Year: 1868

the schedule.


why, MARSHALL exclaimed one OF them,
surely you are not going to beggar your
self in this way! We are not shylocks,
and will not have the pound of flesh. -
Your house should have been settled upO n
your wife years ago, when you bought it,


Perhaps said the bankrupt, with So !
smile But it it too late now


Il do not know that said his friend cast. !
ing look of inquiry round the circle.


Il do not know it, said Marshall, quietly,
And while l appreciate your kindness.
must beg that the question be not opened |!


What do you propose = asked the gen |
tleman who, in virtue of holding the lar
gest demand, acted as chairman of the mel |
ancholy committee.


Nothing, except that you take my books
and assets divide the proceeds among ing
creditors, and if you are satisfied OF my
honesty, give me u release. Whatever
deficit there may be, give my word to
make it up, If my lie is spared and l am
i'll any decree prosperous, after this storm
has blown over


Many heartfelt and sincere compliments
were paid the unfortunate merchant by his
creditors, and 20 ended the first meeting.
The next proceedings would be held with
out the presence of Marshall, and of the
result of these deliberations he could not
have high hopes. He felt tina. he was
right, and celebrated statesman bit spoke
the feeling of every honest man when he
said i had rather be right than Presi-
dent.


But Marshall's heart did not fail, not
wthstanding, as he turned toward the
home which he felt would be his home no
longer. His wife was waiting his return to
dinner. She was anxious because she had
been properly apprised of the difficulties
in her husbands business, But she was
not impatient. for she knew that he had
greater troubles to meet than the mere
cooling of dinner. And she wished her
husband to IT, ceire that cordial welcome
home which should remove, in some de-
gree, the pressure Of business without.
The children Oh the other hand, were not
anxious but inpatient. What could til V
know of the troubles of life and of bust
ness! But they did know that they were
hungry; and they had heard the cook say
that everything was spoiled


! So they bounded with clamorous COM
plants though not i'll natured-to meet
their father. lie stopped their voices with
a kiss apiece, and answered their mothers
look OF inquiry in the same manner. He
turned his mead Il moment and though he
made great noise in his handkerchief,
am sure that if the eyes and nose had
hecH called the eyes had 1t.


Dinuer went of il sad composure,-
Marshall tried some ordinary topics, but
conversation Jagged. The children tried
to be ehatty, and the poor father jumped
at the rvliel which lhcy gave his thoughts
as if grateful for it. The mother caught
his wishes and did her b, st but it must be
nRned that it was IL doiciai dinner. The
climax wa reached when after a dali pause
the salarlest OF the three. terrible infant,
broke the silence with the exclamation
What is the matter, father Is any body
dead!'


The mother and flther could rot lorbear
a gaunt smile. The puzzled look of the
children ripened the stni!e iuto Il laugh
and the dear little wretches were hustled
out, Mrs. Marshall turned to her hus
band.


An is over, Mary, and we are ruined.


Not quite SO bad, Heny. My little
legacy, v hch you would make me invest
for in money, will maintain me almost.
We can keep house upon that, as many
other people do upon less.


'rhc house, Mary! That is ours no Ion
ger.


Mrs Marshall paled under the shock of
this tdings. But she commanded herself
and neither cried ont nor tainted. The
loss of her home was sorrow OF which
she had never dreamed, All her visions
of self denial and herosm faded away
The castles she had bulls, in which she.
the devoted wife, was the central figure,
all topplcd down ani she saw now only
poverty and distress.


There Was nothing to say, Silence com |
lorted them. They had touched the
depths, and uno onsciously to themselves,
were ready to rise again, The servant
brought in note. In defiance of its in-
functions Mrs. Marshall placed it i'll her
husbands hands as soon us she had read
it. it read thus:


MY husband says that your husband isl
romantcally honest. A very good fault.
aud you may be proud of him. You must
say nothing TO him, or any one else, but
demand a proper consideration OF the cred
itors before YOU release the house from
your right of dover. | would look IN up
On YOU, but think you would rather not see
your best friend this evening. ann
should wish to see no one.


Mr.. Marshall handed the note back
without a word of comment. just now
the children came bounding in, fresh from
their run, which was miscalled walk.
And so closed the day on which Henry
Marshall faced the worst, and confessed to
that misfortune which, common as it is,
must ever grieve the sensitive. Bankrupt
that he was he still 1t rich il his wife
and she was proud Of him. for she saw in
him the soul of honor, and resolvcd that
he too should be p.oud OF her,


ILL.,


Two or three days had passed. Mr..
Marshall had gone daily to his store to as
sist the accountants in investigating his
stock and books, and to answer such in
quiries as might arise. The work was
closed, and the creditors We're now to de-
termine what terms they would offer him.


He was athome, and cheerful, for he felt
the worst was now over. He had done
even more than was required of him. and
his intercourse with tle gentlemen who
represented his creditors had been Of the
most cordial and pleasant nature. The
worst ills we can dread death and dishonor
excepted, are more than half conquered
when we f,irly encounter them.


Marshall could not help thinking OF the
morrow, when he should know the whole +;
but he struggled with himself to keep the
subject at bay, His suspense was sooner
relieved than he expected, for package
Al IN, ha nntur1 OF winch he