Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-24

nohlemen: that as he had no sol, nor any
other child but myself, would inherit the
whole of his vast fortune II thought how
could give it all to Ralph, and, therefore,
I must study how to maintain myself ID
the position which should shortly occupy.
he desired me especially to pay very par
ticuIar attention not to seem quite rusticai
and country bred, and 10 remember tnat
this common speech of Northumberland
wouId raise a laugh in London With
much more to the same effect
I say not that my father wrote all TINS
in a single letter, but in several; 50 that
ali these things became implanted IN my
mind. and both my grandmother and my
self were, in spite OF my mothers Letters,
firmly persuaded that we were alreaoy
yery rich and considerable people, ana
that my father was q merchant OF the
greatest repown-already a common coun.
Gilman, and shortly TO be alderman, sheriff
and lord mayor-in the city OF London.
This belief was also held by our neighbors
and friends, and it gave my grandmother,
who was, besides, q lady Of diguitied man
nera. more consideration than she would
otherwise have obtained, with the title OF
madam. which was surely dua to the
mother of so great and successful man.
Now the truth was this: Ny father was
the most sanguine of men, and the most
ready 10 deceive himself. He lived con-
tiuually (if may presume to say 30 with
ont breaking the fifth COMMANDMENT IN
a FOOLS paradise. When he was boy
nothing would do for him bat he must 90
TO London, refusing to till the acres which
wouId afterward be his own, because he
was ambitious, and ardently desired to be
another Wilmington. See the dangers oil
the common cheap books, in which. he had
read the story OF this great lord mayor!
He 40 far resembled Wilmington that
he went up to London (by wagon
from Newcastle) with little in his pock-
ct except letter Of recommendation
from the then vicar of Warkworth to his
brother, at the time glover in Cheapside.
How he became a2prentice-like Whiting
tonic thisssglover, how he fell In love-
like Whittipgton-with his masters
daughter, how he married her-like Whit
tipgton-and Inherited business, stock,
capital, good will and all, may here only
he thus briefly told; but by the death OF
his master he became actual aud sole own
er of London shop, whereupnn, my poor
fathers brain being always fall OF VISIONS
he was inAsmed with the confidence that
now, indeed, he had nothing to
look for but the making
of an immense fortune. Worse
than this, he thought that the fortune
would come of its own accord. How man
living in the city of London could make so
prodigious n mistake, know not. There
fore he left the whole care Of the business
to his wife and his apprentice, and tor his
own part spent the day in coffee houses OF
on Change, or wherever merchants and
traders meet together. This made him full
of great talk, and he presently proceeded
to imagine that he himself was concerned
in the great ventures and enterprises oil
which he heard so much, or perhaps, be-
cause be could not actually have thought
himself merchant adventurer, be believed
that before long he also should be
embarkipg cargoes to the East and
West Indies, running under convoy OF
frigates safe through the enc
my's privateers 1t was out of the profits
of these imaginary cargoes that he was 10
obtain that vast wealth Of which ne con-
tinually thought and talked until, in the
end, he believed that he possessed 1t.
Meantime, his poor wife, my mother, left
in charge OF the shop and with her house
hold CAGES as we'll; found, to her dismay,
that the respectable business which her
father had made was quickly falling from
them, ss their old friends died, one by
one, or retired from trade, and no new ones
coming in their places; for, as | have been
credibly informed, the business ola trades
man or merchant in London is go precar-
ious and uncertain that, unless it be con-
stantly watched, pushed, nursed, en-
couragpd, coaxed, ted and flattered, 1t
PRESENTLY withers away and perishes.