Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-08-01
Misfellanions. q
Robert Rae's Lesson.


after-dinner smoke. Perhaps the long clay
pipe looked little incongruous with the
Handsomely furnished room. and the mas
stve silver plate on the mahogony side
board. But for that matter. the deacon
himself was an incongruity-a little, com
mon-!ookin2 man, very well dressed. with
a Rob Roy bonnet on his head and nnitie d
gray "orsted stockings on his sllppered
ieet.
Certainly a very wide contrast to the
handsome, stylish-!ooking young fellow
who interrupted his reyerie by very frank
aud noisy
Good evening. uncle. Can talk a
while with your
That depends, Robin. on wha, you are
gaun TO talk about. am in no mo.d Tor
clishmaclsyers."
Il want to talk about business uncle -
"Humph.''
''lou know, uncle. that Alex Lang and
have long been friends
Il have heard so; l don't know it
We'll. We have. To-day Alex came 10
tell me that he Is going into the carpet
weaving business In kllmaruock. He in
tends TO buy Thomas Blackie ont
"Hech. He'll need some bAwbees for
that
His father will help, and he asked me
10 join HIN. What do you think about itg
How long have you been with ilesile -
'fye years.
And how much have you savedi"
Nv ell TO tell the truth, uncle, nothing
al all. What with Jessie marrying last
year and Rosa this. and the presents I had
to give, and ether. expenses, my savings
all went away
"iluinph.'
Il thought that perhaps as the business
was such an old and sure one, and as both
the Lahgs would be Interested 10 II, you
would lend me two thousand pounds, Tor
such a wonderfully good chance"
The old man removed his pipe. and look
ing Robin la the face he said:
Il have made it rule never 70 lend
money TO young men,"
A very unkind rule, when 1t touches
me. uncle. lcu were never unkind to me
before
81 am not unkind TO you now. neither.
Robin"
'Only two thousand, uncle. And such
a chance"
"Guid heavens. hear that lad. Only two
thousand. De ye ever saw two thousand
poundsi When ye have, Robin, come 10
me, an III talk wi ye about lending ye
the sum-
But, uncle, the thing is no, a new ven
tufe: Il is sure 10 pay"
1T is gang 10 hae new masters sn men
al sixty srna sac sure about things paying
as lads OF fye-and twenty are.
So the yonng man went away much dis
appointed, and not little angry; but 9th.
er friends looked more favOrably on The
plan. The two thousand pounds were
borrowed, and Robert Rae aud Alex Lang
bought out the oid-established carpet-wesv-
ing house Of Thomas Blackie.
The nrst year, the concern, In spite o!
falling prices, did very we'll. Robert s
share OF the profits not only gave him .
good living, but paid his interest. and al
lowed him 10 lay up one hundred pounds
toward clearing OF his borrowed capital
and the next year things were still bright
er.
In the fourth year Of the enterprise Rob
ert Rae called again on his uncle. He was
sitting smoking 10 the same dress and atti-
tude.
Good evening, Robin. How's busi-
ness!"
First rate; don't come tonight about
business"
"Hech. What for them
IL am going TO be married. l wanted 70
tell you about II.
=
business, Robin"
II think not uncle"
Who the lassie:"
Jessie LOrimer."
The ministers daushterT'
Yes"
What tOcher has she?''
Just her beauty and her noble nature
she is OF good family, too, aud she has haC
the best of education. Why, uncle, she
eau do most anything-paints, draws
plays on the harp, sings like an angel
and"
I'm afeard she'll be a kind OF nstrimo
NAL luxury, Robin. But she's q bonnie
bit iassie; yet doubt il she's ft for pull
mans wife"
You'll come to the wedding. uncle?'
surely, surely
IL was 3 very grand wedding and Uncl,
Speers made quite q sensation by givins
| the bride q check tor five hundred pounds
Indeed Jessie seemed TO have quite eapti
waited the old bachelor, and he soon beg al
| to spend many evenings In her pretIy
home.
Three years passed happily away. Ii
| Roberts hOlne there had been some pleas
ant changes; and Uncle Speers danced
pretty baby Jessie occasionally on his knee
or looked admiringly and wOnderingly .
his own wee namesake In his cradle
Down at the mill things we're apparentl.
equally prosperOus-ail the looms were .
work, and the very welfare Of kilmsrnoc
as a community was sensibiy CONNECTED
with the business Of Lang & Rae's carpe
mill.
But great deal Of this success Was onl
apparent, for it hung upon chances entire
ly beyond the control OF the young part
ners in is. They had been compelled :
borrow largely. and had big interest ae
counts to meet, and y great deal Of thel
paper being from houses unknown TO locs
BANKERS, they had " be csshed st ver
heavy discounts.
All things were much against them; u
80 great Was their industry and eicrx
thai they might have turned then all iut
"hsppy circumstances" and won In spil