The Van Buren press., 1877-10-16

HIS grateful acknowledgements Tor tn,
favor granted, touched more than on,
heart that had been as ice toward him, ,
short time before. How different wer,
his feelings when he met his family tina
evening, and silently thanked HEAVIER
that the cloud which had lowered ovel
and threateaed to break in desolatins
tempest had passed from the sky.
Long before the arrival of the time toI
which an extension had been granted
Mr. Carlton was able to pay off every
thing, and to look in the faco withou
unpleasant emotions, Of every man h,
met,
Strange things happen in real life
Mr.. Elder was shipper, and extensivel,
engaged IN that trade. For series o
years everything went len prosperousl,
with him. His ventures always found
good market, and his consignments safe
and energetic factors. All this he attrib
uted to his own business accumen.
II never make bad shipments" ht
would sometimes say " never con
sign to doubtful agents
A man like Mr.. Elder, is rarely per,
mitted to go through life without prac
teal conviction that he is in the hands OF
One who governs all events. 1t is rare
" that such an one does not become
painfully conscious in the end, that hu.
man prudence is as nothing.
The first thing that occurred to check
the confident spirit of Mr.. Elder, was
the loss of a ship snd cargo under cir.
cumstanees that gave the underwriters q
fair plea for not paying the risk. He
sued and was cast. The loss was twenty
five thousand dollars.
A few weeks after news came that a
shipment to the South American coast
had resulted in a loss. From that time
everything seemed to go wrong. His
adventures found a glutted market, and
his return cargoes depression ofprices.
| he held on to a thing in the hope of
better rates, prices would go down, until,
in desperate mood, he would sell then
they would 60 up steadily. The time was
when he could confne himself strictly to
Legitimate trade. But mania for specu-
lation now took hold Of him, and urged
him on to ruin. He even ventured into
the bew.ldering precincts of the stock
market, lured by the hope of splendid re-
suits Here he stood upon ground that
soon erumbled beneath his feet. A loss
of twenty or thirty thousand dollars cured
him of this folly, and he turned with a
sigh to his counting room, to digest
with care ind prudent forethought. some
safe operation in his regular business.
But tee 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. WIS the nntortunrtaz result.
Seven years from the day Mr.. Elder
opposed an arrangement with Mr.. Carl
ton, which should regard the debtor as
well rs the creditor, he himself found it
impossible to provide for all his he2vy
payments. For some time he had kept
his head above water, by making sacriti
ccs, but the end Of this came.
After sleeplcss night, the merchant
started one morning for his store, OPP
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 cheerful salutation. Mr.
G. was now large creditor, instead of a
debtor. On that very day bills had ma
tured in his favor to the amount of 49,
600, and these Elder could not pay. The
recollection of this made it almost i'm
possible to reply to the pleasant observa-
tons of his companion. Vividly, as lift
had occurred yesterday, came up before
his mind the circumstance that had tran
spired a few years previously. He re
membered he had sought, from the mer-
est selfish motives, to break down Mr.
Carlton, and throw him helpless upon the
world and how near he was to accomp-
fishing the merchants total overthrow.
Such recollections drove from his mind
the hope that had presented itself Of en-,
listing Mr.. Cartoons good feeling, and
securing him as friend in the trial
through which he was about to pass.
Several times during the walk he was
on the point of breaking the matter to
Mr.. c., but either his heart failed him, or
his companion made some remark to
which he was compelled to reply. At
length they separated without any allu-
sion by Mr.. Elder to the subject on
which he was so DESTROYS Of speaking
lie had not the courage to utter the first
word.
But this was enly postponing for a
very brief period the evil day. Several
remittances were anxiously looked for
that morning, He broke the sealing of
letter after letter, with trembling anxiety.
His last hope was gone Nothing now
remained for him but to turn his face
bravely to the threatening storm and
bear up against its fury.
For a while he debated the question as
to what course it was best for him to
pursue. At one time he thought of Civ.
ing no information of his condition, un
til the notary's protest should startle
them from their ignorance Then he
thought it would be best to notify the
holder of paper due on that day that it
would not be taken up. Then it seemed
to him best to give notice of his condi-
ton. He prepared brief notes to all, but
but Mr. Carlton first. His heart failed
him when he attempted to write his name
Vividly, as if it had occurred the day
previous, came up before his mind, all
the circumstances attendant upon that
gentleman's appeal to his creditors. His
cheek burned when he remembered the
position he had assumed in that affair.
ct avon thouub such were his feel