The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-10-12


for one, am not prepared to extend"
This was by Elder.
GAS for me-" spoke up another, 81
take but one view Of matters like this.
II l think l will do better by renewing,
1 am ready to do so; if by winding up
the party now l a do better, ! 60 for
winding up. I have confidence in Carl
tons integrity. l believe he means
we'll. But can he get through that is
the question"
81 believe he cam" said Mr.. High.
land.
"And I doubt it," returned Elder.
The efforts of Elder to efface the i'm.
preston the words of Mr.. Highland
had made, proved in vain. 1t was
agreed that the debtor should receive
the extension he asked. When in.
formed of this decision, Carlton could
not hide his emotions, though he strove
hard to do so. His grateful acknowl.
edgements for the favor granted,
touched more than one heart that had
been as cold as ice toward him q short
time before. How different were his
feelings when he met his family that
evening, and silently thanked Heaven
that the cloud which had lowered over
and threatened to break in desolating
tempest had passed from the sky.
Long before the arrival Of tho time
for which an extension had been
granted, Mr.. Carlton vas able to pay
off every thing, and to look in the face
without unpleasant emotions every
man he met.
Strange things happen in real life.
Mr.. Elder was a shipper and extensive
iy engaged in trade. For q series Of
years every thing went on prosperously
with him. His ventures always found
a good market, and his consignmcnts
safe and energetic factors. All this h,
attributed to his own business acumen
81 never make bad Shipments" he
would sometimes say. 81 never con-
sign to doubtful agents"
A man like Mr.. Elder is rarely per-
nitted to 60 through life without a
practical conviction that he is in the
hand of One who governs all events.
1t is rarely that such a one does not
become painfully conscious in the end
that human prudence is as nothing.
The first thing that occurred to check
the confident spirit of Mr.. Elder was
the loss of a ship and cargo under cir
substances that gave the underwriters
. fair plea for not paying the risk. He
sued and was cast. The loss was twcn-
ty-live thousand dollars.
A few weeks after news came that a
shipment to the South American coas t
had resulted in a loss. From that
time every thing seemed to go wrong.
His adventures found a glutted market,
and his return cargoes a depression of
prices. If he held on to a thing in the
nope of bette r rates, prices would go
down, until, in a desperate mood, he
would sell; then they would 60 up
steadily. The time was when he could
contine himself strictly to legitimate
trade. But a mania for speculation
now took hold of him and urged him
on to ruin. He even ventured into the
o~ewildering precintct of the stock mar
Set, lured by the hope of splendid re.
suits. Here he stood upon ground
that soon crumbled beneath his feet. A
loss of twenty or thirty thousand dol.
lars cured him of this folly, and he
turned with a sigh to his counting
room, to digest, with care and prudent
forethought, some safe operation in his
regular business.
But the true balance of his mind was
lost. He could not consider with calm.
ness the business in hand. A false move
was the consequence. Loss instead Of
profit was the unfortunate result.
Seven years from the day Mr.. Elder
opposed an arrangement with Mr.. Carl
ton, which should regard the debtor a
well as the creditor, he himself found
it impossible to provide for all his heavy
payments. For some time he had kept
his head above water by making sacri
fees, but the end of this came.
After a sleepless night, the merchant
started n morning for his store, op
pressed with the sad conviction that be
fore the day closed his fair fame would
be furnished. As he walked along Mr.
Carlton came to his side with Il Cheerful
salutation. Mr.. G. was now a larg,
creditor instead of a debtor. On tina
very day, bills in his favor had mature,
TO the amount of $4,000, and these Ell
der could not pay. The recollection O
this made it almost impossible for hin
to reply to the pleasant observations O
his companion. Vividly, as if it ha'
occurred yesterday, came up before hi
mind the circumstance that had trans
pired q few years previously. He re
membered how eagerly he had sought
from the merest selfish motives, I
break down Mr.. Carlton and throw hil
helpless upon the world, and how nea
he was to accomplishing the merchant
total overthrow. Such recollection
/, drove from his mind the hope that for
moment had presented itself of enlis'
, ing Mr.. Cartoons good feelings and s,
curing him as a friend in the tri,
, through which he was about to pass.
:. Several times during the walk he ws
a on the point of breaking the matter
A Mr.. c., but either his heart failed hi
or his companion made some remark
which he was compelled to reply. !
length they separated without any all,
sion by Mr.. Elder to the subject c
: $500 =.