River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-07-26

tween uncle and nephew, and when the
end came David was not among those
who offered Robert and Aleck advice and
sympathy. The young men behaved
well. They surrendered everything, but
creditors did not fail to stigmatize as dis
honorable and unbusiness-l and spec,
ulative and risky the nature of the trade
done by the broken firm. Aleck at once
sailed for Sydney, where he had broth.
er, and Robert took his wife and children
TO her fathers, while he endeayored to find
situation. But week after week passed
another winter was approaching, and
nothing had been done.
Once again David was interrupted
This time 1t was his pretty niece Jessie
His face softened wonderfully when he
met her large, fearful eyes.
Z" oh, uncle she said, " we have sore
need of you"
"My puir little woman, sit down and
tell Dayie what he can do for YOU
Jessie's tale was soon told--her tears
told il best.
| Roberts heart had quite failed him
they were almost penniless, and they had
worn their welcome out at their fathers.
'Then you'll come here, you and Rob
ert, and Jessie, and wee Davie; an well
see what your man is fit for. If he Gamma
find his feet wi a wife like you, I'm sor-
nv 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
should be no delay in decision, and
Robert, almost in desperation, resolved on
trying mis- fortune in the new world. Da-
vid, pressed by his housekeeper's grumb-
ling and by his affection for his nephew,
knew only of one other wayne 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 el00 to start Ii fe
with The offer was accepted, ana iii &
few days they we're 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 a new track all Roberts en-
ergy returned. Provided with letter to
the proprletors of the Mattatoot Carpet
Mills,he found his way there, and readily
obtained work. A part of his hundred
pounds was used in furnishing a little
cottage, and Robert enjoyed a degree of
peace and comfort to which he had long
been stranger. The next spring lucky
event gave him special prominence. A
large mill in the neighborhood imported
some machinery for weaving a 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 Of
fered his help. The loom was familiar
to him, his success 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 after
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, a 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 expenses, 1t was ac-
cepted. The old man was now nearing
eighty, vet he was wonderfully hale and
bright, and met them at the steamer, APP
parently little older for the ten years that
had ELAPSED since he bid them "good
bye" on the very same spot. He liked
Roberts way at the first glance.
'He has the look of a man wi siller,
an he bears himself we'll"
Another thing made still more favor
able 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 we'll"
You'll no be needing ony help now.
/ have money lying idle"
"Thank YOU, uncle; but / have 910,
900 living idle msyelf. / thought of in
vesting it here, if can find just the ma
chinery / want
s'You're going to manufacturing again
ayes: | know all the ins and outs OF
the trade-there is a good opening in our
town. Yes, am thinking about il"
you'll no be wanting a partner, eh!"
"If cen get the right kind"
would do2"
you. Unclel'
"Well, yes, laddie; an you needn't
scorn at me. III put hundred thousand
to your fifty, an we'll ca the firm Rae
& Speers.'
"You could not leave Scotland, uncle"
"Was l thinking o sic a daft thing?
I'll trust my interests i your hands. I'll
haze my full rights, mind; an you shall
haze fair allowance for doing my wark
as we'll as your 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 1t
was agreed that when Robert returned to
America, he should start new manufac-
turing firm under very different auspices
| to his first venture.
But the past was only once alluded
to, and then David introduced the sub
ect.
"Youll be thinking, Robin, very like
ly, o. the day when wouldna lend you
the thousand pounds"
"You were quite right, uncle; no man
ought to borrow money until he knows
the difficulty of making it-and of saving
1t: young men can't know these things,
they belong to experience"
You had that lesson to learn then,
Robin, an / thought We, might as weel
learn it o. ither folk as o me. One fool
whites teaches anither fool, an both grow
wise thegither. Sandy Mcclure lent We
that twa thousand, and he was name the
wanr o. the lesson We gave him. There
would be fewer young fools if there were
mair wise elders"
So Roberts visit was a great success,
and the old man shed the last tears he
ever shed on earth when he bid the chill