Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-07-28
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF REAL LIFE

Some years ago Hal Rivers and my
self were in the habit of making pill
grimage together, every summer, to
some place of interest. We took our
own time, and journeyed leisurely
enough, avoiding night-traveling, I'M
comfortable routes, etc., and greatly
preferring fortnight of slow, easy voy-
age to three days of rush and hurry.
Nowadays people travel mostly just as
fercely for pleasure as for business but
we were wiser.
I shall never forget the trip to the
Mammoth Cave, of Kentucky, that we
undertook, but never completed. We
left New York on delicious September
morning, and proceeded, more or less
directly, to Cincinnati, arriving there on
the afternoon of the fifth day after our
departure.
The morning that we had decided
upon to resume our journey, we break
tasted early, and began to pack up. My
preparations were soon finished; but
Hal was a great fellow for luggage, and
it generally took an hour or two for him
to get all his traps slowed. remember
that he had difficulty, on the morning
in question, with an elaborate dressing
case which he always carried, and nearly
exhausted his patience in trying to get
it into trunk already more than half
full. Just as he succeeded, there was a
knock at the door. I opened it, and
found one of the hotel porters.
ssWell, John, what is it?''
"Note, sir, for one of you gentle
men,
How did it comep''
Telegraph Office, sir.''
tool tho motto If q foI0nro M
for Hal. He opened it, and read:
hundred thousand dollars. May pay ten per
cent, but doubtful. Come home.
sWhat's thatp" I asked in astonish-
ment.
Nothing; only those fellows have
failed, and I am done for! l thought
they would go some day; but I'M hanged
If expected it quite so soon.'
ss 1t must be mistake"
"NO. Scammon knows all about it,
if anybody does. He is never mis-
TAKEN"
s.And Felter, Haskins & Co. have
failed?''
'Yes, for four hundred thousand dol
lars-eighty thousand of which came
out of my pocket. So much for invest
lDg ill your hAOuCJ III Ou0 COuCcIu: OO
much for doubling fortune in five
4 wears! So much for trusting any con-
founded commercial swindie whatever!
Serves me right; but, by Jove, it comes
hard!"
knew nothing to say that could do
my unfortunate companion any good, so
kept silence.
swell" continued he, after brief
pause, 81 guess we won't 60 to the
Mammoth Cave. am poorer than you
are now. old fellow.''
ssThats the worst of being rich. You
never know whether it is yours or some
body else's.''
sssBlessed are those who have moth
ing'-ehp But what is fellow to dop"
aTake it easy
aDon't I? Twas worth nearly eighty
thousand dollars this morning, and now
I'm not worth a red cent. 1t hasn't
killed me yet, though, and I don't be-
Iieye it will. I wonder if they want an
other waiter here? I'm ready to take a
situation"
Like many another young man born
IN 4 fortune, Hal Rivers had been edu-
Gated without any reference whatever
TO the possibility of being compelled, at
some day, to earn his own living. He
had received fair education in most of
the usual collegiate branches, but utility
had been left quite out of sight; and
.ow when he found himself thrown en-