The Penn's Grove record., 1884-06-28
A BUsINE.s

Annie had arrived at the mature age
of twenty. seven, and was yet in a state
of single blessedness. Somehow or
other she had not ever fallen in love as
yet. Had she no offeI2 What a simple
question: Did you ever know alf a
million of dollars to go begging2 OF
ers? Yes, scores of them. 1t may be
accounted as one of her oddities, per-
haps, but whenever the subject happen
ed to be touched upon 10y her father,
Annie would say that she wanted some
one who would love her for herself,
and she must have assurance of this,
and how should she 10 her present posi-
ton? Thus matters stood when Annie
was led to form and execute what will
appear a strange Tesolution-but she
was a r~esolute girl. We must now go
back six years.
One dark rainy morning in N0Yem-
Der, as her father wa looking coInpos-
edly at the cheerful fire in the CRATE of
his counting room, really indulglng IN
some serious reflections or the past and
future, a gentleman presented himself
and inquired for Mr. Bremen. The
old man uttered not a word, but merely
bowed. There was that in his looks
which said, 1 am he.
The stranger might have been Some
thirty years Of age. He was dressed
in black, a mourning weed was on his
hat, and there was something in his
appearance which seemed to indicate
that the friend whose loss he deplored
had recently departed. The letter OF
introduction which he presented was
quickly yet carefully perused, and as it
was something unique We submit its
contents to the reader:
Friend Pad:-Thls will introduce to
thee friend Charles Copeland. He has
come to the city IN pursuit Of business.
| have known him from his youth up.
Thou mayest depend upon him for
aught that he can do, and shall not
lean as upon a broken reed. IT thou
canst do anything for him, thou mayst
pe~radventure benefit thyself and find
cause to rejoice. Thyformer and pres
ent friend, MICAH LOoMIS.
''It is not every one that can get old
Micah Loomis' endorsement on his
character" said Paul Bremen to him
self, as he folded up the letter of the
we'll known associate of former days,
''Old Micah is good for a quarter of a
million, or for anything else-it will do
I want him-getting old, business
increasing-must have some more help
now as well as any time"
The old gentleman looked at all this,
as he stood gazing in perfect silence on
the man before him, AT length he
opened his lips.
"Mr. Copeland, you know all about
books?"
II have had some few years exper-
ience?"
"Any objection to a place here2
Pretty close work-only II thousand
a year"
"None."
W men cdU yOu DeBln5
"Now."
A real smile shone on the old mans
face. 1t fingered there like the rays of
the setting sun among the clouds of
evening, lighting up those seeming
hard, dark features.
A stool was pushed to the newcomer,
books were opened, matters explained,
directions given, the pen was dipped in
the Ink, and, in short, before an hour
had passed away, you would have
thought that the old and young mar
had known each other TO. years.
In reference to u new friend, it
will be sufficient to remark that he had
been literally educated, as the phrase
goes, and though he had entered early
into business, he had not neglected tie
cultivation of the mind and heart
After a few years of success in the pur-
suits to which he had devoted himself,
misfortunes came thick and fast upon
HIM. He found himself left with
scarcely any property and alone In the
world.
As year after year passed away, he
grew steadily in the confidence of his
employer. Little indeed was said by
either of them, not connected with the
routine Of business, and there had been
no intercourse whatever between them,
save In the counting room. Thus six
years went by, toward the close of
which period old Bremen was found
looking with much frequency and ear