaking out warm
IL, "not in any sense ruined man. The
merchant may re ruined, but, thank
Heaven, the man is whole"
The little company looked at me for q
moment with surprise.
"The ms1 is all right" I went on.
"Only the scaffolding on which the
workmen stood who were building uI
his character has fallen. Erect, calm,
noble, haltaivine he stands now in the
sunshine and in the storm. Around hii
majestic brow the clouds may gather
upon it>the tempest may beat but he II
immovable in his great integrity"
Some smiled at my enthusiasm. IL
them there was none of the moral sub
lime in the ruined merchant.
Others looked little more thought
full than before, and one said feebly:
"There is something In that.
Something in that !
I should think there was. 1t was tn
first intelligence I had received OF m.
friends worldly misfortune and /
grieved me.
In the evening I went to see Jacol
Atwood. The windows OF the elegan
residence where he had lived for year
were closed.
looked up at the house-it had a de
serted aspect.
Irung the bell no one answered +
my summons.
T could not repress the feeling OF sad
ness that came over me.
The trial must have been severe eve
for a brave heart like his.
."I must find him." said 1.
And L did find him but far ava
from the neighborhood where merchar
princes had their palace houses.
The house into which he had retire
with his family looked small and mea
and comfortless in comparison with th
elegant abode from which he had n
moved.
Irapg and was admitted. The paric
into which I was shown was q sma
room and the furniture not much bette
than we often see in the houses OF th
well-to-do mechanics, or clerks on moo
crate salaries. But everything was
order and scrupulously neat.
Ihad made only hurried observation
when Mr.. Atwood entered.
He looked somewhat careworn-h
face was paler than when last saw hin
his eyes little duller, his smile LEI
cheerful.
The marks of trial and suffering we'
plainly visible,
1t would have been almost q mlrac
had it been otherwise. .
But he did not exhibit the aspect OF
ruined man.
He grasped my hand warmly and ga
it was pleasant to look into the face
sn old friend. / offered him words
sympathy.
"The worst is over," he answere
with manly cheerfulness, "and nothil
is lost which may not be regained.
have found the bottom, know where
am, and there is strength enough LETT