Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-03-15

pafalySeQ, ana L was the acuuaI neaQ OF
his business, the weaving of carpets, in
W. He left me a competency, which
was stolen from me by a dishonest trus-
tee; and | should have taken up some
occupation to gain my own living had
not Maude been left an orphan, and i'm
plored me to live with her.
'slt was scarcely a life of dependence,
for she needed me, and her lavish gifts
OF clothing and jewelry accepted in
the place of the salary anyone else in
my place must have been paid. [ was
housekeeper and chaperon, and we were
very happy; but never dreamed that /
was supposed to own her wealth.
"Now listen to my proposition: The
factory my father controlled is closed,
but l am an old friend of the owner
who carried on the business for short
time after my father died, and found
his ignorance of the details swept away
all his profits. | will introduce you to
him, and the sale of my diamonds will
give us sufficient capital for modest
start. You will be nominal master, as
my, father was, until you conquer all the
intrleacies of the business, gain our old
customers, and can carry on the whole
without any assistance. Until then, let
m67direct and teach you, as | helped my
father. When you are rich man
and here Mrs. Randall's eyes grew dim
with tender feeling-'.you can buy me
some more diamonds"
1t was not matter for hasty de-
cision. Mr.. Randall, remembering his
failures, was doubtful of his own abili-
ty, but his wife had her way, and be-
fore their welded life was six months
old, Mr.. Randall was engaged in his
new business.
Spurred on by an honest shame that
woman had better business head
than his own, he did what he never done
before-threw his whole soul into his
business, and was amazed himself to
find how rapidly he learned to guide it.
Every day filled his heart with deeper
love for the noble woman who was so
true and faithful helpmate to him;
who, with all the knowledge he lacked,
never let one clerk or employe guess
her real position.
At home, in the evening, she showed
him the result of her days correspond
ence or bookkeeping, and gave him clear
instructions for the next day s work. And
he, learning all quickly, had sufficient
sense to let her control the entire busi-
ness, until she herself, after two years OF
faithful work, said:
'.You can do without me now, dear.
| resign"
They had lived very economically in
those two years, Mrs. Randall govern
ing the small house and one servant as
efficiently as she had controlled her
niece's grand mansion or the affairs OF
the factory.
But ambition once reused in Joseph
Randall, he resolved to give his wife a
home as handsome as the one she had
left for love of him. Depriving her OF
no comfort he could afford to give her,
he denied himself all extrava gancies
that had become second nature.
Cigars were thrown aside, clothing
was reduced to respectabiIity, ignoring
the many changes of fashion, ridin ;
was exchanged for an occasional drive
with Mrs. Randall, and year by year
Joseph Randall saw his business in
crease, his bank account enlarge, until
he was master of tiourishing business,
and of the magnificent home where Mrs.
Randall had employed me to paint the
panels of the bedroom doors.
And as years robbed the devoted wife
of her strength and the noble beauty OF
middle life, they took nothing from the
love of husband, who knew that to
her he owed all his prosperity. He
realized fully the life of indolent luxury
he would have led, and contrasted il
with the useful one to which she had
guided him.
A kind master, the families of his
work-people knew they had always 9
friend in the head of the vast establish
ment in which the husband and father
toiled. Without children. both Mr.. ant
Mrs. Randall extended their charitie;
far and wide, and when gratitude me-
them, Joseph Randall said:
1.-The thanks are yours, dear But fol
you | should be that dreadful object, al
aimless. indolent man of fashion, wha
in days gone by they called AN ole
| beau. "