The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-03-22

lit is so disagreeable that l must do It myself
Now that shows just what Jack is-noble in
every thought.
..This friend of Jacks is a broker. and
very rich. He asked me if l would not
like a hot-air furnace in the cellar, and
a little fiowerroom with double sasnes
for winter flowers. My eyes opened wide.
The thought flashed upon me that come
thing like these were to be my Christmas pres
ent."
Here ended my copying from Helen
Burkbank's journal. My idea was to
give it to the world as an example Of
Happiness Independent Of outward cir
cumstances. 1 knew my cousin would
give me ready permission, SO that j
substituted othernames for hers and her
husbands. There was not much more
recorded. On the winter following the
late date there was a dreadful snow.
storm and fearful cold. The struggle
was rather hard that winter, but the
next saw a marvellous change. Jacks
friend, the broker, lent him money, with
which he made additions to his build
ings, improved his ground. and gener.
ally added luxuries to that simple and
blissiul home; moreover, he invested in
stock through the advice of Norton.
From that hour there was a shadow upon
Mount Hope. Finally Jack decided to
move to New York and 60 into business
with Norton. Helen protested but Jack
was quite heavily in debt, and he saw a
way to retrieve himself. He became
rich, spent money lavishly, travelled
abroad, built Torricelli, gratified every
whim of his, or Helen'so or BRIDES, but
happiness had forevcrfed.
On the day 1 made my last extract
from Helen's journal 1 received a letter
from her. She was in Rome. Birdie
was alarmingly ill of malarial fever and
the worst was feared, though Helen had
great faith in the physician attending
her. The letter disturbed me greatly.
I felt anxious and nervous. All my ex-
pected pleasure in running Torricelli
had proved an illusion. Hobson got
mad, corrupted all the servants and left.
1 was glad when he was gone and got
along far better without him, despite the
insolence of some of the servants and
the laziness of all of them. The care
of the place was a burden to me, and ]
longed for the return of its wne Be.
sides, there was something depressing
about the place, despite its beauty.
This l had not perceived at first, but
nov it grew upon me. One day the
cook, whose salary was two thousand
dollars a year threatened to leave.
Mercy! Jack would certainly starve,
though it had not been very long since
he found a dinner of corn bread and
milk with q few blackberries all-sufi.
Gent.
Another letter from Helen, q few
days after the first, l will quote entire;
HOTEL DE L'EURoPE, ROME, August 20, 1s7-
NJ DEAR JANE am the most wretched
of women. Birdie is dreadfully ill. The doc
matters little, for my precious child does no,
know me. They urge me to ride, send car
riages for me continually, but must stay neal
to some friend. He scolds me for my dis
tracted state as If L could be less overcome by
this affection than 1 am. l will open my hear
to you my dear old friend. Jane, God is pun
ishinq me for my sins. Jack will not admit It
but 1 know it well. The finger of God could
not write it palmer upon my heart. We were
Hope cottage, for we were serving God BY
labor for our own and all those around us
The wilderness about our home we made bios
som like the rose. Birdie grew strong and
beautiful every day. o. those days when We
were really rich! for all we had was ours by
honest right. not gained by some trick oil
speculation. Our simple food was sweetel
than all the %banquets of our grander state
Jack was tempted by his old friend to go into
what he called and the world calls Legitimate
who bought up all the -four in the market, OF
enough of it, Jane, to make every starving
child's loaf of bread cost its wretched parents
a penny more; for they held on to this f1oul
until it went up and up. Then they sold ant
Jack became a rich man. Jane, the grant
Torricelli you so much admire was built with
such money rs that. l felt that Jacks bust
ness was an unrighteous one, but allowed
my instincts to be. argued down. There wa.
my great sin; but, o God, my punishment
you, my cousin Jane, for here 1 soIemnly
swear that If my Heavenly Father will spar
my beloved child l will retrace my steps ant
go back to my simpler and nobler life. But
"HELE BURBANK"
This letter explained a great deal.
saw Just why Helen had not appreciated
Gas I thought) her lovely home. During
these lonely weeks as mistress of Tori
celli l reflected deeply upon the vanit,
of riches, the ~coveting of which had al
ways been my besetting sin. 1t was
discipline 1 needed, and it taught me t.
distinguish between real and apparen
wealth. Helen, in her poverty, had al
most every blessing; in her wealth
beggar might have pitied her could h
have read her heart. 1t was plain tina
the great love once existing between he
and Jack had become as cool As that o
the most worldly husbands and wives
Then l saw by this letter that Helen hat
forgotten how to be Christian, else sh'
would not have made a conditional vow
to God. She would have simply bowet
her head and promised to return to
better life.
Nv suspense was soon relieved by
telegram, or ~cablegram, as some say
Simply the words, God be praised
Birdie is saved" A month afterwart
Helen wrote gay letters from Paris, ant
spoke of soon returning home. She ha,
bought some wonderful pictures AM
some old carvings, " worth their weigh
in gold" She wrote of certain changes
she was contemplating in the decoration
of Torricelli, and gave me direction
which she had not done before. l wa
terrified. Had she utterly forgotten he
solemn VOW? There was a sense of un
rest continually with me, and when
dispatch came that the family had takel
passage on the City of Lyons. my frs
thought was, There is a Jonah on tina
steamer" Still, it was an idle thought
which did not occur again when week
and months passed and there came n
news of the vessel. 1t has always bee
supposed that she foundered in mid
ocean, and that every soul persisted
Jack left no will, and when his estat
came to be settled there was not on
dollar for any of his heirs, though h
had passed for a very wealthy nan Ey
erybody presented claims. 1 thought O
Jacks watch-word: ''Visible o%pulence.
He had known, then. upon what fra
foundations his wealth had rested. Eve
the stately Torricelli with its i%vy-crowne
towers must have been to him a verits
BILE castle in the air.--M. HOULand, !
Harper's Monthly.
Our Great Source Of Wealth.
Tl.-.o - A. Il Ckk,. (.