Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-11-08

ed his own humble apartment.
Alfred for time fourished fam
ously, and often laughed at his friend
for being contented with such hum
bic sphere. He managed to get
through the year without any serious
difficulty, although he was obliged to
get many of his notes renewed. Be-
ing faithful believer in the credit |
system, he thought it poor rule that
would not work both ways, and there
fore trusted his customers freely. In
the street he was frequent bor-
rover, but as he managed to pay
promptly, he was quite successful in
this respect.
But a momentary crisis was at
hand, and he had heavy notes to pay.
Renewal was out of the question, and
borrowing had become dry, repulsive
business. One day he rushed into
Johns store, haggard and worn with
anxiety and exertion, with that stereo-
typed inquiry.
"Have you anything over to-
day."
81 am sorry, Alfred, to say that l
have not; but the fact is, have been
this morning taking advantage of
these tight times to lay in thousand
dollar worth of stock, which L pur-
chased at an exceedingly low price,"
''These are deuced hard times"
''Hard indeed; but have you much
to make up?"
''The tune of five thousand dol
lars
"Monstrous! Do you think you
can accomplish it?'
81 must accomplish it, or become a
ruined man.
''It cannot be so serious as that. I"
"You can judge for yourself. 1t
is now past twelve O'Clock, and 1
haven't r:ised one-fourth of the
sum-"
Can you not borrow it?'
Everybody seems in the same
fix, and the banks won't hear of the
word discount ."
''Have you applied to Mr.. Cling
ham,"
''To tell the truth, l owe him eight
hundred dollars already, and lie has
TOO much to manage to assist me
further; but | must be stirring. III
can get through this terrible day,
you won't catch me again in such a
fix
Down the street he started rs fast
as his weary feet could carry him, but
everywhere he met anxious faces and
persons on similar errands as himself.
At haf-past one he had not added a
/
dollar to his amount; yet his hopeful
nature would not allow him yet to
despair, and he redoubled his exer-
tions to save his sinking fortunes. 1t
was only when the bell of the Old
South clocks truck the ominous hour of
two, that he fully awoke to the con-
sciousness that lie was bankrupt be-
yond hope.
Mr.. Gingham had watched the ca
reer of the young men with anxious
eye, for he was deeply interested i'll
the welfare of both. The one who
had commenced so auspiciously had
miserably failed the other, who start
ed so humbly, had achieved proud
success. The crisis passed, and
business men once more breathed
freely; but Mr.. Gingham felt his
health falling him, and he was aware
that, unassisted, the care of his busi-
ness were too much for him.
After weighing the matter thor
oughly in his mind he sent for young
Marshall and offered him an equal in
terest in his splendid store, placing
his Own capital as an offset the youth
and ability of his former clerk, John
was astounded at the brilliant pros
pect thus offered him, and expressed
his gratitude in the host earnest man
ner; but true to -his cool natare, lie
requested his late employer to taliow
him the night to think of it, aid he
would wait on him in the morning.
Meanwhile jenkins affairs were In
such state that he was obliged to
enter into Insolvency, and his assets
did not promise twenty cents on the
dollar. Crushed and Inundated, the
same day that John had received the
proposal from Mr.. Gingham, he app
piled to his friend to give him SIM
pie clerkship., Marshall treated him
with great kindness, and bade. him
call on the morrow and he would see
if he could not do something for
him.
john of course accepted Mr.. Cling
hams proposition, making his own
store and stock the property of new
firm. Alfred's position was then dis
cused, and it was decided that he
should be allowed to carry ON that
store as their agent; and if he prov
ed judicious and became cured of his
former follies, in short time they
would trust him with the whole stock
and allow him to try his fortune once
4 more. This offer was gratefully ac-
/ cepted, and his conduct was SO salts
factory that in short time he was
entrusted with full possession.
| After the lapse of year. Kate en-
af