The National tribune., 1901-06-20


some rich and some poor. But the mos
astute philosopher has not been able t
determine why everything some peopl
touch turns to gold, while every under
taking of others meets with failure. Som
may consider it a practical proof of th'
law of election; that some born under .
lucky star could not be poor and unfor
tunate if they tried, while others undel
no circumstances could prosper. Call i
fate, destiny or whatever you will, some
unseen power seems to control the for
tunes of men.
If we say blessed is the fortunate, we
must add accursed is the unfortunate
Poor and struggling, a prey to disease OF
body and mind; his cattle die, his crops
fail; the bank in which he has deposited
his small means closes its doors; his wife
and children are invalids; the man who
ewes him, proves a scamp and runs away
without paying; and deep, dark despair
settles down upon his soul.
According to Marie COrelli, poverty ''is
the grinding curse that keeps down noble
aspirations under a load of ignoble care;
the moral cancer that eats into
the heart of an otherwise well-intentiOned
human nature and makes him enViOuS and
malignant, and inclined to the use of
dynamite. When he sees the fat, Idle
woman of society, passing by in her lux
urious carriage, lolling back laZily, her
lace HOlJieu Will purple anu ESu SlSuS VI
superfOus eating, and when he observes
the brainless, sensual man of fashion
smoking and twaddling away the hours in
the park as if all the world and its mil
lions of honest hard workers were created
solely for the diversion of the so-called
upper classes, then the good blood of
him turns to gall and his suffering spirit
rises in fierce rebellion, crying out, Why,
in Gods name, should such injustice be !.
Why should Il worthless lounger have his
pockets full of gold by the mere chance
of heritage, while |, tOiling wearily from
morn until midnight, can scarce afford
myself a satisfactory mealT
Henry Grimshawe was a poor, hard
working man, who had struggled all his
life to keep his head above water" AT
the age of 40 he was the owner of lit
tie home in the city: a home that would
have been comfortable enough, but for
gray vulture III the form of mortgage
lowering over it, and threatening to de-
YOUR it, Often, when tired and worn out
with planning, he longed for some quiet
place far from the maddning crowd,
from the annoyance and yexation of bust
ness cares, where he could rest.
Had Grimshawe known it, he was
blessed above many another man. He
had an amiable wife whom he loved de-
yotedly, one of those remarkable women
whose beauty is enhanced with age, pos
sessing a cheerful spirit, quite in contrast
with his own gloomy and Respondent
nature. Their union had been blessed
with two beautiful daughters; but, alas.
what added TO the gloom of the father,
one was an invalid.
1t was not until this last care fell upon
him that he began to wish he were rich.
Oh, for a fortune to spend In restoring
that child to health, or at least in making
life more comfortable. Grimshawe was
a man of more than ordinary ability. be
did plan many brilliant schemes which
enriched others. He often saw where
men were liable to make mistakes, and
displayed a sound Judgment, which never
theless profted him nothing. He often
saw where a small fortune could be made
with a few thousand dollars, but was al
ways lacking in the necessary funds.
Others possessing the money made the
venture on his suggestion, and won hand
some returns.
Henry was honest No one could
truthfully say he was not. He neyel
tried ito beat a creditor" but was faith
full in the payment of debts, when he had
anything to pay with. He was often
heavy-hearted and went about his busi-
ness with mind so full of woe that he
could hardly see the sunlight. He hoped
against hope TO pay off the mortgage,
but it was the one heavy weight upon his
heart which could not be lifted. Often
had he prayed for a way and means to
lift it, but renewed expenses came with
the years. His wife was still cheerful,
and tried to rally him, but he refused to
be rallied while that dark vulture, the
mortgage hOyered over their home.
At last, in sort of dull despair, he re-
solved to fight the battle Of life, and pay
the mortgage or die trying. His death
he knew would pay it, for he had been
Thoughtful enough to secure policy on
his life for more than that sum.
''If my life cannot remove it, my death
WILL" he thought. The many wants of
his family so overwhelmed him that of
ten in the bitterness of his heart he
wished that heaven would strike him deaf
and blind, so he might never hear their
appeals for aid, or see their needs.
He was almost maddened when he oc-
casiOnally read of some person, poor and
needy like himself, receiving vast for
tunes from some unexpected source. He
at last began TO covet riches; to almost
pray Heaven through some miracle to
send him a fortune He dreamed of find
ing gold and silver in great abundance,
and paying off the dreaded mortgage;
but. alas. it was only in dreams that he
was ever 10 lift it.
Henry Grimshawe labOred 10 or u
hours q day, and took in considerable
money, which slipped through his fin
gers IN meeting MS tNOIuOuS cAptiStS.
One of his daughters was in finishing
school, which made an additional expense.
He was in despair, yet he often found
himself dreaming day dreams, such as
some unknown friend burdened with
wealth sending him a check TO pay off the
mortgage, or finding a package Of money
containing many thousand dollars. In his
dreaming fancy he supposed that some
burglar closely pursued, had thrown
away a package Of ill-gotten gains, and
he had found it. But, alas! no friendly
thief was so careless, and people with
well-filled pocket-books took care not to
lose them.
He was returning home late one even
ing, his mind filed with such unpleasant
subjects as mortgages and economic
questions as the unequal distribution of
property, when he heard a roar Of wheels
and clatter of hoofs coming down the
street toward him, accompanied by the
shouts of excited people. He was i'll a
quiet part of the city, which at this hour
was nearly deserted. Henry ran close
to a building to escape pair of
frantic horses, dragging after them q
reeling, plunging wagon which, as il
swayed from side to side, scattered its
contents far and wide. The top was
broken off on one side and dragging.
Just as Henry reached the safety of the
brick wall there was a tremendous crash
as horses and carriage cOllided with al
iron lamp post, and the supreme vision OF
struggling, quivering flesh in the agony oi
death, and wheels splintered and broken
humming through the air, was before
-. Il. l. xl,.h 90,