The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-03-23

his wife.
"Now. pa, how unreasonable you
arel You wouldn't have Joel lose by
selling something he had bought at a
less price than what he had paid
when by waiting he could get more.
would your
mo, I wouldn't" replied Harding.
And I wouldn't have him take nearly
81 900 from his capital TO send to MS.
II would be a violation Of the princi-
pie on which he set out"
This was too deep reasoning for the
wife and mother. but since her hus-
band did not blame their boy she was
satisfied.
Joel did not find a convenient time
to send his parents the money. a. he
had proposed. The price of his Sc
curities advanced, but in the mean
time he had bought more at low
price and was scraping together al
his assets to pay for them. During
the next few years he was put In
charge Of the financial department OF
the concern for which he worked and
saw many opportunities to make mon
ey that he had never been aware OF
before.
But all these opportunities involved
capital. Not a single one could be
taken advantage Of without It. "You
can't make money. JOEL" said the head
Of the firm, without money to make
Il with" Joel saw the truth Of this
statement, and In one Of his letters
home quoted It as reason why he
was Withholding funds from his par
ents which he felt he should have sent
them. when get to a stopping
point" he wrote, "I'll be able to pro
duce 1t all very easily"
"Yes," said his father, III he ever
reaches the stopping point But he
never WILL
Now, pa" said Mrs. Harding, that's
Just like you. You're always making
out that Joel is selfish. He's the warm
est hearted boy ever knew. He's do
ing all this work I'm the city that he
may help us In our old age"
"My dear wife," replied farmer Hard
ing, you have made two statements,
each requiring a separate reply. In
the first place, Joel is carrying out the
principle on which he set out to make
a fortune, and 1t indicates great self
control. But that principle Is incom-
patible with bis doing many things he
| would like to do. In the second place.
| II he ever makes his fortune and finds
q stopping place we will be too old to
enjoy the luxuries that his money will
enough to eat We've got the farm"
Ten years from the time Joel went
to the city there were changes In the
firm by which he was employed The
senior partner died and was soon after
followed by the junior. There was no
one to take the latter's place except
Joel. He was made a member Of the
firm and manager of the business. He
had already become the slave to the
cumulative principle; he now became
the slave OF an extensive business. At
first he doubted II he was competent
to manage 1t, and this induced him to
devote his whole self to the purpose.
His attention to detail was remark
able. There was not man under him
who dared take any action whatever
without consulting him. This In time
broke down his health. Those inter-
ested with him begged him to leave
certain details to others. He refused.
Finally, to get him away from the busi-
ness long enough to prevent its break
ing him down entirely, some Of the
owners Of the stock of the cOncern-it
had become a corpOration-got up a
conspiracy TO kidnap him. They sue
ceeded in getting him on a yacht and
carried him out to sea. This broke the
spell. After a months cruise he re-
turned to his desk, and, finding that
the business had got on very well with
out him. he divided II under depart
ment heads. remaining himself direc-
tor Of the whole.
Joel had been so absorbed In his
business that he had forgotten all
about his father and mother on the
farm. He had at last reached the
point that had danced like an ignis
fatuus ahead Of him. Money was
now no object to him. He could show
er his old father and mother with gold
coin and not feel IL. He would not
write them; he would go back after
thirty years absence and supply every
possible want
One day a prosperous looking gen
tleman I'm a fur lined overcoat and
silk hat appeared at the Harding farm.
Mrs. Harding at the moment was
throwing a pan Of dishwater from the
kitchen door on to the grass when she
saw the man and heard him call:
"Motherr'
Then he advanced and took her In
his arms. just then Farmer Harding
came I'm. looked at the gentleman and
wondered who he was.
Its Joel, pa" cried the old lady. be-
side herself with joy.
Father, mother. I've made the for
tune | went away 10 make when a
boy. I've come back 10 give you ev-
erything you want. II you prefer to
stay here I'll build you a palace. II
you would like TO travel you shall have
ample funds. Tell me what way can
serve you"
The old couple looked at each other