Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-03-22
9 gleasaut Sturp,
THE FIRST STORM.

At the ripe age of twenty-one, hand
some Harry Melville decided to 60 into
business on bis own account.
wait until you are twenty five" said
Harry's prudent father.
"And lose four years p returned
Harry almost with indignation. at is
folly"
"And again ten," said old Mr.. Mel
vile. 1.-The earlier young man goes
into business, the oftencr he has got to
fail before he grows wise enough and
strong enough for success. My advice
is to wait until you are thirty. There
will be ten chances in your favor then
to one in your favor now.
But Harry considered his father old
fogyish and behind the times, and so
let his prudent counsel go for naught.
He had been three years in a jobbing
house on Market street, and considered
himself fully posted up in business mat
tiers, and quite equal to the common run
of merchants. Indeed, to hear Harry
talk on matters of trade was quite edify-
ing and an uninitiated listener would
hardly fail to give him credit for con-
siderably more than was his due.
Harry Melville had ten thousand dol
lars left to him by an uncle At twenty
one the property came into his hands
1t was in the shape of State stocks,
and readily convertible into money
Upon this sum he commenced business,
in company with a young friend about his
own age, and about equally experienced
Then thousand dollars in cash was
something of basis for credit; and al
though our young merchants expended
twenty-five thousand dallars in fitting up
their store, they found no difficulty what
ever in stocking it with more than all the
goods they needed.
The times were propitious. Credit
was cheap. Everybody bought and
everybody sold, with scarcely the for
mality of inquiry as to the basis upon
which confidence rested. In less than
two years, Melville x Morris were doing
business at the fast rate of one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars per annum,
and making fabulous profits. To marry
and set up aashy domestic establishments
came as a natural result. Both the
young partners committed this additional
folly. To marry would have been we'll
enough, if modest Prudence had smiled
her quiet blessing on the rites. But as
it was, silly Pride and weak Ambition
reigned triumphat
Old Mr. Melville shook his head,
looked grave, and demonstrated in pri-
vate with his son, but Harry grew i'm
patient at the old gcntleman's narrow
thoughted Interference, and finally re-
quested him to cease the repetition Of
language that was only felt as an annoy
ance. Of course, the father was hurt,
and did not go near his son again for
some weeks. As peace-oGcring, Harry
bought new house, for which he paid
down three thousand dollars in cash, and
gave bis Dote for the balance, four thou
sand. With the title deeds in bis pocket
he called at the modest paterDal resi-
dcnce. Mr.. Melville received bis son
kindly, yet not with the old cordially.
for one or two sentences uttered during
their last interview, stung him severely,
and the pain had not yet subsidized.
"What are these ?" asked the elder
Mr.. Melville, as Harry laid upon the Ia
Bile, before his father, the title papers Of
his new house.
"Read them," was the smiling an
swer.
With half curious manner, Mr.. Mel
vile opened broad parchment sheet.
His eyes glanced hurriedly over the con-
tents; but his face instead Of brighten
ing, grew clouded. Explain this, Har-
ry." he said, looking up at bis son
Does it not explain itself, father ?"
ono"
Mr.. Melville shook bis head to make
his mo" still more emphatic.
II have always looked forward 10 tbs
time with pleasure that words can
hardly express" said Harry, leaning TO-