Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-08
StltttrO StOrp.
Fox The OXFORD DEMOCR
MY BROTHERS. WIFE.
4 sketch OF the Hard Times.

When word came TO US that our sedate
industrious brother Ralph was paying
particular attention TO Miss Clara Went
worth We all experienced a feeling o.
dissatisfaction. Not that We knew any
thing TO the disadvantage OF The young
lady IN question; our feelings were the
ou.growth OF circumstances which sug'
g.sled al ineompa,ibili'y ia her probabit
marriage with our 6ro,her.
We had always heard her spoken OF s.
q young lady OF excellent disposition and
capabilities; but she was the eldest
daughter Of man OF wealth. who Law
lshed more luNugies upon his children
than he migtthaye done had their mothe4
ocen living. The death o( Mis-. Went
worth had occurred when Cara was bui
a child. alter which she became her
fathers hou,ekeepcr, and an excellent
housokc,p,r she proved 10 Oe.
a. this we set down TO her credit, bat
the question suggesting I,sait was
won q -he mske suitable wife Tor ms
orotbe12 she was accustomed 10 .
much into society and follow the fashions
in dgcss. Would sne leave ali these
.hipgs to accep, the humble home aud
economical associations oi ny brother
and no t5o event oi her accepting them,
eou'd She not become iitCd OF The p;oSy,
aundrlm lite and rcsret tho change?
v. i,i. much uncertainty about 1t, and
1uy gooG o.d mother shooG her head
graye!y over i,.
Bu, ,ao Was @! love are not 10 De
r,4>obed WITH. Ralph was working in
he vi.isge where Cara resided. and
boarding al her iatheI', house; aud nat
urauy enough au attachment sprung up
between them which resulted in y qgivt
wedding. So We all gave them ouI
blessing AMI saw them cusi settled on 1
h;lle farm lust out OF the village to Try
the doubtful pertinent o! housekeeping
aud then Ne lett them and went our sew
eral ways.
went 10 the city to Try my skill IN
mercatLe lie. With but little experience
aad bright hopes. such Us come to mos
young people.
Iengaeed in business when the mar
kets were favorable. and was successful
beyond my utmost expectations l soor
found myself on the highway 10 wealth
Ny country friends called me smart
aud / ilAttered myself that my success:
was the result OF my tact and sarewd'
ness. when in fact it was only due tC
favorable circumstances.
Ma urallY enough, under this success
took to expensive ways OF living. My
rooms were in fashionable locality anC
expeDsiyely furnished. | smoked the
oest cigars, entertained company, anc
DALlQ ecu AlG IlNSN AtAohAihhOAN tAN HA-N .
Could my country friends hays seen me
they would have opened their eyes II
wonder at my seeming extravaganza
Their ways had been through The gates
Of hard labor 10 an economical cOmpe
tercy, while had assumed ways Of liv
ing, requiring more iu year than they
had accumulated ia ten; and had be-
come SO accustomed 10 these ways tha
they seemed absolutely essential. Sell
denial was u virtue necessity had no
forced upon me-
But the climax Of my prosperity wa:
at length reached. The business OF Tho
country began to be depressed, aud be
gan to realize that inves meuts on de
Ginning market were altogether different
in their results from those on buoyan
market; and that my business shrewd
ness. tor which | had given myself Sc
much credit. was insufficient 10 keep mt
from going down hill. But | was blinC
to my inability. and attributed my wan
of succcss TO the times. For severa
years led a struggling business lie. Ms
trade diminished one hall and my profit:
much more than that. and gradually
- ent down with the times till one nigh
1 found myself without any business "a
All.
Ny next experience was iu .he court:
Of bankruptcy from which in time,
emerged as a gentleman without any WIS.,
ibe means of support. But discor'
tinued this reflection by accepting a clerk
shin. st 4 moderate salary. in dry
goods house. II was something OF s
trial for me 70 come down from the po
s;iion of proprietOr 10 that OF hireling z.