The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-12

J
well. They surrendered everything, but credi-
! tors did not fail to stigmatise as dishonorablc
/ and unbusiness-like aud speculative and risky
| the nature of the trade done by the broken
4. firm. Aeck at once sailed for Sydney. where
| he had a brother, and Robert took his wife and
children to her fathers, while he endeavored to
find situation. But week after week passed,
another winter was approaching, and nothing
| had been done.
Once again David was interrupted. This
| time it was his pretty niece JESSIE His face
softened wonderfully when he met her large,
| fearful eyes
"oh. uncle" she said, 'we have sore need
of you"
"My .puir little woman, sit down and tell
! Davie what he can do for you."
! Jessies tale was soon told-her tears told it
! best.
Roberts heart had quite failed him they
! were almost penniless, and they had worn their
welcome out at her fathers.
Then you'll come here, you and Robert, and
| Jessie, and wee Davic; an we'll see what your
man is fit for. If he Gamma find his feet wi
wife like you, I'm sorry for him."
So the next day the family moved, with their
small belongings, to David's house, very much
to the annoyance of Mistress Janet, David's
housekeeper. This lady, indeed, soon made
things so unpleasant that it was evident to all
parties there could be no delay in a decision,
and Robert, almost in desperation, resolved on
trying his fortune in the new world. David,
pressed by his housekeepers grumbling and
| by his affection for his nephew, knew only of
one other way-he could advance Robert money
! for new effort.
But it would be the ruin o. the lad he
said, thoughtfully. I'm doubling if he's
learned his lesson yet he cen go to school
again."
So he praised Roberts suggestion. and offered
to pay the passage of the whole family and
| give him G1O0 to start life with. The offer
was accepted, and in q few days they were on
the ocean, not one of them aware Of the real
interest and affection which followed them.
| But they'll write to me-" said David to
himself. They'll write, for they ken l haze
| plenty O. siller."
Once on new track, all Roberts energy re-
turned. Provided with letter to the pro-
prietors Of the Mattatoot Carpet Mills, he found
| his way there, and readily obtained work.
part of his hundred pounds was used in fur
| nishing little cottage, ard Robert enjoyed
| degree of peace and comfort to which he had
long been a stranger. The next spring lucky
event gave him special prominence. A large
mill in the neighborhood imported some ma,
chinery for weaving peculiar kind of rug, and
no one could be found in the locality able to
| make it run smoothly.
Robert heard of the dilemma and offered his
| help. The loom was familiar to him, his sue
cess easy. He had found his place, and he
knew it. Day by day he made his skill and
energy felt. He rose to be overseer-business
manager-partner. Still he varied very little
the quiet simplicity of his home. Jessie and
he had found how little they really needed for
happiness, and so, year by year. whatever they
saved was invested in land which grew in value
while they slept and worked at other things
and ten years after Roberts first investment he
found himself, by the simple growth of the
village, very rich man. Just about this time
David sent them very urgent request to come
and see him, and as he offered to pay all eX-
penses, it was accepted. The old man was now
nearing eighty, yet he was wonderfully hale
md bright and met them at the steamer. ap-
parenty little older for the ten years that had
elapsed since he bid them goodbye" on the
very same spot. He liked Roberts way at the
first glance.
"He has the look of man wi siller, an he
bears himself WELL"
Another thing made still more favorable
impression on David. Robert was not anxious
to speak on business.
Indeed, David had at last to speak bluntly:
you'll haze done weel. suppose?"
'Very WELL
"Youll no be needing ony help now? I
have money lying idle.'
"Thank you, uncle but I have elO,oOO
|yngidle myself. Ithonght of investingi it here,
if l can find just the machinery want
'Youre going to manufacturing again 2"
"Yes know all the ins and outs of the trade
there is good opening i'll our town. Yes, /
am thinking about it,"
"Youll no be wanting partner. eh? 2
If can get the right kind"
"Would l do?'
"You. Uncle"
"Wel yes, laddie an you needn't scorn at
me. I'll put hundred thousand to your fifty,
an we'll ca the firm Rae K Speers.'
"You could not leave Scotland, uncle
"Was thinking O. sic daft thing? I'll
trust my interests j. you hands. I'll haze my
full rights, mind an you shall haze fair
allowance for doing my wark as well as yonr
ain. Well put every thing on paper. and I'll
hold you strictly to the bargain"
The proposal, made half in barter, finally
assumed very real shape, and it was agreed
that when Robert returned to America, he
should start new manufacturing firm under
very different auspices to his first venture.
But the past was only once alluded to, and
then David introduced the subject.
"You1l be thinking, Robin, very likely, o
the day when l woudua lend you the thou
sand pounds.
''You were quite right uncle no man ought
to borrow money until he knows the difficulty
of making it-and Of saving it young men
can't know these things; they belong to ex-
perience."
"You had that lesson to learn then, Robin,
an thought ye might as weel learn it o itler
folk as o me. One fool whiles teaches anither
fool, an both grow wise thegither Sandy
Mcclure lent ye that twa thousand, and he was
name the waur o the lessons ye gave him.
There would be fewer young fools if there
were mair wise elders"
So Robert visit was great success, and
the old man shed the last tears he ever sbed
on earth when he bid the children goodbye.
"You take care O. wee Davie for my sake,
Robin" he said, tenderly, holding the lad
proudly by the hand, "for when I'm no longer
to the FORE you'll let my name stand i the firm,
till he's ready to take my place so then the
hundred thousand will aye be in David Speers'
name"
And to-day the house grows and prospers
though old David has long been gathered to
his fathers. Roberts early failure has brought
forth O lnt1. ninl ur,lnndid SrccnSp