Year: 1872

continue TO ascend, this will be good spec
ulation, and can enlarge my business. +"


Thus soliloquized Mr. Gordon as he look
ed over his store. He had just purchased
largely, at least what he considered largely,
as he was but yet engaged in business on q
small scale. He had invested all Of his
available means in renewing his stock, and
had also become indebted to the firm with
which he dealt.


A week later, while examining the daily
paper, he was terrified to see that prices
were lower, and day after day he Anxiously
awaited the arrival of the daily, only to find
that there was decline in the market. His
days now were anxious and his nights sleep
less He had hoped to amass great wealth,
but he saw that instead of acquiring more,
that which he already possessed was slowly
but surely slipping away, and he now re-
collected that while he was clerk many
merchants had failed just in this way.
Would he add to the number of failures
Oh the fears and the anxieties of the mer-
camille world Mr.. Gordon was thorough
ly wearied of them, and sighed to be extrl-
Gated from them. At length an Opportu
nifty offered A gentleman who had recent
pOBSCSSCO
the death Of relative, becoming enamor-
ed Of the gloss and glitter that surrounds
the merchant, bought his entire stock and
released him from his burdens After pay
ing off all his Indebtedness he had eight
thousand dollars left.


What should he now do He had no
profession, had never learned trade, knew
but little about work Of any kind, except
casting accounts, making out bills, and
book keeping generally. He was heartily
sick Of mercantile affairs, and would have
showed the plane or run the saw rather
than engage in them again, but of these
useful implements he knew absolutely
nothing, and must turn his attention in
another direction. After many consulta-
tions with his wife, he concluded to pur-
chase farm. Mrs. Gordon had vein Of
romantic sentiment in her compOsltion.
The lowing cows, the playful lambs, the hens
with their broods Of sweet little chickens, the
fruit fresh from the trees, the strawberries
thoroughly ripe and accompanied with rich
yellow cream, the golden butter, the Gus
tards and floating islands, all swan before
her vision, as she thought of the farm, and
made her ardently wish they had one Of
their own and were living upon it. The
toll, the care, the bitter disappOintments
were all far in the background, and would
have to be felt before they could be real
lied. Mr.. Gordon knew but little of farm
ing, and he caught the spirit OF his wife
and saw only the bright side Of the bust
ness in which he was about to engage.


The farm which he selected consisted of
Il & 10
the south the soil was good and every rod
Of it was tillable. There was not foot Of
waste land upon it. In front ran beautl-
full river, on the banks Of which wild dow
ers bloomed luxuriantly; at the back rose
high, picturesque bluff, and on each side
AOurished the stately elm, the widespread
ing beech, and the handsome maple. A
small but commodious dwelling faced the
river, commanding q view Of . beautiful
landscape, making it very attractive to the
beholder. The barn, stable and other out
buildings were all that could be desired.
1t was, take it all in all, q model farm. Mr..
Gordon obtained it for six thousand dollars,
which left him two thousand with which to
purchase stock and farming implements.


After they had taken possession OF their
new home, they congratulated themselves
upon the fact that they were now secure.
They had placed themselves where they
were free from ali endorsements, they
owed no man 9 dollar, and they were sur
rounded with all the comforts OF life. They
felt that they had caught g glimpse OF an
earthly paradise. Their family consisted
Of bright boy of thirteen, named Charles,
and sweet, loving and lovable girl of
twelve, who was called Katie. These two
children thoroughly enjoyed their first sum
mer in the country. They entered into
each others plans and feelings with perfect
sympathy. They were both gifted in their
own peculiar way, very differently, yet
each endeavored to participate in the views
of the other, and there were more cordial
ity and agreement, more self-deniai, and
more giving up of each others peculiar no
tions than is usually found among members
of the same family.


Mr. Gordon had provided himself with a
saw, hatchet, hammer, nails, and several
other )ols which are in constant use on .
well regulated farm. Charles, now - he
was at liberty and had few implements
with which to work, began to show his in
genuity in constructing useful articles for
his mother and sister, but one great difi-
Guilty with which he had to contend, he did
not know how to make his work look
smooth. The boards that he had used
we're rough, and he could not give them the
smooth appearance which they ought 10
have.


Father" said he, show is it that the
things make look 30 rough"


Because the lumber out of which yosI
make them il not planed," answered his
father.


"WM you buy me plane, father


s'You would not know how to use it il l
did, replied Mr.. Gordon.


'iBut / could learn" persisted Charles.


"Well, Charles, since you are so anxious
for a plane, and make suOh good use Of your
toola, viii tell you what I will do. To
morrow / ann going to take the horses TO
the blacksmith to have them shod. l shall
probably have to stay in town most OF the
day. will take you with me and you can
spend the time ! am obliged TO wait in Mr.
BAiley's shop, and if by the time am ready
TO come home, you have learned 70 use
the plane, viii buy you one.


Thank you, father" said Charles, per
fectly delighted. 81 viii try my best to
learn"


Katie extracted promise from Charles
that he would tell her all he saw In town
Shs also commissioned him to bring her 2
Penknife and . bon Of paints. She had
broken her knife while fAshioning tiny
bird out Of wood, and her Peipta Asd o. Isht