The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-27

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1t rests on the pure bro,r Of the beautiful
nntron.
"They seem bereft of sound judgment,
and have no doubt it is your fathers eff
forts to bring them to the realizing sense
Of the danger Of longer delay that so de-
tains him."
"He must be sorely tried at any hesi-
tation at such a crisis"
"Ah, yes. While business is so para
lyzed, should they attempt to struggle
longer with the adverse circumstances
by which they are surrounded, the effort
will involve them in irreparable ruin
and, sadder than all else, the blow may
fall at time when they cannot prevent
great loss to those who have trusted in
them, and thus add to other trials the
imputation of dishonesty. .-.
"That is the bitter penalty almost in
variably meted out to those who by fail.
ure impoverish others"
The young man stood silent and
thoughtful for some minutes, while his
mother earnestly watched the changes
that swept across his face, and as they
deepened she fondly passed hel arm
around him, saying cheerfully:
"Why, George, my dear son, you are
surely too manly to despond when for
us there are no darker clouds in pros
pect than loss Of property, for you may
rest assured no blot will tarnish your fa-
theirs honor, and therefore if we can re-
main undivided l feel very little dis
turbed at the thought of pccuniary loss.
am chiefly annoyed at the anxiety your
father may be compelled to endure before
he can bring his partners to consent to
an immediate settlement. But you, our
eldest son, are young, strong, well edu-
Gated, enterprising and energetic.
ut would seem that you would find
more true enjoyment in an opportunity
to employ your talents in efforts to build
up our fortune anew than in the Inherit
ance of wealth so abundant as to call for
no exertion on your own part. Many a
one whom God has richly endowed has
buried his talents in a Napkin and
through the enervating influences of
wealth has lived and died mere cipher
instead Of the glorious being an industri-
GUS life with limited means would have
made him"
George for a moment drew his mother
closely to his breast, and leaving a pas
sionate kiss on her cheek replied:
Northumberland me, mother, dear.
Indeed quite lilio the idea of engineer
ing my own way in the world. 1t is for
you and my good, kind father that feel
regret and sadness. 1t is not SO long
since, hut can Well remember by what
untlring industry, what patient efforts,
your present position was attained. No
inherited wealth placed us whcrew we now
stand, but the sweat of fathers noble
brow, aided and cheered by your loving
care and sliillful management, just us
every true American should glory in
building up for himself a prominent place
i'll society. And now that in middle age
you are among the highest and noblest,
where you both are SO well qualified to
shine. ii does hurt me cruelty, my dar-
ling mother, to see change in prospect.
'1f you could but retain your present
position and let your children begin their
LIES work now, as you did. that would
be perfectly satisfactory, and we should
have no cause for sorrow or regret And
indeed cannot see why this should not
be so.
Father has never allowed all his
to minsle with the concerns Of
the store. Why not pay all, and if need
be, more than his proportion, then insist
OH an immediate dissolution of the firm?
The property honestly vested in your
name, my mother, would easily support
you In your present style without any
noticeable change. You and father have
borne the burden and heat Of the day
quite long enough. Let us young ones
take our turn now"
George had spoken with great earnest
ness and rapidity. and his mother fendly
and wisely ahstained from any Interrupt
tlon at first, but now she checked him,
saying, with Il loving smile.
THE blow has not yet fallen, my son,
or at least we can know nothing definite
until your father returns. But of one
thing we may he certain-nOne will suf-
fer loss by the failure of a firm in which
his name stands prominent, even If to
secure them from it we are reduced to
extreme poverty. Whatever property
may legally claim is held only for the
good and honor of US all uniteily and
subject at all times to your fathers dis
posal. fully appreciate your sorrow
and great reluctance on your parents ac-
count to any change in our present life.
but, my son, let not your heart be
troubled We have strength and encr-
gy sufficient still to return cheerfully TO
the labor and close economy of earlier
days, il need be, and it will be much
easier than when we first began, fornow
we have cheerful lads and merry lassies.
too who will bring not only willing
hearts and hands, but sunshine and glad
ness wherever our lot may be cast And.
my boy, you will hardly credit me when
| tell you that as matter of taste and
preference | should much prefer some
less prominent position than to live sur
rounded, as we are now, by all this
polnp and show.
These cares and anxieties are 10 ms
far more wearing than our first simple
country home, and in this feeling yaur
father fully sympathiGes. Yet for our
children it has had its peculiar advan.
tages, and we have accepted the trust
with gratefukhearts for their sakes. Ii |