Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-07-08

present difficulties easily if we assist
! him a. little. We should be just, as
man towards man; and this | do not
think we should be in this case unless
we consider MIR. Carlton as we'll as our
selves. He is an honest man, and an
honest manin difficulties is always en-
titled to consideration"
'This is all very well; but when a.
man gives his payable at q certain
day, he ought to be very sure that he
will be able to take it up. Creditors
are entitled to some consideration as
we'll as debtors. The cry OF poor
debtors is soon raised, but who, [
wonder, thinks of the poor creditor?
I, for one, am not prepared to ex-
tend"
This was said by Elder.
GAS for me-" spoke up another, 81
| take but one view Of matters like this.
If | think will do better by renewing
[ am ready to do so; if, by winding up
the party now, can do better, l go
for winding up. / have confidence In
Cartoons integrity. l believe he
means well. But can he get through?
That is the question"
II believe he can," returned Mr..
Highland.
ssAnd 1 doubt it, returned Mr..
Elder.
The efforts of Mr.. Elder to efface the
impression the words of Mr.. Highland
had made proved in vain. 1t was
agreed that the debtor should receive
the extension he asked. When in
formed of this decision, Carlton could
not hide his emotions, though he
strove hard to do so. His grateful
acknowledgment touched more than
one heart that had been as cold as ice
| toward him short time before. How
| different were his feelings when he met
| his family that evening, and silently
thanked Heaven that the cloud which
had lowered over, and threatened to
break in desolating tempest, had
passed from the sky.
Long before the timefor which the eX-
tension had been granted Mr.. Carlton
was able to pay off everything, and to
| look in the face, without unpleasant
emotions, every man he met.
Strange things happen in real life.
Mr.. Elder was a shipper, and extern
sively engaged in trade. For a series
OF years everything went on prosper
ously with him. His ventures always
found a good market, and his con-
signments safe and energetic factors.
All this he attributed to his own bust
ness acumen.
81 never make bad shipments" he
would sometimes say, Il never con-
sign to doubtful agents"
A man like Mr.. Elder is rarely per-
mitted to go through life without a
practical conviction that he is in the
hands of One who governs all events.
1t IS rarely that such one does not
become painfully conscious, in the
end, that human prudence is as moth
ing.
The first thing that occurred to
check the confident spirit of Mr.. Elder
was the loss of a ship and cargo under
circumstances that gave the under
writer's a fair plea for not paying the
risk. He sued and was cast. The
loss was twenty-five thousand dol
lars.
A few weeks after news came that a
shipment to the South American coast
had resulted in a loss. From that
time everything seemed to go wrong.
His ventures found a glutted mar
ket, and his return cargoes a depres-
sion in prices. II he held on to thing
in hopes Of better rates, prices would
go down, until in a desperate mood,
he would sell; then they would 60 up
steadily. The time was when hecould
contine himself strictly to legitimate
trade, but a mania for speculation
now took hold of him, and urged him
on to ruin. He even ventured into the
beWildering precincts of the stock mar
ket, lured by the hopes of splendid re-
suits. Here he stood upon ground
that soon crumbled beneath his feet.
A loss OF from twenty to thirty thou
sand dollars cured him of his folly, and
he turned with a sigh to his counting
room to digest with care and prudent
forethought, some safe operation in
his regular business.
The true balance of his mind was
lost. He could not consider with
calmness the business in hand. A false
move was the consequence. Loss in
stead Of profit was the unfortunate
result.
Seven years from the day Mr.. Elder
opposed an arrangement with Mr..
O041CO1, WHICH, SlOulO regard Un6
debtor as well as the creditor, he him
self found it impossible to provide for
all his heavy payments. For some
time he had kept his head above wat
er by making a sacrifice, but the end
of this came.
After a sleepless night the merchant
started one morning for his store, OBJ
pressed with the sad conviction that
before the day closed his fair fame
would be furnished. AS he walked
along, Mr.. Carlton came to his side
with a cheerful salutation. Mr.. Carl
ton was now a large creditor, instead
of debtor. Onthat very day bills in
his favor had matured to the amount
OF five thousand dollars, and these
Elder could not pay. Therecollection
Of this made it almost impossible for
him to reply to the pleasant observa-
tions of his companion. Vividly, as if
it had occurred yesterday, came up
before his mind the circumstances that
had tranSpired a. few wears Drevious1v