The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-07

B felt poorer, after ali, than these young Great
ues who still had their fortunes to make, and
wose best capital was their love for each
cher.
But in the last few dragging years nothing
hid given him such a hearty pleasure as his new
i~iterest in this little enterprise of the fancy
gods store on Numberless street. His cautious
bdsiness instinct made him very careful to know
rs ground. Then one day, to young Chelllss
geat delight, when he was beginning
Il fear his creditors and look old
e and more troubled than usual, the
fequent guest counted out a sum of money as If
/; were all he had in the world, and begged to
60 into partnership, waving all formalities.
The two men sat down together as if they were
dixie, twenty-five, and embarked upon courage
Gus plans for future gains. Sometimes of late
Ir. Craven, who lethimself be called Mr.. Brown,
tough his honest heart revolted from the de-
@ption-sometimes postponed his visit until
sfter the late breakfast and spent as much of the
lay as he chose with his new friend.
What sagacity of advice the old merchant
impaired to the new one time would
rp his mind that his benefactor must have had
an unusual business career and been wrecked in
some great financial crisis.
The situation was not without its dangers.
Even the walk along Numberless street was
keset with fears, and John Craven varied his
line of approach from day to day. Once he be-
held with dismay the entrance of one of his own
housemaids upon his new place of business, as
he stood behind the high desk casting up a
column of figures. Luckily there was an inner
room, to which he stealthily reiterated with beat
ing heart and listened there to the
loud, unmannerly tones of the woman who was
at home q most soft-spoken and servile creature.
But this accident did not happen again, and he
felt more and more secure in the companionship
Of his young partner. 1t was surprising how his
youthful zest and ambition seemed, for a time,
to return: how pleased he was when an uncom-
monty good days trade was reported. He shook
his head when the young folks asked him to come
to their wedding, but he slipped as large a bill
as he dared into the brides work-roughened little
hand and stole away toward his own house. 1t
had made him miserable to see the rooms the
lovers were to live in. They had asked their
benefactor to visit the new homo in such a way
that he could not refuse, and they told him they
never could have got on so we'll without his help.
Little Miss Brooks was not going to give up her
sewing at present. She would take care of their
tiny housekeeping and earn all she could in the
spare time, just as she had always done. They
did not seem like city people at all; they had the
simple ways of country folks. And John Craven
thought of them with deep affection as he sat at
the head of his glittering dinner'table that
night and lifted a glass of his best wine in o
shaking hand to drink secretly Mr.. and Mrs.
William Chellis's health and prosperity.
At last there came a time, late one spring, when
the old business mar seemed much feebler than
he ever had before. He hardly ever went down
to the great Office now, and was even glad when
the rare expedition was safely over with. Once
or twice he took his seat at some assembly, but
he was an inefficient figurehead, and was more
annoyed than otherwise with the lofty show of
Difference from his interiors in Office. Every day
when it was possible, however, he paid an early
visit to his young friends, on Numberless street,
and, on many a morning, when there were few
customers coming in, he gave the ambitious pro-
prietor warnings and suggestions. There was a
young boy added to the force Of this mercantile
experiment, a lad from Vermont, whose bright
face seemed to'please the old gentleman, and, on
one Of the last visits, Chellis sent him home with
Mr.. Craven. 1t caused a good deal of curiosity
and interest when the adventure was
recounted, os having helped the infrm
guest up the high steps of one of the
best avenue houses, but the mornings calls wero
nearly done. Mr.. Craven only appeared
once more, and then, when the owner of the
little shop had gone down town. He and his
young wife talked a great deal that night about
their benefactor. Hes been the making of
said Chellis to himself, sadly, as the days
went by after that and his friend did not come
again.
For a long time Mr.. Craven's daughter had
said proudly that her father was able to take an
hour or twos walk early every morning; in these
late spring days he ha~d~eomplainsd fretfully
that he used up all his strength in doing so
much, and that he was fit for nothing all the
rest of the day. At length John Craven was
taken away to his country place, and
before the summer was over he died. The poor
rich man had even ceased to care anything for
even the dolls shopkeeping, as he had elton
fondly called ii, while he was still grateful for
the pleasure that came to him as he dreamed of
and planned for the future fortune of the happy
young people in NumberlesS street.
His will was made some years before, and was
as just to his own family and to public needs as all
his dealings had been. There was one
codicil which surprised his family entirely
he left s., 900 to one William Chellis, in
Numberless street, and among the latest of his
private papers was a note to this legatee written
with a trembling hand, which contrasted
strangely with his former clear signatures.
Il have left something for you as a remem-
brance," Mr.. Craven said. Il have no doubt
that you will make your way in the world by it's
help and your own exertions, and | owe You
something for your kindness and respect to an
old man. Remember that getting money may
make you poor as it has me, and can leave you
at last a beggar for little friendliness, and SYM
patty, and occupation. There are other things
which a man needs beside wealth, to make him
happy. l am your grateful friend.
John CRAVEN"
The young mans eyes were strangely dimmed
as he read. Good heavensl" he said, awed and
astonished. II used to think sometimes shat he
wasn't the broken-down old fellow we toek him
for at first, but there ne was all the time, one of
the noblest men in the city! How pleased he
used to be som days to help behind the counter
when two or three customers came in together.
So that was old John Craven"
perhaps our place made him think of old times,
when he was just beginning himself" hopefully
answered the little wife. Il remember the first
time | saw him, one windy morning when the
dust flew in his face, and he turned round and
looked right in at the window. He made me feel
real bad. He looked so lonesome and wishful.
l was pleased because there was a plant in
bloom on the window-sill; you know you gave it
to me my birth-day-this very same pretty
geranium. l never thought he was going to
give us such a lot of money"
Hes given me something better than that,
too" said young Chellis, solemnly; and when
the woman beside him looked up to ask
what he meant, he olHy gave her a kiss and
went AVA There were many gains to be had
in the world beside money, even if ones heart
was set upon being, first of all, a business man.
The Type Writing Craze.
New York Letter.
The rage in New York Just at present is type
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