The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-23
gere in conference in their private Of

dent of the institution, ''that Frank
Severns has been 10 see me, and having
given solemn assurances that he has
turned over new leaf, has given up his
expensive and destructive habits and
associates and settled down into an ear
nest business life, have concluded to
give him another chance. He is too
good man to push to the wall, so long
as there is hope of him His disposition
is all right, if only he has manhood
enough to control himself"
Il have no faith in him." said one of
the Directors; 81 have seen and heard
too many broken New Year promises
and resolutions of reform by such clever
fellows. to have any conidencei in them"
And all the other members of the
Board of Directors, except the Presi-
dent, agreed with the last speaker.
They ridiculed the Presidents faith in
Severns' ability to conquer his habits
and to redeem himself as a successful
business man. "It's no use," said one
of them emphatically; "the upshot of
it will be that We'll lose every dollar he
now owes us and every additional dol
lar you shall advance him. 1t always
turns out so, and it will in his case"
81 will assume the responsibility in
his case" said the President, "and will
myself make good to the bank every
cent it may lose by Frank Severns. |
NAV be mistaken in the man, but I'll
take the risk"
And the merchant was restored to
the list of the banks customers. There
had been long confidential interview
between Severns and the bank Presi-
dent on New Years Day, the former
thanking the latter for having brought
him to his senses and giving strong as
surances for the future. The President
said: 81 will take your word. know
you mean Just what you say. l will
give you one month to pay the balance
due the bank and should you do that,
you may 90 on with us just as hereto
fore. But you must turn over the new
leaf efectually and permanently-be
firm as a rock"
And the result of the conference of
the bank officers proved how strong the
Presidents confidence was. Many
such condolences have been misplaced.
Many good resolutions are being broken
constantly. Man is weak, and the
world and its temptations are strong.
All of Frank Severns' old friends and
associates felt very sure that he would
fail in his new resolution. The young
men ridiculed the idea, and the old
men shook their heads incredulously.
His fondness for convivial excitements
and companionship would prove too
much for him, they thought; he would
WELD to the very first temptation to
back-slide; he will tire of the tameness
and dullness of a quiet, steady course
of life. "Of course he will-of course"
And only a month or two of the new
year had elapsed when there was a ru-
NOR in social circles that Frank had
a. fallen from grace" already. His real
friends grieved to hear it, while others
who thought more of his generosity
toward them than of his duty toward
himself, made merry over it, not dis
guising their delight in the anticipation
of his soon again Joining them IN having
{" good times with the boys"
g told you So" said young Flipfad-
die; &" / knew he'd hold out only week
or two. He likes fun and isn't such a
fool as to join the serious family"
:" told you so," said Miss Tittletat-
tie, the daughter of one of the bank di-
rectors; my papa said it would DE just
So"
&" told you So" said Deacon Harsh
ey; " eff he'd jined our church we d
a helped him to keep up, but he didn't
and down he goes! The church he goes
to isn't worth continental as a savin'
power; it is sure road to the Internal
regins. "
:" 1 told you So" said that bank Di-
rector who " had no faith in him." 81
have never known my theory in regard
to such fellows to fail-once wild and
foolish, always wild and foolish. Sure
thing. It's born and bred in them. Our
President has now discovered his mis-
take.n
The bank President met one of the
Directors in the street, and the latter
mentioned the rumor that Frank Sew
ems had broken his resolution and re-
turned to his old ways.
Its a lier' exclaimed the President,
Indignantly. 9" haven't seen him for
three days, but I know it s lie, and the
busybodies about town might be in bet
ter business than concocting and circu-
lating ISLANDERS about their neighbors."
An hour afterwards the President
visited Severns in his store and there
his judgment as to the falsity of the
rumor was abundantly confirmed.
II is now, on this New Years Day,
twenty years since Frank Severns
formed his resolution to turn over a new
leaf in his mode of life. He is to-day
as popular and as great favorite in
social circles and among all classes and
ages in vulnerable as when he was a
young man. He is the same great
hearted, brosd-minded. companionable
man he was twenty years ago, but COM
plete master of himself. And, in the
meantime, he has found Mrs. Severns;
she is the bank Presidents daughter;
and has himself become Director in
the bank. He has kept his resolution
faithfully. The new leaf he turned on
that memorable New Years Eve was
never turned back. Those who prophe-
now than they formerly had in the
ability of even a clever, good-natured
fellow who had gone wrong to change
his course and 60 right.
I" 1 told you so," said the. venerable
President of the bank, at one of the re-
cent meetings of the Directors, at which
Frank Severns' youthful indiscretions
and his present high standing in the
business community were alluded to.
"It is not always safe to trust to the
New Year resolves and promises OF
those who have discovered the error of
| their WAYS, but knew nv man in this