Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-08-22
MOSES RAUBVOGEl,
The ShyIock Of the Nineteenth
Century.
fwRITrES FOR THE INDEPENDENT.
By W. g.

WRITTEN FOR THE INDEPENDENT
By W. g.
An unusual sadness rested upon
| the face of Richard Irwin one twi-
light evening as he was sitting on
| the pcrtico of his pleasant rural
| home. Stella, his beloved wife, Eo-
ticing his sadness, approached him
and seated herself BY his side. Know
ing beforehand what bis trouble was,
she became equally sad, but withal
tried to comfort him.
Ordinarily both possessed cheer
| ful mind and heart, and even in cases
of misfortune seldom lost their equa-
nimity and serenity. But on this
occasion they had weighty cause for
their grief and detection.
Richard Irwin was well TODD
farmer for years before the war. His
farm was situated near thriving
| town in one OF the border states He
was held in high esteem by all who
knew him fer his good sense, hon
esty and integrity.
| But time came when reyerses
overlook him, due mainly to tue eff
frcts of the civil war. Though I'M
ion man, the fact of his living in a
border state, and somewhat south of
the line, subjected him to the alter
nate depredations of both armies.
His horses, cattle and grain were
taken, his barn burnt, and his house
Quilted so that, at the close of the
war, he scarcely knew what to do.
The resources of that country were
exhausted, very little money was in
circulation, laborers were scsrce end
the prospect was gloomy indeed.
| Fortunately Mr.. Irwin found pur-
/ chaser for part of his farm. A I'M
ion officer was very much pleased
with that locality, when encamped
| there during the war, and paid Mr..
Irwin a liberal price for portion of
the farm. This enabled him to get
his affairs into good shape again.
But, unfortunately there was fail
ure of the crops, and this necessitat-
ed the sale of more land, much as
Mr.. Irwin deplored this necessity.
All might have gone well now, but
misfortunes come not singly, and the
following year a violent hsilstorm
destroyed the greater part Of the
products Of the season and besides,
his wife was brought near deaths
door by a severe spell of sickness,
mourning very heavy expense.
Owing to these misfortunes IT.
wins condition was a sad one in
deed. He was averse to selling any
more land, for that would cripple his
farm too much. The only thing to
do was to borrow money. But the
effects of the war had impoverished
the country, and there was such a
financial dearth that scarcely any
one was in condition to lend mon
ey. There was only one man in the
town and vicinity who had ample
means at hand, and that was the
wealthy jew, Moses Raubyogel, re-
puted money lender and usurer. IT.
win knew this very well, and was
afraid to put himself in the power OF
such man, but what was he to do
1t was his only way cut Of the pres
ent difficulty. Necessity knows nc
law, and necessity compelled him
to submit to hard conditions, and
consequently he borrowed from this
interruptions Israelite the amount
necessary for his purpose for three
years. True, this Insurer did not
like Shyiock, demand "a pound Of
| flesh" as forfeit, "named in the
bond," but he exacted ten per cent
interest and mortgage on the prop
erty. With this money Richard Ir
win Strengthened his affairs tempo
rarily, hoping that time and circum
stances would take favorable turn
and enable him at the end of the
three years to pay of his note.
Every effort was made by these
good people to improve their condi
ton, end for year, at least, they
made considerable progress. But, in
this changeable world and the uncer
tainty of the future, who can forsee
what is to happen 7 Unfortunately
Richard Twins hopes proved delu
sive. Misfortune in various shapes
again befell this family. Some of biz
undertakings, which he thought vel
planned and grounded, and from
which he expected to realize enough
proceeds to cancel his Tote, failed
Other reverses followed, and th,
poor man, struggling with one di
lemma after the other, found himsel
hopeiessly involved, and the cancel
ling of the note, soon due, was be
yond his power.
This was the cause of Richard Ir
wins sadness on the evening referred
to at the beginning of this story
Stella, as stated, though equslly sad
endeavored, woman like, to concea
Der sorrow and comfort him. I'D
/ not distress yourself, dear hus
band," she said, throwing her arm
around him, "Mr. Raubvogel, beini
safe and receiving a liberal interest