The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25
Make Your Own Way.

plate on the mahogany side-board. But
for that matter he was an incongrulty-a
little, communicating man, not very we'll
dressed Certainly q very wide contrast
to the handsome, stylish-looking young
fellow who interrupted his reveric by a
frank and noisy:
"Good-cvening, uncle. Can talk
awhile with you!'
"That depends, Robin, ON what you're
gaun to talk ABBOTT"
"You know uncle, that Aleck Lang and
I have been long friends"
II have heard so; don't know it."
well, we have. To-day Aleck came
to tell me that he is going into the carpet
weaving business in Kilmarnock. He in
tends to buy Thomas Blackie out"
Hell need some bawbees for that"
His father will help, and he asked
me to Join him. What do you think about
it,"
GLOW long have been wi Hastie?'
Five years
And how much have you saved"
"Well, to tell the truth, uncle, nothing
ut all. What with Jessie marrying last
year and Rosa this, and the presents I
had to give, and other expenses, my saw
ings all went away
"Humph!"
81 thought, perhaps, that as the bust
ness was such IN old one, and as both
the Langs would he interested in it,
for such wonderfully good chance"
- have made it a rule never to lend
money to young men,
"A very unkind rule when it touches
me, uncle. You were never unkind to me
BEFORE
am not unkind to you now either,
Robin
Only two thousand, uncle! And such
a chance!"
"Good-evening, uncle
Good-evcning, Robin. How's bust
ness?"
illustrate. I don't come tonight
about business
"What for, then?"
Il am going to be married. wanted
to tell you about it.
"That's a main kittle risk than Black
les business, Robin
Il think not, uncle
'Wha's the lassle?"
Jessie Lorimer."
What fortune has shc:''
|:Just her beauty and her noble nature {;
she is Of good family, too, and has had
the best OF educations. Why, uncle, she
can do most anything paints, draws,
plays the harp, sings like an angel
and'--
I'm feared she'll be kind O matri-
monial luxury, Robin. But she's a bon
ME lassie; I haze seen her. Yet doubt
if she's fit Tor a puir mans wife"
"Guid heavens, hear the lad! sOnly
twa thousand!' Did We ever earn twa
thousand pounds? Did We ever save tWa
thousand pounds? When we have, Robin,
come to me. and I'll talk VII We about
lending yc that sum-
But, uncle, the thing is not a new
venture; it is sure to pay
1T is gaun to have new masters; an
men at sixty are ma sac sureYabout things
'paying' as lads of five and twenty are"
So the young man went away much
disappointed and not little angry; but
other friends looked more favorably on
the plan.
The 1000 were borrowed, and Robert
Rae and Alecl1 Lang bought the old-es-
tablished carpet-weaving house.
The first year the concern, in spite
falling prices, did very we'll. Roberts
share of profits not only gave him a good
living, but paid his interest, and allowed
him to lay by nearly e1O0 toward clearing
off his borrowed capital; and the next
year things were still brighter.
In the fourth year OF the enterprise
Robert Rae called again on his uncle.
"You'll come to the wedding, uncle!"
''Surely, surely"
1t was very grand wedding, and Da-
vid Speers made quite SENSATION bv
giving the bride a check for $500. In
deed, Jessie seemed to have quite capt.
waited the old bachelor, and he soon be-
gan to spend a great many of his even
ings in her pretty home.
Three years passed happily away.
In Roberts home there had been some
pleasant changes; and his uncle danced
a pretty baby Jessie occasionally on his
knee, or looked admiringly and wonder
ngly at his own wee namesake in the
cradle. Down at the mill things were
apparently equally prosperous. All the
looms were at work, and the very well
fare of Kilmarnock as community was
sensibly connected with the business of
LANG & Rae's Carpet Mill" But a
great deal Of this success was only appar-
ent, for it hung upon chances entirely
beyond the control of the young partners
in it.
They had been compelled to borrow
largely, and had big interest accounts to
meet, and great deal Of their paper be-
ing from houses unknown to local bank
org had to lie casled Of uer,, hoa.r,r lie