The true Democrat., 1898-07-23
THE PET CANARY.


4 "Charlle can't mamma; he isn't
tall enough said Clara, the only
daughter, laughing at her brothers $
4 futile efforts. "Shall | do it?"
"Never mind; the servant can, after
4 we finish breakfast.
Having completed his morning meal
Mr.. Searle looked at his watch and
started up to 90, saying:
a mine o'clock, my dear; ought to
4 have been in the city by this time. "
"Oh, pOpa," cried Clara, his favor
4 ite, as she ran for their pet canary, "do
make Dicky jump before you CO."
"Well, be quick dear, as I am in n
I hurry today"
But Dicky went through his per-
formance slowly and sulkily. Perhaps
his masters curt manner and the
weather had something to do with it..
For everything, as sometimes will
happen, seemed to go at SKIES and
) sevens that morning.
"There, children, that is enough.
You may put him into his cage, now" ="
said Mr.. Searle, as he held the bird,
perched on his forefnger, toward his
daughter
4 But Dicky, instead Of hopping on to
4 Clara's outstretched hand, unexpected
4 ly few round the room; and, ere they
could shut or even thought of the
half-closed window, was out in the
open air and on q neighboring house
top. All their efforts to allure him
back were fruitless. He was soon out
of sight and away. The family pet
was gone. And Mr.. Searle left them
in tears and inconsolablc at the loss
of the favorite.
"YOu need not expect me home
early" said he, as he embraced his
wife and children on the doorstep.
"This is club night, and I may dine
there"
. Searle was senior partner in a New
York banking and commission firm of
good repute, but the panic and recent
failures pressed heavily on them.
Anything new, Mr.. Seibert?" he
said to the junior partner, as he en-
tered the inner office.
Sour issues yesterday exceeded the
deposits by $4,000. Indeed, there
was quite run OH the bank, and it
threatens to be worse today. We
have already paid ont $780, Davidson
& Go. of Chicago have stopped pay
ment, and their liabilities to us amount
to $40, 900.
"You don't say So" said Searle, in
an anxious tone.
Brown & Hoyt of Boston," cOntin-
tinued Seibert, "who owe us bills to
the amount of $4,000, and Willis
Brothers, whose paper we have to the
extent Of $40, 900, are both reported to
be shaky."
"Well, We must try to stem the tide
somehow" said Mr.. Searle, wearily.
The run on Che bank that day was
worse than ever, and as the doors
closed there was little more than 5000
left for the morrow. But for some
unexpected stroke of good luck and
an unusual deposit, ruin starel the
firm in the face. Long was the con-
sulation between the partners that
evening in their sanctum regarding
their position. But they could see no
solution of the difficulty. For hours
after Seibert left, Searle, the more ex-
perienced tinancier, sat scheming and
throwing aside plan after plan devised |
to carry them safely down the swollen
financial stream which threatened to
swamp them in its irresistible prog
ress. Ten o'clock, II, II passed, and |
still he sat with his brain in whirl
of perpIexity and doubt. But not a
ray Of hope could he see. Ruin, moth
ing but certain destruction, stared
them in the face. And the crash was
sure to come tomorrow
1t was not Searle's first mishap
which made him feel his present i'll
luck all the more keenly. Years ago,
when quite young man, he had come
to grief through the dishonesty of
former partner. But this failure then
involved no want of probity on his
part. And with publicly recognized
he recommended the uphill
and often difficult battle of life with
oil the energy and determination of
IN ardent and hopeful nature. His
success had been greater than his
IOndest dreams had ever Anticipated,
Wealth seemed to pour in upon him
fast aud unlimited. In few years he
expected to retire with fortune. But
D panic came. And in storm some
times even thesoundest, best-equipped
and most skilfully handled ships are
taken ahack. Tomorrow all his bright
hopes might be swept away. He was
in a maze.
AT length he looked at his watch.
It was | o'clock. Dinner and club
had both been forgotten, but he felt
neither hungry nor sleepy. The deep
weight of care had taken both away.
A walk might restore him. So he
eft the Office and SLOWLY wende1 b;s