Year: 1871

The other, who had been at first in such
haste to make the acquaintance of the cold
water of the Thames, hesitated now, and
restrained the impetuosity of his young
companion by holding his hand and draw.
ing him back.


Hold, sir," said he while he tried to
distinguish the features of the young man
opposite him by the dim, midnight light.
You are still very young, and already wish
to renounce life. Il am afraid you are too
rash. For man of your age, life must
still have joys and pleasures"


Nothing but deceit and falsehood, sell
fishness and conceit, vice and crime. Come
let us end this"


Young as you are, you seem to have al
ready had sad experiences and appear to
regard all creatures bearing the form of
man as vipers."


"Vipers are noble beings compared with
men, for they only follow their natural in
stincts they are no hypocrites with virtue
on their tongues and vice in their hearts"


81 pity you, for, believe me, there are
many honorable exceptions to the rule
which you have established"


cha ha Exceptions p laughed the
young man, sneeringly and bitterly, 81
have found none."


"Then can give you at least the poor
consolation that in this solemn hour you
have found one. Much as men are given
to lying, there are very few who will do
SO in their dying hour, when they arc about
to enter the mysterious Eternity. have
never lied during my life, and would under
no circumstances, enter the Valley of Death
with a lie upon my lips. Yol will believe
me, then, when tell you that / am no
villain, as you appear to think, but y good
and honest man"


"Really? That is interesting. must
have, therefore met the only honest man
whom have ever seen, just in time to bid,
in his company, adieu to the world"


Let me go alone, and you remain
There exist many more just as good and
honest men, who can beautify your life.
If you will only seek, you are bound to
find them"


"Well, at any rate have found one.
But if life presents itself to you in such a
paradise like view, why do you wish to
leave it, like me?"


"Because / am poor and old, and at the
same time sick and feeble man, who can
not earn anything, and who cannot bear
any longer to see his own child, an angel
in daughter, toll almost to death day and
night, to support miserable and useless
person-yes, even to procure me some lit
tie pleasure. "No, sir, would be brute
a barbarian, were l to exact it any longer"


"What, sir" cried the others, as if
frightened, "you have daughter who
sacrifices herself for you?''


"Oh, with what patience and gentleness,
with what perseverance and love does she
do it. ! see her fade away under her work
and deprivation, and yet no complaint ever
escapes her lips. She works and staryes,
and has always loving word, cheering
smile for me-"


"And you want to drown yourself. Are
you mad?''


"Can allow that angel to kill herself
by degrees? That is what lacerates my
heart" wept and sobbed the old man.


"Sir, you must drink bottle of wine
with me at the restaurant there, and relate
to me your story. you like, will return
the compliment, and tell you mine. Be
fore hand, however, will say that you
need not jump down there, for am rich,
very rich man and if your story proves
true, what you have confided to me, there
will be no need Of your daughter working
any more, nor will either of you have to
suffer hunger"


The weeping old man allowed himself to
be led away. They entered the bar-room.
Soon they were sitting comfortably Mt ta-
BILE over bottle of wine, and regarding
each other curiously by the aid of the
bright light.


"My story is soon told, commenced the
elder of the two, in q firm tone. ~ am a
merchant, but fortune has not smiled upon
me had 10 money of my own, and had
loved and married poor but lovely girl
For these reasons never was able TO es-
tablish mmyself on my own footing, but
was obliged TO serve other mercantile
houses, as clerk or book-kceper, till they
could not make any further use OF me, OF
rather would not do so, and preferred the
services of younger men TO mine. But Il
my means were limited, the happiness o.
homo was not. Ny wife was an angel o
goodness, love and gentleness, pious ant
true. industrious and intcllipeut, and shs