Year: 1867

tile friend said to him:


DO You know anything about this
Leonard p


'Why?' asked Baker.


Because he wants to make pretty
large bill with me-


'On time?


yes, on the usual credit of six months


Don't sell him. Why, the man is
going to the dogs at railroad speed
1ndeedp


Yes. Pm looking every day to see him
close up. He might have done well, fol-
he understood his business. But he's 50
unaccommodating and l might saw in
sulting to his customers, that he drives
the best ones away. l used to make large
bills with him, but | haven't dealt at his
shop now for some time.
!Ah! | was not aware of that. I am
glad | spoke to.you, for l shouldn't like
to loose six or seven hundred dollars


Six or seven hundred Is it possible
that he wants to buy so recklessly? Take
my advice and don't think of trusting
him.


q certainly shall not
When Leonard ordered the goods, the
merchant declined selling except for cash


'As you please returned the mechanic,
indiffercntly, and went elsewhere and
made his purchases.


1t happened that Mr. Leonard bad 4
very pretty and fascinating daughter ON
whose education the mechanic had be-
slowed great pains and it also happen
ed that Baker had a son who, in most
things, was chip of the old block.
Particularly was he like his father in his
great love Of money, and scarcely had he
reached his majority, ere he began to look
about him with careful eye, to good
matrimonial arrangement, by which plcn-
ty of money would be secured.


Adelaide Leonard, on account of her
beauty and accomplishments, was much
caressed and mingled freely in society,"
Young Baker had met her frequently,
and could not help being struck with her
beauty, intelligence and grace


There is chance for you, said friend
to him one evening.


In Miss Leonard .


Yes


She is a charming girl replied the
young man. Il wonder if her father is
worth anything


people say So


'Indeed'


Yes. They say the old fellow has laid
up something quite handsome. and as
Adelaide is his only child, she will Of
course get it ALL


Il was not aware of that


1T is all SO, believe


After this, young Baker was exceed
ingly attentive to Miss Leonard, and
made perceptible inroads upon her heart.
He even went so far as to visit pretty
regularly at her home, and was medita-
ting an avowal of his attachment, when
his father said to him one day:


what young lady was that | saw you
with i'll the street yesterday afternoon "


Her name is Leonard


The daughter of old Leonard i'll --
street?'


Yes, sir


Mr.. Baker looked grave and shook his
hean.


DO you know anything about her p
asked the son.


Nothing about her but l know that
her father is going to the dogs as fast as
ever a man went


Indeed | thought he was well off


EOh, no, I've been looking to see his
shop shut up, or to hear of his being sold
out by the sheriff, every day, Tor these
two years past


Miss Leonard is very lovely girl


She is the daughter of Il poor, vulgar
mechanic If you see anything very
lovely in that, Henry, you have strange
taste


'Thcre is no gainsaying Adelaide'S per-
sonal attractions replied the son, but if
her father is poor, that settles the matter
rs far as she and | arc concerned, am
glad you introduced the subject, for l
might have committed myself, and, when
too late, discovered my error


a sad error it would have been, Hen
ry. In any future matter Of this kind,
l hope you will be perfectly frank with
me. l have more accurate knowledge OF
the condition and standing OF people than
you can possibly have


The son promised to do as the father
wished. From that time the visits to
Miss Leonard were abated, and his atten-
tions to her when they met in society,
were coldly formal The sweet young
girl, whose feelings were interested, felt
the change, and was for time unhappy;
but in few months she recovered her
self, and was again as bright and cheer
tul as ever.


Time went steadily on, sweeping down
one and setting up another, and still old
Leonard didn't go to the dogs, much 20
the surprise of Baker, who could no inl-
agine how the mechanic kept his head
above water after having driven away
his best customers, as he must long since
have done, if all were treated as he had
been. But he was satisfied Of one thing
at least, and that was that the mechanic
was miserably poor, as he in fact deserv-
ed to be, according to his idea OF the
matter.


One day, about year after this timely
caution to his son in regard to Miss Leon
ard, Baker happened to pass along a
street where he had not been for some
months. Just opposite large, new and
beautiful house, to which the painters
were giving their last touches, he met a
friend. As they passed Baker said:


That's an elegant house. 1t has been
built since was in the neighbofbOod'


CVoc ~ :, . ,,orxy t;nn houco npd I Sun-