Year: 1876

leonard, it was the candid opinion oi
Mr.. Baker he was going to the dogs,
as he expressed it, about as fast as a
man could go. lie often passed the
shop, but rarely saw customer.


No WONDER he would say to him
self. "A man like him can't expect.
and doesn't deserve CUSTOM


In the eyes of Mr.. Baker the very
grass seemed TO grow upon The pave
ment before the door of the declining
tradesman. Dust settled thickly in
his window, and the old sign turned
grayer and grayer i'm the bleaching air.


Going to the dogs, and no wonder
Baker would say TO himself, as he
went by. He appeared 10 take a
strange interest i'm watching the grad
ual decay of the mechanics fortune.
One day a mercantile friend said to
him:


'Do you know anything about this
Leonard?


tWhy? asked Baker.


Because he wants 10 make pretty
large bill with me-


sOn timer


sOh, no. And that is why l asked.
1 am surprised that he should be so
particular to ask me the cash price OF
everything. OF course you know we
can make large discount on goods
for ready money, and it struck me
that perhaps he wanted to get my cash
price of everything and then desire to
buy on time or turn me out worthless
securities


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


'Indeedv


'Yes; am looking every day to see
him close up. He might have done
well, for he understood his business.
But he's SO unaccomdating, and l
might say, insulting, to his customers,
that he drives the best of them away.
l used to make large bills with him,
but haven't dealt with him for some





timc.'


'Ah! l was not aware OF that. am
glad that spoke TO you, for should
not like 10 lose six or seYcn hundred
dollars


six or seven hundred dollars. Is it
possible that he wants TO buy SO reck--
lesslyI lie has no such amount Of
money. Depend upon it there is some
trick. Take my advice and don't
think Of trusting him.


Il certainly shall not


But the next day Mr.. Leonard.
finding he could do no better, ordered
the goods sent to his place of business
and then drew chech on the bank for
the full amount. The merchant, still
doubtful that all was right, withheld
the goods until he sent the check to
the bank. 1t was readily cashed,
much to his establishment.


1t happened that Mr.. Leonard had
very pretty and very interesting
daughter, on whose education the me-
chanic had bestowed great pains and
it SO happened that Baker had son,
who, in most things, was chip of
the old block Particularly was he
like his father in his great love for
money; and scarcely had he reached
his majority ere he began TO look
around him for good matrimonial
arrangement by which plenty of mom-
ey would be secured. Such sordid,
souls are not rare in sOcie-
ty. Their only standard of excellence
is money. Honesty, talents, industry
and disposition arc of no account in
their estimation. Money mends, or
rather hldes, all imperfections, be they
of body or mind.


Adelaide Leonard, on account other
beauty and accomplishments, was
much sought alter, and mingled freely
in society. Young Baker had met her
frequently, and could not help being
struck with her beauty and grace, al
though, most unfortunately, he had so
much of his fathers mercenary spirit
that beauty and grace were of little
account without money.


There's chance for you,' said
friend to him one evening,


In Miss Leonard p


Yes


'She's 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


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 house. and was
mcditating an avOwal of his attach
mcnt when his father said TO him one
day:


What young lady was that saw
you with yesterday afternoon


Her name is Lconard.'


The daughter of old Leonard, the
ipechanic!'


Il think SO, although l have never
seen him. He is always away at his
work


Mr.. Baker looked grave and shook
his head.


DO you know anything about her?