Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-10-16
A SHARP LESSON.

muSV put sup W tulo oOIb vi
thingl' said Mr.. McElroy. "If don't
l shall certainly come to the orkhous
81 haven't saved money all these years
to rain it down on peoples heads as if it
was hail-stoneI'
John McElroy was a man who had.
in Yorkshire pbraseology, saved pow
er O. brass" Being a great deal too eco-
nomical to marry, he had invited his
lame nephew Matthew Rawden, to come
with his family and keep house in the
old red homestead; and thereafter be
took credit to himself for supporting all
the Rawdons, although Matthew toiled
diligently at his trade of shoemaking,
and James, the eldest son. managed the
farm with skill and success, while Mrs.
Rawdon and her two daughters, Lucy
and Deborah, were the model dairy-wo-
men and best managers of the vicinity.
In an evil hour Matthew had borrow>
ed hundred pounds of Uncle John, to
pay off an old debt that hung round his
neck like milestone. t. @
He had kept up the interest pretty
regularly, but it would have been as
easy for him to pay off the national debt
as to discharge his obligation. and in
this way Uncle McElroy contrived to
keep him ground down into the veIy
dust.
Had it not been for this debt the Raw
don family would have crept out from
under the harrow of Uncle Johns tongue
and temper long ago.
1T don't seem as if we could stand it, I"
said Mrs. Rawdon, plaintively.
II don't care how much he scolds
me-" said Deborah, "hut he has no busi>
ness ty tyrannize So dreadfully over poor
mother"
IF could only raise money enough
to take quarters singing lessons, l
could earn twenty pounds a year in the
church choir" said Lucy.
The housekeeping book was particu-
larly aggravating that morning; and
Mrs Rawdon had shed few quiet tears
before the interview was over.
81 hate whining women" said Mr.
McElroy "and hate extravagant ones
81 try to do the best caD,' said poor
Mrs. Rawdon.
And when the book was flung wrath>
fully on the table, and Mr.. McElroy had
dismissed his nephew's wife, be sal
thinking.
"I'n do it," he said aloud. "I've had it
in my mind for some time. I'll send
these people about their business. III
put an end 20 these everlasting impOsl>
tions of theirs. They only care for me
just the length of my purse. They hate
me, every one of 'em. | can see thu Ough
'em, dull rs they think me"
As he sat there, a little lad came to
the door, with yellow envelope in his
hand.
"a telegram for you," said he. "a
shilling to pay, please"
IL wonder who it can be from ?" Me-
ElrOy said.
1t was very brief. 1t said.
"Stocks have fallen. Your money is
all gone. Sorry, but could not stand
against market. II. RAVEN & Co."
H. Raven & Co. Yes, that was the
name of the stockbroking firm to whose
care his diligently-hoarded fortune had
been consigned. He read the brief dis
patch over and over again, as if it were
impossible to comprehend its full mean
ing.
II don't understand" he repeated to
himself -"I don't understand. l thought
those stocks were safe enough. l only
believed what those scoundrels told me
themselves. Oh, what will become of
me nowp"
His head fell forward on his folded
arms on The window sill: he uttered
groan which se'u.d 10 cutne from the
depths of his heart.
II am poor man" he faltered. "As
poor as old Jim Watson, the clock
mender; rs poor as Matthew himself.
The savings of years have all gone at
once; and an u poor manP'
"Uncls McElroy, don't mind it." said
the cheerful voice of Matthew, when AT
last he had mustered courage to tell his
troubles. and sat with his head support
ed on his hand at the table. with face
drawn and pinched as if he had j. st re-
covered from long sickness. 81 am
doing well at my trade just now. and
you shall never feel the loss of your
money while [ can handle an awl or
draw thread"
Never feel the loss of my money!
vaguely repeated McElroy. The man
talks like fool"
But, nevertheless. there was grain
of comfort in the words.
"And, after all. Uncle John." consol-
ingly whispered Mrs. Rawdon, money
isn't everything. You'll see how nicely
we shall rontrive to live. I'll take a
boarder or two. if you don't object, this
summer. Your comfort shall not be in
terfered with in the least degree; and