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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d844484 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #69538 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/69538) diff --git a/old/69538-0.txt b/old/69538-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c24e0d5..0000000 --- a/old/69538-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4941 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Riches have wings, by Timothy Shay -Arthur - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Riches have wings - or, A tale for the rich and poor - -Author: Timothy Shay Arthur - -Release Date: December 14, 2022 [eBook #69538] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images - made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICHES HAVE WINGS *** - - - - - - RICHES HAVE WINGS; - - OR, - - A TALE FOR THE RICH AND POOR. - - - BY T. S. ARTHUR. - - AUTHOR OF “KEEPING UP APPEARANCES,” “THE YOUNG - MUSIC TEACHER,” “LADY AT HOME,” ETC. - - - FIFTH THOUSAND. - - - NEW YORK: - PUBLISHED BY BAKER & SCRIBNER, - 145 NASSAU STREET, AND 36 PARK ROW. - 1849. - - - - - Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1847, by - BAKER & SCRIBNER, - in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States - for the Southern District of New York. - - - S. W. BENEDICT, PRINT. & STER. - 16 Spruce Street, N. Y. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - PAGE. - - CHAPTER I. - - INTRODUCTION 5 - - - CHAPTER II. - - HUMAN PRUDENCE 11 - - - CHAPTER III. - - CONFIDENCE IN HUMAN PRUDENCE SHAKEN 24 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - SPECULATION 36 - - - CHAPTER V. - - ELDORADO 44 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - LOVE AND PRIDE 52 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - MERCENARY LOVE 64 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - AFFLICTION 69 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - MENTAL PROSTRATION 75 - - - CHAPTER X. - - A GREAT DISASTER 81 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - CONSEQUENCES 92 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - LIGHT IN DARKNESS 102 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - MORE REVERSES 113 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - FAITH TRIED AND PROVED 119 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH 125 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - FURTHER RETRENCHMENTS 135 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - THE USES OF ADVERSITY 146 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - MORE SACRIFICES 153 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - A DISAPPOINTMENT 163 - - - CHAPTER XX. - - SURPRISE--UNEXPECTED RELIEF--GRATITUDE 177 - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - THANKFUL FOR EVERY THING 183 - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - CONCLUSION 188 - - - - - RICHES HAVE WINGS. - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - INTRODUCTION. - - -Riches have wings. In no country is this more strikingly true than -in our own. The social history of the world presents no era, nor any -people, in which, and among whom, such sudden and remarkable changes -in the possession of property have taken place. The man who is worth -a million to-day, has no surety that he will be worth a thousand -to-morrow. Children who are raised amid all the luxuries that money -can procure, too often, when they become men and women, are doomed -to hopeless poverty; while the offspring of the poor man, who grew -up, perhaps, in the hovel beside their princely mansion, is the money -lordling of their darker day. - -The causes for this are various: mainly it depends upon our negation, -in the beginning of our national existence, of the law of primogeniture -and entailment of property. A man cannot be rich here in spite of -himself. He may be born to great possessions, but has the full liberty -to part with them upon almost any terms that please him; and such -alienations are things of every-day occurrence. One result of this is, -that property and possessions of all kinds are continually changing -hands, and thus placed within the reach of nearly all who have the -ability, as well as the desire, to struggle for their attainment. To -superior judgment, skill, and industry, when applied to the various -pursuits in life, comes the reward of wealth; while the supine and -self-indulgent, or those who lack a sound judgment and business acumen, -remain in moderate circumstances, or lose the property that came into -their hands at majority. - -There are no privileged classes here, made such by arbitrary national -preferences of one over another. In the eye of the nation, every man is -born free and equal. The son of the humble artisan or day-laborer can -enter the same course, and start for the same goal, with the son of the -wealthiest and most distinguished in the land--and beat him in the race -if he be swifter of foot, and possess greater endurance. - -The consequence of all this is, that wealth becomes a less and less -stable thing every day; for, in the fierce struggle that is ever going -on for its possession, as an end, and not as a means to a higher end, -men become more and more absorbed in the desire for its attainment, -and, as a natural result, more and more acute in their perception of -the means of attaining it. And the most eager and acute are not always -the most conscientious in regard to the use of means, nor the most -careful lest others sustain an injury when they secure a benefit. - -Great instability in the tenure of wealth must flow from the operation -of these causes; for the balance of trade must ever be suffering -disturbance by the inordinate action, at some point, of those engaged -in commercial and business pursuits. This disturbance we see almost -every day, in the dishonest spirit of speculation and overreaching that -prevails to a melancholy extent. Business is not conducted, in this -country, on the permanent, healthy, honest, and only true basis of -demand and supply; but is rendered ever fluctuant and unsafe, from the -reasons just given. - -The apparent causes of the instability alleged, are mainly those that -we have stated. But, as every thing that meets the eye is an effect of -something interior to it and invisible, so, in this case, the things -we have set forth are merely the effects of a spiritual cause, or, in -other words, of a perverted state of the _mind_ of the whole nation -viewed as one man; for the truth that a nation is only a man in a -larger form is undeniable. This perversion lies in the almost universal -estimation of wealth as a means of selfish gratification, and not as -a means of promoting and securing the general good; and from this -it arises, that nearly every man seeks to secure wealth to himself, -utterly regardless of his neighbor; and far too many not only covet -their neighbors’ goods, but actually seek to defraud them of their -possessions. - -Every man is regenerated through temptations to evil, by means of which -he comes into a knowledge of his hereditary perversions; and it often -happens, that he is not only tempted of his evil lusts, but yields to -the temptation, and thus, in suffering the consequences that follow, -is made more clearly to see the nature and ultimate tendencies of the -false principles from which he had acted. And this is just as true of -a body of individuals (as a nation) as it is of an individual himself. -The law of primogeniture and entailment of property, which is not -a just law, lays, with its disabilities, upon the mind and ultimate -energies of the nation farthest advanced in civilization, because to -have abolished it would have resulted in a worse evil, even the utter -destruction of that nation by the fierce intestine struggle that would -have resulted therefrom, while there was no conservative spirit strong -enough to sustain it. But, in the fullness of time, this American -Republic sprang into independent existence, an outbirth of Anglo-Saxon -civilization, and prepared to take an advancing step. The law that held -in iron-bound consistency the English nation, was abolished, and all -the strong energies, eager impulses, and natural lust of wealth and -power, that distinguished the people of that nation, were allowed full -scope here. - -In the history of the world’s regeneration, the time had come for this, -and there was virtue enough in the people to meet the consequences that -have flowed therefrom. These consequences, externally disastrous to -individuals as they have proved, have not been severe enough to check -the onward advancement of the nation. They are, in fact, a reaction, -upon individuals, of consequences flowing from their own acts, and -showing them that their acts were evil. The love of wealth, for its -own sake, needed to be regenerated. It was a great evil, fraught with -unhappiness. Its regeneration could only be effected in rational light -and mental freedom. That is, men must see it to be an evil, and freely -put it away. But, so long as a man secures the gratification of every -lust, just so long he sees it to be good instead of evil. It is only -when he is deprived of its gratification, through consequences growing -out of its indulgence, that he is enabled to perceive its true quality. -And this is just the effect produced upon the general mind by the -instability that attends the possession of wealth in this country. A -man who loves money for its own sake, and looks upon it as the greatest -good, is not at all likely to have his false view corrected, while -all is sunshine and prosperity; but, in reverses, he sees with a more -purified vision. - -In a word, then, we believe that the cause why wealth is so unstable a -thing in this country, lies in the free scope that every man’s selfish -impulses find, and instability is only a salutary reaction. And, in -this seeming evil, we recognize a Divine Providence, still educing -good. - -A change in our form of government, as some have thought, cannot, -therefore, effect a remedy for the evil which so many lament. Nor is it -to be found in penal statutes. It will come only when the whole nation, -as one man, shall be guided in every transaction, small and great, by -justice and judgment, and not till then. In the mean time, it is every -man’s duty, who sees and acknowledges this truth, to do all in his -power to give it vitality in the minds of the people. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - HUMAN PRUDENCE. - - -“It’s my opinion, Mr. Carlton, that every man who remains poor through -life, or who, once possessing wealth, loses it, has only himself to -blame. I am out of all patience with these constant failures that -occur in the mercantile community, and set them all down to sad -mismanagement, or utter incapacity for business; and I am equally -out of patience with the unceasing murmurs of those who have not the -means of supplying their wants. The fault, in both cases, is with the -individual, and no where else.” - -“The fault may be, and doubtless is, to some extent, in the individual, -but I am satisfied that you are in error in the broad ground you take, -Mr. Townsend. Above and beyond man’s will and action, is a Power that -rules events. Human prudence is not every thing in fact, it is nothing, -when it comes in opposition to the designs of Providence.” - -“Your profession, as a minister, naturally leads you to such -conclusions,” replied the merchant. “But, as a man of business and -close observation of men and things, I am satisfied that, in the -ordinary pursuits of life, Providence interferes but little; and that -all, or nearly all, of success or failure is chargeable to man’s own -efficient or inefficient action.” - -“I will grant that it is chargeable to his ends, and to his actions, so -far as they are influenced by his ends. But that the mere possession of -mercantile ability, and the means of engaging in trade, will give a man -wealth and its permanent enjoyments, I seriously doubt.” - -“I am not sure, Mr. Carlton, that I understand what you mean by the -first sentence of your last remark.” - -“About a man’s ends influencing his external condition?” - -“Yes.” - -“I mean, that a man’s end in seeking wealth may be of such a nature, -that, after attaining what he has sought, the loss thereof may be -necessary as a reaction upon that end, in order that it may be changed -into one less useful and soul-destroying. The Divine Providence, which, -I believe, governs in the most intimate things of every man’s life, has -sole reference to what is spiritual and eternal, and so disposes of -things, external and worldly, as to make them subserve man’s highest -and best interests. I believe, therefore, that if it is best for man’s -eternal state that he should be poor, and have to struggle hard to -obtain mere food and clothing, that he will remain poor in spite of a -lifelong effort to get rich. And I also believe, that with one tenth of -his effort, another may accumulate a large fortune, who is no better, -perhaps not so good a man, but whose hereditary evils are of a nature -to be best reacted upon in a state of prosperity.” - -“Very much like fatalism, all that,” said the merchant. “What use is -there in a man’s striving at all?” - -“It is any thing but fatalism, Mr. Townsend. And as no man can know -the true quality of his internal life, nor what external condition will -best react upon it, he is not left to the choice of that condition. -Necessity, or a love of gain, causes him to enter into some business or -profession, and according to the pressing nature of his necessities, -or his desire for wealth, is the earnestness with which he struggles -for success. As is best for him, so is the result. To him who needs -the disappointments, anxieties, and sad discouragements that attend -poverty and reverses of fortune, these come; and to him whose external -interests will be best promoted by success, success is given. In all -this, human prudence is actually nothing, though human prudence is the -natural agent by which the Divine Providence works.” - -“All that sounds very well, Mr. Carlton, but I don’t believe it. My -doctrine is, and always has been, that every man who will use the right -means, can get rich; and if he will manage his affairs, afterwards, -with common prudence, may retain what he has acquired. I certainly, -am not afraid of the loss of property. But, may be, I am one of your -favored ones, whose spiritual interests are best promoted by a state of -prosperity.” - -“That, of course, is not for you nor I to know, at present,” returned -the minister, speaking seriously. “The time may come when you will see -the whole subject in a different light, and think, perhaps, as I do -now.” - -“Then you prophesy that I will become a broken merchant?” - -“No, I prophesy no such thing. Judging from appearances, I should -say that few men were less likely to become poor. Still, Riches have -Wings, and your possessions may take flight one day, as well as another -man’s. Mr. Barker, a few years ago, stood as far above the dangers of a -reverse as you now do.” - -“And would have stood there until to-day, but for his own folly. Look -what a mistake he made! How any man, of his age and experience, could -suffer himself to be tempted into such a mad investment of property, is -to me inconceivable. He deserved to fail.” - -“Heretofore he had always been prudent and far-seeing in all his -operations?” - -“No man more so.” - -“But, when it became necessary for his higher and better interests that -he should sustain reverses, he lost his prudence, and his mind was no -longer far-seeing. Depend upon it. Mr. Townsend, the hand of Providence -is in all this! I have seen Mr. Barker frequently since the great -change that has taken place in his circumstances. He is not the man -that he was. His whole character has softened.” - -“He must be very miserable.” - -“To me he seems quite as happy, as before.” - -“Impossible!” - -“No. The wind is tempered to the shorn lamb. He who sends reverses -and afflictions for our good, gives strength and patience to bear -them. I have seen many families reduced from affluence to poverty, Mr. -Townsend, and in but few instances have I seen individuals made more -wretched thereby.” - -“That to me is inconceivable,” said the merchant. “I cannot credit it.” - -“At first, there was great anguish of mind. The very life seemed about -to be extinguished. But, when all the wild elements that had come -into strife and confusion, had subsided, there came a great calm. The -natural life was yet sustained. Its bread and its water were still -sure. There was a feeling of confidence that all things necessary for -health, comfort, and usefulness, would still be given, if sought for -in a right spirit. Poverty, Mr. Townsend, is no curse, nor is wealth a -blessing, abstractly considered. They bless or curse according to the -effect they produce upon our minds. The happiest man I ever saw, was a -poor man, so far as this world’s goods were concerned. He was a good -man.” - -There was something in the words of the minister that impressed itself -upon the mind of Mr. Townsend, notwithstanding his efforts to put no -value upon what he said. Frequently, afterwards, certain expressions -and positions assumed, would arise in his thought and produce a feeling -of uneasiness. His confidence in human prudence, though still strong, -had been slightly impaired. - -Mr. Carlton was the minister of a wealthy and fashionable congregation, -to whom his talents made him acceptable. Not infrequently did he give -offence by his plainness of speech and conscientious discharge of the -duties of his office; but his talents kept him in his position. Mr. -Townsend was a wealthy merchant, and a member, for appearance sake, of -his church. As to religion, he did not possess a very large share. His -god was Mammon. - -The occasion of the conversation just given, was the failure of a -substantial member of the church, for whose misfortunes Mr. Townsend, -as might be inferred, felt little sympathy; and less, perhaps, from -the fact that he was to be the loser of a few thousands of dollars by -the disaster. The minister was on a visit to the house of Mr. Townsend, -in the presence of whose family the conversation took place. - -“How I do despise this cant--I can call it by no better name,” said the -merchant, after the minister had left. “I am surprised to hear it from -a man of Mr. Carlton’s talents. He might talk such stuff as this to me -until doomsday, and I would not believe it.” - -Mr. Townsend had a son and two daughters. The latter, Eveline and -Eunice, were present during the conversation with the minister, and -noticed the remarks of their father, after Mr. Carlton left. Some -time afterward, when they were alone, Eunice, the younger of the two -daughters, said, with unusual sobriety of manner, “Father treated what -Mr. Carlton said very lightly; don’t you think so?” - -“Indeed, I don’t know,” was the thoughtless reply of Eveline, who was -noticing the effect of a costly diamond breast-pin with which her -brother had, a day or two before, presented her. “Mr. Carlton has a -strange way of talking, sometimes. I suppose he would--there! isn’t -that brilliant, Eunie? If brother John could only see the effect! I’m a -thousand times obliged to him. Isn’t it splendid, Eunie?” - -“It is, indeed, Evie. But what were you going to say about Mr. Carlton?” - -“Dear knows! I forget now. John must have given at least five hundred -dollars for this pin, don’t you think he did?” - -“I am sure I don’t know. I never think about how much a thing costs.” - -“Jane Loming’s is admired by every body; but the diamonds in this are -twice the size of those in hers, and it contains two to one. Just look -how purely the light is sent back from the very bosom of each lucid -gem. Could any thing be more brilliant! How I love gold and diamonds! -They are nature’s highest and loveliest achievements.” - -“In the mineral kingdom,” said Eunice, in her gentle way. “But gold and -diamonds I love not half so well as I do flowers, nor are they half so -beautiful. There is your glittering diamond. There is a flower not only -far more beautiful, but with a spirit of perfume in its heart. And when -I look into your eyes, sister, how dim and cold appear the inanimate -gems that sparkle on your bosom. There are lovelier things in nature, -Evie, than gold and diamonds.” - -“You are a strange girl, Eunie,” returned Eveline, playfully. “I don’t -know what to make of you, sometimes.” - -“I don’t know what there is strange about me, sister,” said Eunice. -“Have I not said the truth? Is not a flower a lovelier and more -excellent thing than a brilliant stone, which, because it is the purest -and rarest substance in the mineral kingdom, is prized the highest, but -is still only a stone?” - -“Would you give a diamond for a flower, Eunie? Tell me that, dear.” - -“No, because diamonds have a certain value as property, and are -rarer than flowers. Flowers spring up every where. With a few seeds -and a little earth, or with the fiftieth part of the price of a -moderate-sized diamond, I can have them at my will. But, give me a -little bouquet of sweet flowers, and I will enjoy it more, and love it -better, than all the jewels in my casket.” - -“I verily believe you would, Eunie. It’s like you. And sometimes I half -wish that I, too, could find delight in these simple things; that I -could love a flower as you do. Flowers are beautiful, and please me at -first sight; but I soon grow weary of them, while you will cherish even -a half-opened bud, and love it while a leaf retains its beauty and -perfume. But, to change the subject, how are you going to dress at Mrs. -Glover’s, next week?” - -“I havn’t thought about that, yet. What do _you_ mean to wear?” - -“This diamond breast-pin, of course.” - -“No doubt of that,” said Eunice, smiling. - -“And you will go, as likely as not, without an ornament, except a -flower in your hair.” - -“Not quite so plain as that, Evie. You know I don’t dislike -ornament--only the unharmonious profusion of it in which--” - -“I indulge, Eunie.” - -“A simpler style of dress and ornament would doubtless become you -better,” said Eunice, again smiling. “That, you know, I have always -said.” - -“Yes, and I have always said that a little more of both would make in -you a wonderful improvement.” - -“Perhaps they might. We are all apt to run into extremes; though I -think the extreme of plainness is better than its opposite.” - -“I don’t know. All extremes are bad.” - -“Even the extreme of gay dressing?” - -“Certainly. But you know, sister, that I don’t plead guilty to that -folly. I have attained the happy medium in dress.” - -“So you say. Well, if yours be the happy medium, Evie, a stage-dancer’s -must be the extreme.” - -“That’s your opinion, and I won’t quarrel with you about it. But it’s -time, Eunie, that we were selecting our dresses, be they gay or plain.” - -“So it is; but it won’t take me long to make a choice. How would I look -in a white muslin, with just a little satin trimming?” - -“Nonsense, Eunie! White muslin with satin trimming, indeed!” - -“I don’t know any thing more beautiful or becoming than white.” - -“Don’t you, indeed! Perhaps I might suggest something?” - -“Not for me, Evie,” returned Eunice, good-humoredly. “It will be best -for each of us to consult her own taste; and if we do run a little into -opposite extremes, it will be no very serious matter.” - -Eveline could not but agree with this and so the good-natured contest -ended. - -The leading traits of character that marked the two sisters, appear, -to some extent, in this conversation. Eveline was a gay, high-spirited -girl, who was fond of pleasure, and enjoyed, sometimes, even to excess, -the privileges afforded by her position; while Eunice was retiring and -thoughtful, and took more delight in doing some useful thing, than in -dress or fashionable company. But, opposite as were their dispositions, -they were tenderly affectionate towards each other, and had been so -from childhood. - -At the time our story opens, Eveline was twenty, and Eunice in the -nineteenth year of her age. For nearly a year, Eveline had been -receiving the attentions of a young man named Henry Pascal, son of a -wealthy merchant and friend of her father. Pascal was in Europe, where -he had been spending some months, and was in familiar correspondence -with Eveline. Although no regular engagement had been made, yet it -was pretty well understood, in both families, that a marriage between -the young couple would take place. Eunice had no acknowledged lover, -although many had looked upon her pure young face with loving eyes. - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - CONFIDENCE IN HUMAN PRUDENCE SHAKEN. - - -Some things that were said by the minister, came back to the mind of -Mr. Townsend, and slightly disturbed it. The possibility that there -might be truth in what he had said, was suggested to his thoughts, and -he felt fretted at the idea of any Providential interference with his -worldly prosperity. He wished to be let alone; and even went so far as -to say, mentally, that he considered himself perfectly competent to -manage his own affairs. But this state did not remain long. Possession, -with him, was nine points of the law, and he meant to retain his -advantage. - -It happened, not long after, that an arrival from the Pacific brought -Mr. Townsend letters from the supercargo of one of his vessels, -announcing the loss, in a terrible storm, of a fine ship laden with a -return cargo of specie and hides, valued at thirty thousand dollars. -She had only been out of Callao two days when the disaster took place. -The loss of both ship and cargo, it was feared, would be total. - -“By the ships ‘Gelnare’ and ‘Hyperion,’” said one of these letters, -“advices in respect to cargo, were sent.” - -Unfortunately for Mr. Townsend, neither of these vessels had arrived, -and therefore no insurance had been made upon the cargo. They were -both telegraphed on the next day, but they came too late. Three weeks -elapsed without further intelligence, when the captain and supercargo -arrived, bringing news of the entire wreck of the vessel and loss of -the cargo. - -Mr. Townsend loved money for its own sake, and, therefore, although -worth some two or three hundred thousand dollars, the loss of thirty -thousand was felt severely. It made him exceedingly unhappy, and by -the reaction of his state upon his family, disturbed the peaceful -atmosphere of home. - -A month after the intelligence of this loss came, he received account -sales of ten thousand barrels of flour, shipped to Montevideo, where -very high prices had ruled in the market for some months. He expected -to make from five to ten thousand dollars by the shipment. But the -arrival of half a dozen ship loads of flour, simultaneously with his -own, had knocked down the price, and he lost by the adventure over -twelve thousand dollars. As a remittance, his consignees sent, in -part, a cargo of cocoa, upon which there was another loss; not of -much consequence in amount, but serious as to the effect produced upon -the merchant’s mind. Hitherto, almost every commercial enterprise had -been successful. All his previous losses did not amount to twenty -thousand dollars, and now, in the space of little over a month, he had -seen nearly fifty thousand dollars pass from his hands, without even -the opportunity of an effort to save it. And the worst of it was, he -could blame no one. The ship had been wrecked in a storm. Previously, -the supercargo had sent by the first vessel that sailed, after he had -determined upon the nature of his return cargo, all the information -necessary for purposes of insurance. But the winds and the waves had -retarded her progress until after the news of the wreck came. If -the loss had been the effects of clearly apparent human errors or -inefficiency, Mr. Townsend would have felt less disturbed about it; -for greater care on his own part, or a nicer discrimination in the -selection of his agents, would prevent a recurrence of like events -in future. But the satisfaction of mind such a reflection would have -produced, he was not permitted to have. - -For months after this, nothing but ill-luck attended Mr. Townsend’s -shipping interests. After this, followed several losses through the -failure of old customers, whose solvency, not only he, but every one -else, considered undoubted. During a single year, his riches, to the -amount of over seventy thousand dollars, took to themselves wings and -flew away, beyond the reach of recovery. - -In spite of every effort to put away from his mind the intruding -recollection of what Mr. Carlton had said about the nothingness of -human prudence, the prominent features of the conversation he had held -with the clergyman were continually forcing themselves upon him, and -impressing him with a sense of his own powerlessness never felt before. - -From this time his trust in commerce became impaired. Hitherto he had -considered it the surest road to wealth, because it had borne him -safely on to prosperity. But now he hesitated and reconsidered the -matter over and over again, when proceeding to send out a ship, and -thought with doubt and anxiety about the result, after she had spread -her white sails to the breeze, and started on her voyage to distant -lands. This uncertain state of mind continued, until Mr. Townsend -began to think of some other mode of using his capital less likely -to be attended with loss. He had been raised in the counting-room -of a shipping merchant; had sailed ten voyages while a young man, -as supercargo, and was now, from twenty five years active devotion -to business, thoroughly conversant with every thing appertaining to -commerce with foreign countries. As a shipper he was at home. But -although, like other men of his class, he had a general and pretty -accurate notion of the operations of trade, he had no practical -knowledge of any branch but his own. A few years before, he had said -that any man who, after ten or twenty years successful devotion to -any business, was silly enough to change it for another, of which he -knew little or nothing, deserved to lose, as he stood ten chances to -one of losing all he had made. And yet, notwithstanding all this, in -the darkness and doubt that had come over his mind, Mr. Townsend had -serious thoughts of directing his capital into some other business. - -This important crisis in the merchant’s affairs occurred during a -period when every thing was inflated, and speculation rife. In his -younger days he had made, in one season, by speculating in cotton, -twenty thousand dollars; and, on another occasion, ten thousand -dollars in a single day, by operating in flour. Fortunes were lost at -the time, but he had been wise enough to stop at the right moment. -Rumors of this one having made twenty or thirty thousand dollars, and -the other one fifty or one hundred thousand, in the course of a few -months, were floating through all the circles of trade, and inspiring -men who had never made a dollar in their lives, except in regular -trade, to stake their fortunes on little better than the turn of a -die. The whole commercial atmosphere was filled with the miasmata of -speculation, and all men who inhaled it became more or less infected -with the disease. Property, estimated for years at a certain price, -suddenly changed hands at an advance and again at, perhaps, double the -original price paid for it. Why it had become so much more valuable -all at once, nobody could clearly explain, although reasons for it -were given that appeared to be taken for granted as true. A lot of -ground that the owner would have taken a thousand dollars for, and been -glad to have got it, all at once became worth two or three thousand -dollars, and was sold for that sum; and, in the course of a month or -two, perhaps, was resold for five or six thousand, on the rumor of a -railroad terminus being about to be located in the neighborhood, or -some great change in the avenues of trade in progress that would make -it immensely valuable. Imaginary cities were bought and sold; and -railroad and canal stocks, while not even the lines of improvement they -pretended to represent had been surveyed, passed from hand to hand at -twenty, thirty, fifty, and sometimes a hundred per cent. above their -par value. Men stood looking on in wonder at this strange state of -affairs, or plunged in headlong to struggle for the wealth they coveted. - -Nor were individuals permitted to remain the passive spectators of all -that was going on around them. Daily, and almost hourly, some one, -infected with the mania, would present himself, and urge, with such -eloquence and seeming fairness, a participation in the vast benefits -of some imposing scheme of profit, that to withstand his persuasions -was almost impossible. And these individuals were so generous, too. -They were not content to make fortunes themselves, but wanted every -body else to take a share of the golden harvests they were reaping. -If you had no cash to spare, that did not matter. Your credit was -good, and your note, as an acknowledgment of the purchase, and a -formulary of trade all that was wanted. To give a note of ten thousand -dollars, to-day, for a piece of property that there was a fair chance -of selling, in a fortnight, for twenty thousand, was, certainly, a -temptation. Of course you had to sell, if you did sell, as you bought, -for paper, not for cash. But that was nothing. Every body was getting -rich, and, therefore, everybody was safe. There was no risk in taking -a man’s note for ten or twenty thousand dollars, payable six or twelve -months hence, when he was known to be worth one, two, three, or four -hundred thousand. - -Mr. Townsend had a neighbor whose name was Cleveland. This man called -in to see him at least once every day, to talk about schemes of profit, -and the chances of acquiring great wealth suddenly. He was also engaged -in shipping, and had made a good deal of money by fortunate adventures. -Recently he had sold one of his vessels and freighted the other, which -had enabled him to divert a considerable amount of capital into the -new channels of profit that had opened all around him. This Cleveland -was half owner of a western city, a map of which hung up in his -counting-room. The name of the city was “Eldorado.” As could be seen -by its position, relative to other parts of the State in which it was -situated, it was plain that “Eldorado” was destined to become, at no -very distant day, one of the most important places in the West. It was -situated on the bank of a rapid river, with a fall close by, affording -water-power for mills and manufactories to any extent. The country -around was healthy, and the lands were rich; and, moreover, a railroad, -now in process of erection, would pass through it from north to south, -and another from east to west. One of these roads started from the -lakes at the north, and was to terminate at the Ohio river. The other -started from, and terminated in, deep navigable rivers. - -This “Eldorado” Mr. Cleveland said he looked upon as the most valuable -of all his interests. His half of the city cost him twenty thousand -dollars, and he had already sold lots enough to realize fifteen -thousand dollars and expected to sell enough to net him fifteen or -twenty more, and still have a little fortune safely locked up in -“Eldorado.” - -Besides his western town interest, he was largely concerned in a -manufacturing company; owned shares in all sort of internal improvement -and banking corporations; and was, according to his own showing, making -money so fast that he could hardly count it as it came in. Some time -after, Mr. Townsend met with the loss of thirty thousand dollars by -the wreck of a vessel, upon the cargo of which no insurance had been -effected. Mr. Cleveland said to him: - -“I’ve just made an operation from which I expect to realize fifty -thousand dollars before twelve months pass away.” - -“Have you, indeed!” responded Townsend. - -“Yes. I’ve bought up a majority of the stock of the Sandy Hill and -Dismal Lake Canal, at twenty per cent. below par.” - -“I would’nt have it at fifty cents below par,” returned Townsend. “The -project is in itself impracticable, and will never be carried out. The -stock is not worth a dollar, intrinsically, and never will be.” - -“There you are much mistaken,” replied Cleveland. “The survey has not -only been completed, but workmen are upon the lines, and now that I -have secured a control in the Board of Directors I mean to have the -work prosecuted with vigor. In two months I will have the stock up -to par, and in less than a year, as high as thirty per cent. above, -and not to be had easily, at that price. My shares cost a hundred -thousand dollars. When the price reaches thirty per cent. above par, -I will sell, and thus make fifty thousand dollars. After that, those -who own the canal may go on with it as they please. Won’t you take ten -or twenty thousand dollars worth of the stock? You will find it better -than the shipping interest?” - -“No, thank you, Mr. Cleveland. I never meddle in matters of that kind. -Give me straight forward, legitimate trade; not uncertain speculation. -I have made my money by commerce, and will certainly not risk it in -fancy stocks or ideal cities. I have no taste for your ‘Eldorados’ and -‘Dismal Lake Canals!’ The one will turn your gold to dross, and the -other will bury it from your sight in its turbid waters.” - -“Don’t believe the half of it, Mr. Townsend. Before two years have -passed away, I’ll show you a cool hundred thousand or two that I have -made by these and one or two other schemes I have in my head.” - -“If you don’t find yourself a ruined man you may be thankful. As to -your canal stock, even its par value will be a fictitious one, for, -if the works were completed, they never would pay an interest on the -investment. How much more fictitious, then, will be the value at -thirty per cent. above par. Whoever buys at such a price will ruin -himself.” - -“I don’t know how that may be. But I do know, that if I can sell the -stock that cost me only eighty, for a dollar thirty, I shall make just -fifty thousand dollars.” - -“Yes, _if_; but you are not going to find fools enough in the world to -buy a hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of fancy stock at that -price.” - -“Don’t you believe it. I know what has been done, and I know what can -be done. There are stocks in the market, not half so promising as this, -up, already, to fifteen and twenty per cent. above par.” - -“Well, from all such uncertain schemes, I hope to be kept free, Mr. -Cleveland. Much more, I am satisfied, will be lost than gained, in the -end.” - -“I shall take good care to be a gainer,” said Cleveland. “Trust me for -that.” - -“Gain or loss, I am not to be tempted into the danger of losing what I -have made in honest trade, by the hope of great returns from doubtful -schemes,” replied Townsend, in a very positive way, and thus closed the -matter for the present. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - SPECULATION. - - -A few months afterwards, when Mr. Townsend had, from repeated failures -to realize anticipated gains in commerce, grown distrustful of the -means of prosperity so long successfully applied, he listened with more -interest to what Cleveland had to say about the new roads to wealth -that had been opened. - -“Depend upon it, Townsend,” said the individual to him, one day, “that -you are standing still, while other men are seizing upon the golden -opportunities that offer themselves on every hand. Times have greatly -changed. A new order of things prevails. Wealth is no longer to be -gained in the old channels, or, at least, not without twenty times -the labor required in the new channels. Notwithstanding your want of -confidence in my ‘Sandy Hill and Dismal Lake Canal’ stock, I managed it -just as I said I would. I controlled the Board and had the excavations -entered upon with great vigor. I had an office procured in a public -location, where a clerk was placed, and every thing reduced to an -active business aspect. I secured one or two editors in favor of the -work, and got one or two shrewd brokers interested in the stock. Every -thing went on just as I desired. The price advanced steadily until -about ten days ago, when it reached the maximum of my wishes, since -which time I have been selling it as fast as I can without creating -suspicion. The stock is still firm. In a week or ten days more I -shall not own a share, and then the company can take care of its own -interests.” - -“And you will have cleared fifty thousand dollars by the operation?” - -“Yes, every cent of it.” - -“I can hardly credit it.” - -“I bought for eighty cents, and am selling for a dollar and thirty. You -can make the calculation yourself. And what is more than all this, Mr. -Townsend, I have not had to use ten thousand dollars real money from -beginning to end. My credit was enough. Although such a handsome profit -has been made, only two or three of the first notes given for the stock -have fallen due.” - -“You sold on time?” - -“Certainly. But the notes of such men as D---- and P----, J. S----, and -L----, are as good as so much gold, any day.” - -“It’s surprising,” remarked Townsend, thoughtfully. - -“But no more so than true,” said Cleveland, in a confident voice. “Now -is the time for a man who possesses good credit and a clear head to -make or double his fortune. I shall treble mine, and you can easily do -the same, and this, too, without interfering at all with your regular -business operations. Mine go on the same as usual.” - -Mr. Cleveland believed what he said. But he was slightly mistaken. To -these grand speculating schemes he gave up all his own thoughts and -attention, and left his regular business in charge of his eldest clerk, -in whom he had unlimited confidence. He was satisfied to believe that -every thing was conducted as well as it could have been done, if he had -given to it all his personal attention. In this, however, he was in -error. - -Mr. Townsend hardly knew what to think. His confidence in the old way -that he had been for years pursuing, was impaired, and in spite of -his better judgment, confidence in the new way was gaining strength. -It occurred to him that he might be neglecting, unwisely, to improve -the golden opportunities that were presenting themselves every day, -because they did not exactly accord with his old notions of business. -He remembered how successful he had been, many years before, in -speculating in flour and cotton, and then asked himself why he might -not be quite as successful, if he tried his hand in some of the many -money-making schemes that were put in operation all around him. - -Another disastrous voyage, which no human foresight could have -prevented, completely unsettled his mind, and, in this state, with a -kind of bewildered desperation, he stepped aside from the old beaten -way, into one of the many paths that diverged towards the mountains of -wealth that were seen in the distance, towering up to the skies. - -Cleveland, like a tempting spirit, was near him to suggest the path he -should take. Stocks, Townsend had a prejudice against, except United -States Bank stock, and in that there was not sufficient fluctuation -in the price to make its purchase desirable. As a safe investment of -money, he would have preferred it to almost any thing else; but as a -matter of speculation, the inducements were not strong. - -“I do not like to have any thing to do with stocks,” he said to -Cleveland, who proposed their buying up a majority of the stock of a -broken bank, the charter of which was perpetual, and embraced several -advantages not usually possessed by banking institutions. “To me there -is something intangible about them. A ship, a bale of cotton, or a -piece of real estate, have a certain value in themselves; will always -bring a certain price; but scrip is merely a representative of property -that may or may not exist. You are never certain about it.” - -“You may be certain enough. As to the Eagle Bank stock, it may be had -for thirty cents on the dollar, and, by proper management, in twelve -months, or even a less time, be made worth, in the market, from seventy -to eighty cents, or even par. It has been done with the People’s Bank, -and can and will be done with this. I know several monied men who are -beginning to turn their thoughts towards this charter, and if we don’t -take hold of the matter at once, the opportunity will pass by. Another -such a chance is not likely soon to offer.” - -Mr. Townsend, with all his love of money, had a certain degree of -integrity about him, more the result of education as a merchant of the -old school than any thing else. The scheme proposed, he took a day to -reflect on, seriously. He looked at it in its incipiency, progress, -and termination, and saw that, although he might make twenty or thirty -thousand dollars, by selling off his stock when it had reached the -highest price to which their forcing system could raise it, others -would lose all he made; for the stock must inevitably fall in price. -In fact, he saw that he would make himself a party to a fraud upon the -public, and this he was unwilling to do. So he refused to enter into -this scheme. Cleveland then proposed to sell him out his interest in -“Eldorado,” that he might have more means, and a freer mind, to enter -into the Eagle Bank speculation--a thing that he said he was determined -to do. - -“I have already sold lots enough to pay for the original purchase, and -now own nearly half of the town,” he said. - -“What will you take for your interest?” Mr. Townsend asked. - -“Forty thousand dollars; and I wouldn’t part with it for less than -double the price, were it not for my determination to push through -this matter of the Eagle Bank. In six months you can sell lots enough -to clear the whole purchase, and still be owner of at least a third of -the town. Come into my counting-room, and let me point out to you the -singular advantages that ‘Eldorado’ possesses.” - -Mr. Townsend went to the store of the ardent speculator, to look at -the city on paper. There stood “Eldorado,” all laid off into streets -and city squares, with churches and public buildings scattered about -it quite thickly. In the centre was a large depot, where two extensive -lines of railroad crossed each other at right angles; and upon each, -at points east, west, north, and south, were long trains of passenger -and burden cars, gliding towards, or rushing away from the city. Across -the stream, upon the banks of which it stood, dams had been thrown, and -flour-mills and extensive factories were seen, admirably located, and -furnished with water-power that was inexhaustible. - -“All this,” said Cleveland, sweeping his hand around an imaginary vast -extent of country to the southwest of “Eldorado,” “is a wheat-growing -country, one of the finest in the world. From sixty to a hundred -bushels to the acre is the common yield. The mills will, therefore, -always have the fullest supply of grain. And this,” sweeping his -hand as before, but to the north of the city, “is a hilly country, -admirable for sheep, and the farmers are already finding it to their -advantage to graze them. Along the rich vallies that lie to the east, -millions of bushels of corn and thousands of head of cattle are -annually raised, for which ‘Eldorado’ will be the great entrepot. In -five years from this time, I prophesy that it will be the third city in -the State, and, in ten years, but little behind any city in the West.” - -And thus Cleveland continued to show the superior advantages possessed -by “Eldorado.” About a city with its houses, public squares, churches, -mill sites, etc., there was something more real to the mind of the -merchant, than about stocks in banks, railroads, or canals, and he felt -much better pleased with “Eldorado” than he did with the Eagle Bank. - -After considering the matter for a week, and holding several long -conversations with large holders of lots in “Eldorado,” Mr. Townsend -concluded to purchase out Cleveland’s entire interest, and then turn -his attention towards forwarding the improvements already begun. This -intention was put into execution forthwith. All the necessary papers -were drawn, and duly recorded, and the plan of “Eldorado” transferred -from the walls of Mr. Cleveland’s counting-room, to those of Mr. -Townsend. Previous to this, the notes of the latter for the large sum -of forty thousand dollars, passed into the hands of the former, and -were immediately converted into cash. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - ELDORADO. - - -About a month after Mr. Townsend became the owner of nearly half of a -new and flourishing western city, he sent an agent out to examine the -condition of things there, and to take charge of certain improvements -it was his intention to begin forthwith. The agent had been gone a -little over six weeks, when the following letter was received from him: - -“DEAR SIR:--After some considerable difficulty, I have, at last, -succeeded in finding ‘Eldorado.’ No one, in this part of the country, -had ever heard of such a place. When I showed the plan of the city, -and map of the surrounding country, people shook their heads, and said -there must be some mistake. But, by the aid of a State surveyor, who -knew rather more about matters and things than the common people, -I was able to find the exact place which, with some of the natural -advantages, as that of a water-power, for instance, which have -been assigned to it, is yet as wild and unbroken a spot as I have -met in these wild regions. I learn that an actual survey of it was -made about a year ago, and the whole tract purchased for a hundred -dollars, and thought dear at that by those who did not know for what -it was designed. Of the railroads that are to run through it, only -one is commenced, or likely to be these ten years, and that will -not pass within sixty miles of the place. In a word, sir, not the -first spade-full of earth has been turned in this beautiful city of -‘Eldorado,’ nor the first tree cut down. I fear that you have been most -shamefully deceived. I will await your reply to this letter before -returning home. Very respectfully, yours, etc.” - -“Forty thousand dollars more as good as cast into the sea!” said Mr. -Townsend, with forced composure, as he read the last sentence of this -letter, and comprehended the whole matter. “Fool! Fool! Why did I not -send the agent before I made the purchase? Was ever a man so beside -himself!” - -As soon as the mental blindness and confusion that this intelligence -produced, had, in a degree, subsided, Mr. Townsend began to think -whether he could not save something by a forced sale of his interest -in “Eldorado.” But the idea of selling, for a consideration, something -that was utterly worthless, he could not exactly make up his mind to -do. While turning the matter over in his thoughts, it occurred to him -that, perhaps, Cleveland, who might be ignorant of the precise state of -things, would not hesitate to purchase back the interest in “Eldorado,” -if he could get it at five or ten thousand dollars less than he had -received for it. With the intention of making him the offer, at least, -Townsend called upon the sharp-witted speculator, who received him with -unaccustomed coolness, and seemed to feel uneasy in his presence. - -“Don’t you wish your interest in ‘Eldorado’ restored?” said the -merchant, with as much coolness as he could assume. Cleveland -compressed his lips tightly, and shook his head, while an expression -that Mr. Townsend did not at all like, crossed his face. The merchant -returned to his counting-room, without saying any thing more on the -subject. A few minutes after he had come back, one of his clerks handed -him the morning paper, with his finger upon a paragraph, saying, as he -did so, - -“Have you seen that, sir?” - -Mr. Townsend ran his eyes hurriedly over the article pointed out by his -clerk. It was from a western paper, and read as follows: - -“ELDORADO.--We were shown, a day or two since, the plan of a city -with this name, located on the L---- river, in our county. The two -great railroads that are to cross the State, in opposite directions, -were made to pass each other at right angles in the centre of this -town, although neither of them will ever come within forty miles of -it. Streets, squares, churches, public halls, and all were there in -beautiful order; and extensive mills were shown erected on the river. -All, or nearly all of them, the person who had the plan expected to -find; and we gathered from him that one third of the town of ‘Eldorado’ -had been sold at the East for the handsome little sum of forty thousand -dollars--not much for the third of a splendid city, we confess, but -rather a large price for a part of ‘Eldorado,’ which still lies in -primitive forest, with trees of a hundred years’ growth, rising from -the very spot where the public halls and pillared churches are made to -stand.” - -“In a word, this ‘Eldorado’ is a splendid fraud, but only one of a -thousand that are daily practiced. We warn the public against it; and -we can do so with the belief that our warning will not be disregarded, -for we happen to know that there is as little chance of a great city, -or even a small village, springing up in this out of the way spot, as -upon one of the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.” - -After he had read this, Mr. Townsend understood the meaning of that -expression in Cleveland’s face, which had struck him as peculiar. He -had, doubtless, seen this paragraph, and learned therefrom, that the -bubble he had helped to blow up, was ready to explode. Of course, he -didn’t want “Eldorado” property at any price. - -In a day or two, the paragraph from the western paper appeared in all -the city papers, and with various comments from the different editors. -In one of them it was remarked, that a certain shipping merchant had, -only a few weeks before, paid seventy thousand dollars for half of the -“city.” “Of course,” the article went on to say, “here are seventy -thousand dollars lost in a single gambling operation. When such -splendid stakes as these are lost and won, we must not be astonished -if we hear of failures by the dozens in the ranks of our merchant -princes. In this number we shall not be at all surprised to find the -owner of half of ‘Eldorado.’” - -Mr. Townsend read this with pain, mortification, and a strange fear -about his heart. In a little over a year, property, amounting to nearly -a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, had melted away, and passed -from his hands, irrecoverably. It seemed like a dream, so rapidly had -transpired the singularly disastrous incidents. But worse than the -mere loss of money, was the effect produced upon the merchant. His -confidence in all business operations was gone; and he came into the -unhappy state of those who believe that the fates are against them. If -a ship came in, he was afraid to send her forth again, lest the voyage -should prove unsuccessful; and he sold to even his best customers with -timidity. To continue to do business in such a state of doubt as to the -result, was not possible for Mr. Townsend, and he concluded, after a -long and anxious consideration of the subject, to withdraw from trade, -and seek some safe investment of the remainder of his property; the -interest from which would be ample for the maintenance of his family in -the style of elegance in which they had been accustomed to live. - -The execution of this determination was hastened by the loss of another -ship and cargo in a typhoon in the Indian Ocean. In this case insurance -had been regularly effected; and the loss was promptly paid; but the -disaster completed the overthrow of Mr. Townsend’s confidence in all -business operations. More clearly than he had ever perceived it in his -life, did he see the uncertainty that, as a natural consequence, must -attend all commercial adventures, subject as they were to fluctuations -and disturbances in the markets; the caprices of the winds and the -waves, and the doubtful integrity of man. He wondered at the signal -success that had attended his career as a merchant, and felt that -something more than his own sagacity was involved therein. - -The amount received from the underwriters for the ship and cargo which -had been lost, was sixty thousand dollars. This sum was invested -in stock of the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, as the safest -productive disposition of it that could be made. Then, with an earnest -devotion of his time and energies to the end in view, did Mr. Townsend -proceed to wind up his business. His ships were sold; his goods -disposed of as rapidly as possible, and, at last, his store was closed, -and he removed his counting-room to a second story, retaining a single -clerk to assist in the final settlement of his affairs. - -As fast as money was realized, United States Bank stock was purchased, -as a temporary disposal of it, until some other and safer investment -could be made. Ground rents, and loans on bond and mortgage, -were looked to as the ultimate mode of investing the bulk of his -fortune--now reduced, he found, to a little over a hundred and seventy -thousand dollars, and a portion of that in doubtful hands. - -Months passed from the time the first purchase of United States Bank -stock was made, and still no other investment of money had taken -place. Several ground rents in the heart of the city, secured by -costly improvements, had come into market, but Mr. Townsend hesitated -about taking them until it was too late. He had received any number of -applications for loans, to be secured by bond and mortgage, but could -not make up his mind about the safety of any one of the operations. -Thus, the time passed, and more and more of his property was daily -becoming represented by United States Bank scrip, until nearly every -thing he possessed was locked up in the stock of an institution, looked -upon by every one as the safest in the country, yet, really, tottering -upon the verge of ruin. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - LOVE AND PRIDE. - - -Two years have glided away since the opening of our story. During that -time the characters of Eveline and Eunice have developed themselves, -more and more, toward a fixed maturity. While the former is still as -gay and fond of dress and company as before, the latter has retired -more and more, apparently, within herself, but really into the exercise -of those purer thoughts and affections, that look to the good of -others. All who come into close contact with her, love her for the -sweetness of her temper, and the gentle spirit that utters itself in -the tones of her voice, and the mild light of her calm blue eyes. - -Neither Eveline nor Eunice have yet wedded. Henry Pascal has been -home from his long European tour about six months, and, since his -return, has been constant in his attentions to Eveline, with whom -he corresponded, regularly, during the whole period of his absence. -Eveline is deeply attached to him, and, although no formal offer of -marriage has taken place, considers herself, as well as is considered -by others, his affianced bride. Twice has the hand of Eunice been -sought--once, all approved the offer but herself; and once, though -her own heart approved, the objections of her parent and friends were -so strong she yielded passively to their opposition. Passively, so -far as act was concerned, but her heart remained the same, and turned -faithfully toward the sun of its love. - -The young man who had thus won the pure regard of Eunice, had recently -been elevated from the position of clerk to that of limited partner, -in a respectable mercantile house, and had, since this elevation, been -introduced into a higher social grade than the one he had been used to. -Here he met Eunice Townsend. The first time his eyes rested upon her, -and before he had heard her name, or knew her connections, her image -impressed itself upon his heart, and remained there ever after. He -could not have effaced it, even if he had made the effort. This young -man’s name was Rufus Albertson. His mother, a poor widow, had obtained -for him, when he was quite a lad, a situation in a store, and dying -shortly afterward, he was left without any relative. The owner of the -store finding him active, intelligent, and honest, took him into his -house; and raised and educated him. By his industry and devotion to -business, from his fifteenth to his twenty-first year, the young man -fully repaid the kindness he had received. - -When Albertson learned to what family the sweet young creature, -toward whom his heart had instantly warmed, belonged, he felt, for -a time, unhappy. Townsend was known to be proud and aristocratic in -his feelings, and would not, he felt satisfied, countenance, for an -instant, any advances he might make toward his daughter. But, she -filled his thoughts by day, and was even present with him in his dreams -by night. At his first meeting with Eunice, he looked upon her and -worshipped in the distance. A few weeks afterward, he met her again, -and sought an introduction. The genuine simplicity of her manners -charmed him more than the beauty of her face; and when he entered into -conversation with her, spontaneously their thoughts flowed along in the -same channel; and the sentiments they uttered found in each bosom a -reciprocal response. After their third meeting, Albertson noticed that -the eyes of Eunice were frequently turned toward him, while he moved in -distant parts of the room, and drooped slowly beneath his gaze, when he -looked at her steadily. All this was food for his passion. - -Thus the tender flower of love, once having taken root, fixed itself -more firmly in the ground, spread leaf after leaf, and put forth branch -after branch, until bud and blossom became distinctly visible. - -Albertson felt the difficulties of his position, but his was not a mind -to be discouraged by difficulties. He loved Eunice, and it was plain -that she returned his affection. This was the most important point -gained, an advantage that would count against many disadvantages. Manly -and straight-forward in his character, he could not, for a moment, -entertain the thought of any clandestine action. So soon, therefore, as -he was satisfied of the state of the maiden’s feelings, he determined -to visit her at her father’s house, boldly, and he did so. His first -call was made about one month after the suit of a previous lover had -been declined. No notice was taken of it except by Eveline, who made -it the occasion of some sportive remarks, at the expense of the young -man. The seriousness with which this was received, first made her aware -that her sister was very far from feeling indifferent toward him, and -she herself became at once serious. She said nothing at the time, but -closely observed Eunice, and marked her conduct, particularly when they -happened to be in any company where Albertson was present. After the -young man had made his second call, she said to her sister, in order to -bring her out-- - -“I don’t like the familiarity with which this young man visits here.” - -“Why not?” asked Eunice. “Is his right to call any less than that of -other young men who visit us?” - -“I rather think it is,” replied Eveline. - -“I do not know why,” returned the sister. “Is he less virtuous?” - -“I know nothing of his virtues or vices; but I believe he has been only -a poor clerk until recently; and now is only the junior partner, with a -limited interest, in some obscure business house.” - -“Does all that take from his worth as a man, Evie? Certainly not in my -eyes!” - -“Why Eunie! You surprise me!” - -“How so? Have I uttered a strange sentiment? Is it not true that - - ‘Worth makes the man; the want of it the fellow?’ - -I thought you understood, perfectly, my sentiments on this subject.” - -“What do you know of Mr. Albertson’s worth as a man?” asked Eveline. -“You have not been acquainted with him for a very long time, I believe.” - -“No; but the little I have seen of him has impressed me favorably. -He seems to be a man with his heart in the right place. I am free to -own that, so far, I like him as a companion exceedingly well. There -is nothing artificial or assumed about him. You see him as he is, a -plain, frank, honest-hearted man, what I cannot help valuing in an -acquaintance, for they are rare virtues among those I happen to meet.” - -“I am afraid father and mother will not approve your preference in this -instance, Eunie. Indeed, I am sure they will not, especially after -your refusing to receive the attentions of Mr. Pelham, whose family -connections are among the best in the city, and whose father is worth a -million of dollars.” - -A slight shade came over the maiden’s face, and there was a change in -her voice as she replied to this-- - -“I should like to please father and mother in every thing; though I -fear this will be impossible.” - -“I am sure you will not please them if you encourage this young man’s -attentions,” said Eveline. - -Eunice sighed gently, but made no answer. - -Not a very long time elapsed before Albertson called again. He happened -to find Eunice alone, and took advantage of the opportunity to make -advances of a nature easily understood by the maiden. These were not -repulsed by Eunice. A month or two later, and a fair opportunity was -offered him to tell his love, and he embraced it. The declaration was -received with great frankness by Eunice, whose well-balanced mind kept -her above the betrayal of any weakness. She owned that he had awakened -in her a tenderer sentiment than she had ever felt for any one; but, -at the same time, she informed him that it would be necessary for -him to see her father, and gain his approval in the matter, without -which, with her present views and feelings, she could give him no -encouragement to hope for her hand. - -More than this, Albertson had not expected. But he felt that the result -was still very doubtful. On the next day he called to see Mr. Townsend. -It happened, that the merchant had just received intelligence of a -heavy loss, and was in a very unhappy state of mind. - -“Well, sir?” he said, in a quick and impatient voice to Albertson, as -the latter entered his counting-room, and disturbed him in the midst -of a pile of letters, over which he was looking. He had seen the young -man a few times before, but his youthful appearance had prevented his -noticing him very particularly. He knew nothing of him, and supposed -him to be a clerk, sent on the present occasion with some message from -his employer. - -Albertson bowed, as the merchant thus rudely interrogated him, and -said, with as much composure as he could assume--the manner of Mr. -Townsend chafed him-- - -“I wish to say a word to you, sir, on a matter that concerns us both.” - -There was something in the way this was uttered, that caused the -supercilious manner of the merchant to change. He turned full around -from his desk, saying in a more respectful voice as he did so, - -“Be seated, sir. Your face is familiar to me, although I cannot this -moment call you by name.” - -“My name is Rufus Albertson.” - -“Albertson? Albertson?” - -“I belong to the firm of Jones, Claire, & Co.” - -“Ah! Yes. Very well, Mr. Albertson, what is it you wish to say to me?” - -“Simply, sir, that I have come to ask the privilege of addressing your -daughter Eunice.” - -Instantly the whole manner of the merchant changed. A heavy frown -settled upon his brow, and his eyes became angry in their expression. - -“Mr. Albertson,” he said, in a firm, resolute voice, “your presumption -surprises me! Who are you? And what claims have you to the hand of my -daughter?” - -“The claim of an honest man who loves your daughter,” replied Albertson. - -“Go, sir! Go!” exclaimed Townsend, losing all patience at this cool -response, “and don’t dare to think of an alliance with my child! It -shall never take place! Go, sir! Go!” - -And he waived his hand for the young man to retire. - -Albertson attempted to urge some considerations upon the excited -merchant, but an order to leave the counting-room, followed by an -insulting expression, caused him instantly to depart. - -An hour or two afterward, Eunice received the following brief note from -her lover: - -“I have seen your father, and he has met my request with an -angry refusal. Have I nothing to hope? You said his consent was -indispensable. Are you still of that mind? Dear Eunice! shall the will -of another prevent the union of our hearts? I feel that, upon every -principle of right, this ought not to be. Write to me immediately, and -oh! do not extinguish every light of hope. Let one at least burn, even -if its rays be feeblest.” - -To this, the maiden, after taking time for reflection, replied: - -“I did not hope for a favorable issue to your application. My father -looks, I fear, to wealth and social standing, more than to qualities of -mind. As I said before, his consent is, for the present, indispensable. -The will of another may prevent an external union, although it cannot -prevent an union of our hearts. If your regard for me is deeply -based; if you can have patience to wait long in hope of more favoring -circumstances, then the light you speak of need not go out in your mind. - - ‘To patient faith, the prize is sure.’ - -Time works many changes. Have faith in time.” - -Albertson read these precious words over twice, and then pressing them -to his lips, said, - -“Yes! I will have faith in time. I would be unworthy of that true heart -were I to give way to impatience and doubt.” - -Eunice was sitting alone that evening, just after the twilight shadows -had rendered all objects around her indistinct, when her father entered -the room where she was sitting. She felt his presence like a weight -upon her bosom. - -“Eunice! Who is this Albertson?” he asked, abruptly and sternly. - -Even from a child, Eunice had possessed great self-control and -composure under agitating circumstances. But never, in her life, had -she been so deeply disturbed as now, and it required the utmost effort -of her will to keep from bursting into tears. She, however, remained -externally calm, and said in a low, subdued voice: - -“Do you not know him?” - -“How should I know him, pray?” - -“He has been here frequently. I thought you had met him.” - -“And suppose I have! Does the mere meeting of one of your young -whipper-snappers constitute a knowledge as to who and what he is? Do -_you_ know him?” - -“Yes, sir, I believe I do.” - -“And what do you know of him?” - -“That he is a young man of virtuous principles.” - -“And I suppose you also know that he aspires to your hand.” - -“I do,” calmly replied Eunice, letting her eyes fall to the floor. - -“And you favor his presumption, I plainly see.” - -“For that, father, I am not to blame,” returned Eunice, in the same -low, subdued voice. “I cannot help loving virtue and all manly -excellencies combined, when they offer themselves for my love.” - -“Girl!” ejaculated Mr. Townsend, passionately, “I forbid, positively -and unequivocally, all alliance with this low born, presumptuous -fellow. If you disobey me, I will discard you forever!” - -“I will not disobey you, father,” answered Eunice, in a tremulous -voice, “though obedience cause my heart to break.” And rising, she -retired from the room, and went up into her chamber to weep. - -So unexpected a reply, as well as the manner and tone in which it was -made, a little surprised the father. The passion into which he had -worked himself was all gone, and he stood half wondering at his loss -of excitement. The even temper of Eunice, during the trying scene, and -her prompt self-denial in a matter so vital to her happiness, he could -not help feeling as a reproof upon his own harsh, hasty, and imperious -spirit. - -Alone, in her chamber, Eunice wept long and bitterly, at this -frost-breath upon the tender leaves of her heart’s young hopes. But she -did not weep despairingly--she had faith in time. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - - MERCENARY LOVE. - - -With a smoother surface ran the stream of Eveline’s love. Mr. Pascal -met the full approval of all her friends, as well as of her own heart. -And yet, that stream contained some deep, dark places, and there were -hidden things therein. Though a contract for marriage was understood -to exist, it had never been formally made, and sometimes unpleasant -doubts would cross the maiden’s mind. Her lover had remained abroad a -very long time, and, since his return, had seemed, if there were really -any change in him, colder than before. Eveline tried to think that this -was not so, but still the impression haunted her every now and then, -and produced a feeling of disquietude. - -Henry Pascal, as has been seen, was the son of a wealthy importer. His -father at first designed to introduce him into his counting-room, and -thoroughly educate him for a merchant. But, the young man showing no -taste for business, he changed his mind in regard to him, and placed -him in the office of an eminent practitioner at the bar. Here he -remained about a year, at the end of which period he knew very little -more of law than he did of physic. Not that he lacked ability; for -Pascal had a clear, strong mind. But he loved pleasure, and had no -incentive to study. His father’s great wealth took away all necessity -for him to strive for money; and eminence in any pursuit in life was -not a motive strong enough to induce him to devote himself with that -unwearied diligence necessary to success. - -It was during the time that he was pretending to study law, that Henry -Pascal became interested in Eveline Townsend. To say that he loved -her, would, perhaps, be speaking too strongly. For, to love any thing -out of himself, was hardly possible. But she was very beautiful, and -of that he could feel proud--and she had a well-cultivated mind, and -winning manners. An attachment to her formed a kind of pursuit in life; -was an impulse in the aimless tenor of his existence. His friends, who -had become anxious for the young man, encouraged this preference for -Eveline, in the hope that it would awaken the dormant energies of his -mind. Disappointed in this, they met his expressed desire to go abroad -with approval, and Pascal started for Europe. - -During his absence, his letters to Eveline came at regular periods, -and expressed just enough affection to keep the heart of the maiden -warm. His return was at a time when Mr. Townsend’s affairs were not -exhibiting the most prosperous state, and when rumor set down his -various losses at double the real amount. Old Mr. Pascal had his eye -upon the merchant. He had seen the prosperous career of many a man -checked, and a blight steel over his fortunes like a mildew, while no -adequate cause could be assigned therefor; and he had his suspicions, -from many little circumstances that transpired, that such a blight was -about falling upon the worldly prosperity of Mr. Townsend. With these -suspicions came the wish to have his son break off all intercourse with -Eveline. Immediately on his return, he introduced the subject to him, -and stated his fears. - -“Is there any engagement existing between you?” he closed by asking. - -“No verbal engagements,” replied his son. - -“Very well, Henry. Then do not make any.” - -“But the engagement is implied, father.” - -“No engagement is implied. All contracts to be such must come into oral -or written expression. You may imply anything. Looking at a woman, -or dancing with her, may be construed into a marriage contract under -such a law. No, Henry, you are not engaged, and for the present, keep -yourself free.” - -The young man promised to do so, but continued his visits as usual. - -A few months after his return from Europe, the “Eldorado” speculation -took place, the facts of which, through the newspaper notoriety given -to the fraud, became pretty well known in mercantile circles. - -“Henry, you must give up that girl!” said old Mr. Pascal, positively. -“Her father is going down hill as fast as he can go, and will not be -worth a dollar in five years. Forty thousand dollars swept away in a -single mad speculation! When a man begins to deal in imaginary western -cities, at such a rate, his case is hopeless.” - -Henry made no reply. The idea of connecting himself in marriage with -the family of a ruined merchant, was by no means pleasant, but he had -become really attached to Eveline, and the thought of giving her up -disturbed him. As before, he continued his attentions, determined to -await the issue of events, and act with decision when circumstances -sufficiently strong to prompt to decided action should occur. - -How utterly unconscious, all this time, was the happy-hearted maiden, -of the near approach of circumstances that threatened to destroy her -peace. Her lover came and went as before, and seemed to be the same. -He was her companion in public places, and sat by her side in private -circles. But still, and she often wondered at it, he never spoke of -marriage. - -Thus progressed events, with the merchant and his family, toward a -great crisis. - -After the repulse which had been given to Albertson, Eunice changed, -but the change developed no harsh features in her character. Like -a flower whose leaves have been slightly crushed, the odor thereof -was sweeter. To her father she was ever gentle in her manner, and -thoughtful of his comfort. This troubled him, and made him often repent -of the rudeness with which he had laid his hand upon a heart so full of -gentle impulses. Albertson did not attempt to visit her again, and when -he met her in company, maintained toward her a reserved and distant -manner corresponding with her own. But when they did thus meet, and -their eyes lingered in each other’s gaze for a few brief moments, a -long history of mutual love was told. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - AFFLICTION. - - -One day Mr. Townsend came home earlier in the afternoon than usual, his -face wearing a troubled look. He found his wife and daughters alone in -the parlors. - -“I’ve just received letters from New Orleans,” he said. - -“How is John?” eagerly asked Mrs. Townsend, interrupting him. - -“He is sick,” was replied. - -“Sick! Not dangerously, I hope?” - -“I am afraid so. One of his clerks has written.” - -“What is the matter with him?” - -“He does not say--but I will read you his letter.” - -And Mr. Townsend drew forth a letter and read: - -“I regret to inform you that your son, Mr. John Townsend, has been -quite ill for several days with a violent fever. He has desired me not -to write to you, lest you should be unnecessarily alarmed, but I have -felt it to be my duty to act contrary to his wishes. I have just seen -the doctor, who says I ought to inform you of your son’s illness. He -does not answer any of my inquiries satisfactorily, which makes me fear -that the case is dangerous. I will write you to-morrow, and every day, -until there is some change.” - -“Mercy!” exclaimed the mother, striking her hands together, and -bursting into tears. “It is the yellow fever!” - -“I fear it is,” replied Mr. Townsend, striving to keep his feelings -under control. “The sickly season has commenced earlier than usual, and -before John could make his arrangements to come north.” - -Oh! how anxiously did that family wait, for the next twenty-four hours, -the arrival of another mail from New Orleans! Mrs. Townsend and her -daughter did little but weep all the time, and Mr. Townsend in vain -attempted to fix his mind upon business. Long before the southern mail -could be assorted, he was at the post-office; and when the window was -thrown open, his face was the first one presented to the clerk. He -received a package of letters, and hastily retired. One bore the New -Orleans post mark. All the rest were hurriedly thrust into his pocket. -Breaking the seal of this, with trembling hands, he read-- - -“Your son is no better. All last night he was delirious under the -raging violence of the fever. The doctors say but little. I have deemed -it right to call in additional medical aid. Rest assured, sir, that all -shall be done that medicine and careful attention can accomplish. I was -with him all last night, and shall remain constantly by his side. All -that human power can do shall be done; the result is with Him in whose -hands are the issues of life.” - -The whole letter, up to the last sentence, deeply agitated Mr. -Townsend; but that sentence, like a knell of doom, subdued the wild -struggles of human passion, and crushed all suddenly down into -hopelessness. He had already discovered that there was a Power above -the human will, and a Disposer of events against whose designs human -prudence was nothing; and he felt that into the hands of this higher -Power he had come, with his very household treasures as well as his -worldly wealth, and that these, too, or a part of these, were to be -taken away. Thus, the very words meant to suggest confidence and -resignation, destroyed the balance of his mind, and overwhelmed it with -the thickest clouds. - -At home, he found an anxious and agitated circle awaiting him. - -“He is no better,” he said, as he entered the room where his wife and -daughter were sitting. - -Tears followed the announcement, that were renewed when the letter he -had received was read. - -Anxiously passed another day. Mr. Townsend was at the post-office, -impatiently awaiting the opening of the mail, long before it could -be distributed; but there was no letter. The southern mail had been -delayed beyond Richmond. Two letters came to hand on the next day. -That of the last date was torn open and read, with eyes that took in -sentences rather than words. It ran thus: - -“I wrote you yesterday, stating that there were some favorable -symptoms; that the fever had yielded to the efforts of Mr. Townsend’s -physicians. To-day he lies in a very low state. Life seems scarcely -to beat in his pulses. But still there is life, and the disease has -abated; we may, therefore, confidently hope that the vital spark will -slowly rekindle. The attack was most malignant, and bore him down with -great rapidity. To-morrow I hope to be able to say that every thing is -progressing toward recovery.” - -“God grant that the issue may be favorable!” murmured the father, as -he crushed the letter in his hand, and hurried away toward the anxious -ones at home. - -It was the first prayer that had ever ascended from the heart of -the merchant--the first deeply-felt acknowledgment of his own -powerlessness, and dependence upon a Supreme Being. - -To the mother and sister this last intelligence brought a ray of hope, -feeble though it was, and scarcely to be called light. - -Three days more went by, and in all that time--an age of -suspense--there came no word of the sick son and brother. - -“Has there been a failure of the southern mail?” asked Mr. Townsend -every day. The answer “No,” fell each time upon his feelings like a -stroke from a hammer; for to his mind it indicated the worst. If there -had been any improvement, the clerk would most certainly have written. - -At last another letter came. It was brought to the house of Mr. -Townsend by his clerk immediately on the arrival and distribution of -the mail. The merchant had not been out that day. His distress of mind -had become so great that he could attend to no business. This letter -he received as he sat in the midst of his family. He did not break -the seal until the servant who handed it in had retired. A short time -before the letter came, he was walking about the room in an agitated -manner, listening for the ringing of the street bell, as it was full -time for his clerk to be there from the post-office, and had just -seated himself with a deep sigh. Now he was calm, and broke the seal -with strange deliberation. - -“I have waited three days in the hope of having favorable news to send -you; but, alas! I have waited in vain. Your son expired--” - -A heavy groan broke from the lips of the unhappy father as the letter -fell from his nerveless hand; and at the same time a wild cry of -anguish burst from the mother’s heart. Eunice alone was externally -calm, though she felt the bereavement as deeply, perhaps, as any; but -it was not felt in the same way. It did not strike down, as in the -father’s case, the selfish hopes of a worldly mind. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - - MENTAL PROSTRATION. - - -Mr. Carlton, minister of the church to which the family of Mr. Townsend -belonged, learned, through the newspapers, on the next day, the deep -affliction that had been sustained; and, prompted by a sense of duty, -repaired immediately to the house of mourning. He found the merchant -alone, pacing the floor of the darkened parlor. - -“My dear sir,” he said, as he took the hand of the wretched man, “I -need not say how deeply I sympathize with you in this melancholy -bereavement, the fact of which I learned but half an hour ago. To lose -so good a son, in the first ripe years of manhood, is, indeed, an -affliction, and one for which there seems, at first, no solace.” - -“There is none, Mr. Carlton,” returned the father, with something stern -and indignant in the tone of his voice. - -“Say not so, Mr. Townsend,” replied the minister. “There is a balm for -every wound--a solace for every affliction. He who sends sorrow, will -surely send the power to bear it, and enable the sufferer, like the -bee, to extract honey even from a noxious plant. All that we are made -to endure here, is for our good.” - -“So it is said, but I cannot believe it, Mr. Carlton. Is it good for me -to lose my son? Is it good that the very hope and pride of my family -should be stricken down, like a young and goodly tree, by the lightning -of heaven? No, it is not good!” - -“God, in his very essence, is goodness, Mr. Townsend. His very -nature, as well as his name, is love. Too wise to err, too good to be -unkind, every event that takes place under his Divine appointment -or permission, must, in some way, regard man’s highest and best -interest--in other words, his eternal interest.” - -“But what has the death of my son to do with my eternal interest?” -asked the merchant. “I must own that I see no connection between the -two things whatever.” - -“The connection between acts and events in time, Mr. Townsend, and -effects which are spiritual, can rarely, if ever, be traced in the -present; but, notwithstanding this, nothing is truer than that whatever -occurs in a man’s life, whether it be a prosperous or adverse event, -a joyous or afflictive dispensation, is permitted or ordained for his -good--not his natural, but his spiritual good.” - -“It may be, but I cannot understand it,” said Mr. Townsend, sadly. - -“Reflect, but for a moment,” urged the minister, “and I am sure it -will be plain to your mind. We are spiritually organized beings, the -creatures of a wise, good, and eternal God, who has stamped upon our -souls the impress of immortality. We are not made for time, but for -eternity; and, therefore, time to us and all that appertains to it, -must refer to and involve what is eternal. The great error of our lives -is, a resting in the things of time and sense as real and substantial -things, and to be most desired, when they are only intended to be the -means of our spiritual purification and elevation. To so rest is to -look down at the things that are beneath, and which will perish in a -little while, instead of looking upward at those substantial things -which endure forever. Now, from the very nature of our Heavenly Father, -he must ever be seeking to lift our minds above these natural and -unsubstantial affections, into the love of such things as are eternal; -and in order to do this, he finds it often necessary to break our -natural loves, as with a hammer of iron, lest they become so selfish -and inordinate as to extinguish all love for what is good and true, -and thus render us unfitted for the pure, unselfish joys of heaven. It -is far better for us, Mr. Townsend, to suffer the destruction of our -natural hopes, and the blighting of our natural affections, if by these -means eternal hopes are rekindled in our minds, and the love of things -spiritual and eternal formed in our hearts.” - -To this, Mr. Townsend was silent. Only to a limited extent did he feel -it to be true, and as far as he saw it did his heart rebel against it. -He had no affection for any thing beyond this world, and the crossing -and crushing of these affections, he felt to be the greatest calamity -he could suffer. The things of this world were good enough for him, -and he was content to enjoy them forever, if the boon could only be -granted; any interference with this enjoyment he could not but feel as -uncalled for and arbitrary. - -This was his state of mind, which had changed, at least, in one -important feature during the lapse of two years. There was a time, -when, in the pride of success and conscious power, he had fully -believed, with the fool, as well as said in his heart, “There is no -God.” But, he had realized, by painful and disheartening experiences, -that there was an invisible and all-potent Being, who governed in the -affairs of men, and determined the course of events at will. Against -such interference, as he impiously felt it to be, his heart arose, -angry and rebellious. - -Mr. Carlton, who remembered the conversation held with the merchant -two years previously, saw precisely the change that had taken place. -He was aware that Mr. Townsend had met with a number of heavy -losses in business, and these, with the distressing bereavement now -sustained, fully explained the cause of his altered state. He had hope, -notwithstanding the present aspect of his thoughts and feelings, that, -in the end, light would break in upon the darkness of his mind, and -peace reign where all was now agitation. - -The minister’s interview with the other members of the family, -except Eunice, was little more satisfactory than that held with Mr. -Townsend. Time enough had not elapsed for the stricken heart of the -mother to react under the dreadful blow. To all Mr. Carlton’s words of -consolation, tears were her only response. And it was just the same -with Eveline. But Eunice seemed to forget her own pain of mind in the -sympathetic concern she felt for her mother and father, and in her -efforts to dry up their tears, her own ceased to flow. Thus it is, -that in attempting to sustain others in affliction, our own hearts are -comforted. Love is doubly blessed. - -“They are passing through deep waters,” said Mr. Carlton to himself, -thoughtfully, as he pursued his way homeward, “but they will not be -overwhelmed. They are in the fire of affliction, but the Refiner and -Purifier sits by, and not an atom of what is good and true in them -shall be consumed. It is painful now, but I trust that I shall yet see -them come forth with rejoicing.” - -For some weeks Mr. Townsend had no heart to enter into any of the -details of his business, nor to look at what was passing around him in -the business world. He experienced a mental prostration that approached -almost to paralysis. And it was the same with his wife, who, since -the news of her son’s death, had not left her chamber, nor spoken a -cheerful word. - -But, only for a short time longer, did this continue. Then there came -another blow, sudden and appalling, that struck them down to the very -earth. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - - A GREAT DISASTER. - - -Mr. Townsend left his home one morning, and was passing slowly along -the street, in the direction of his counting-room, when a business -friend, who was walking on the opposite side of the street, came -briskly over on seeing him, and asked, in an agitated voice, - -“Have you heard the news from Philadelphia?” - -“No; what is it?” - -“The United States’ Bank has failed!” - -The face of Mr. Townsend became instantly pale, and he caught hold of -an iron railing to support himself. - -“Impossible!” he said, in a faint, husky voice. - -“It is too true. Do you hold any of the stock?” - -“Every dollar I am worth is there!” - -“Every dollar! Surely not, Mr. Townsend!” - -“I’m ruined! ruined! ruined!” murmured the wretched man, losing all -control of himself; “hopelessly ruined!” - -“Not so bad as that, I trust, sir. A large percentage of the stock will -no doubt be paid.” - -“When? Where? How? Hasn’t the Bank failed? And when did a bank fail and -a stockholder receive a dollar? Gracious heavens!” - -And with this ejaculation, Mr. Townsend turned away and walked hastily -in the direction of his place of business, murmuring to himself, -“Ruined! ruined! ruined!” - -At his counting-room he found a letter from a correspondent in -Philadelphia, announcing the failure of the Bank, but advising him by -all means not to sacrifice his stock, nor be alarmed at the low price -to which those interested in its depression would at first cause it to -fall. Mr. Townsend read over this letter, and then laying it aside, -murmured to himself, as he bowed his head upon a desk, - -“Ruined! ruined! ruined!” - -To this, and only to this conclusion, could his bewildered mind come. - -But, at length, the very extremity and almost hopelessness of the -condition into which he found himself so suddenly reduced, aroused his -mind into a more active state. - -“I must not sit idly here,” he said. “If any thing is to be saved, let -me try to save it. Not sell! Yes, I will sell at any price, turn the -proceeds into gold, and bury it in my cellar.” - -Under this new impulse, Mr. Townsend, after calming himself by a strong -effort of the will, left his counting-room for the purpose of obtaining -information as to the actual condition of the Bank, the price at which -the stock was held, and the ultimate probable result, as determined in -the minds of those who possessed the most accurate information. - -But he found every body astounded and bewildered at the unexpected -event. There was no quotation of the stock whatever, except at a very -low nominal price. Those who did, and those who did not, hold scrip, -alike spoke of the folly of selling at present. Every one said--“Wait.” - -The merchant returned to his counting-room, more undecided than when -he went out, and feeling quite as deeply impressed with the idea that -all was hopeless. The next thoughts that began to pervade his mind, -were of his family. No one at home knew of the particular disposition -that he had made of his property. His wife and daughters might hear -of the failure of the Bank, without having their hearts filled with -alarm, or dreaming that, in this event, was foreshadowed their fall -from affluence to poverty. For the present, at least, he determined to -keep them in ignorance of the approaching danger, while he watched the -progress of events, and seized upon the first favorable opportunity to -clutch, with a vigorous grasp, the remnant of his shattered fortune. -To do one thing his mind was made up, and that was to sell so soon as -there should be any thing like a settled state of the market, and the -stock from a uniform quotation begin to decline in price. If there was -an advance, he would hold on until there came appearance of depression, -and then sell, and invest the proceeds in ground rents, the only -security in which he had now a particle of faith. - -At last, the market became, to a certain extent, steady, but at -appallingly low rates. Even at these Mr. Townsend felt disposed to -sell, but every one said “No!” so emphatically, and so confidently -predicted an advance, that he hesitated and delayed, day after day, -week after week, and month after month, while the price still went -down, until shares that had cost him from a dollar and ten cents to -a dollar and twenty, were quoted at twenty cents nominally, and the -tendency still downward. - -To describe Mr. Townsend’s state of mind during the few months that -this steady decline in the price of shares continued, would be -impossible. No man could be more wretched than he was. Carefully did -he conceal from his family the condition of his affairs, fearing all -the time to look his wife or daughters steadily in the face, lest they -should read the truth in his eyes. - -In the mean time the precarious state of Mr. Townsend’s worldly affairs -became pretty well known in business circles, and all manner of -comments were made thereon. Every one could see and be astonished at -his folly in withdrawing his capital from commerce, in which he had -amassed a handsome fortune, and investing it in the stock of a single -institution, whose very name was a fraud upon the community, and ought -to have been a fact sufficiently conclusive to destroy all confidence -in its safety. Many were the conversations held on the subject, much -after this tenor: - -“Poor Townsend, I pity him.” - -“It’s more than I do, then. Any man who plays the fool, as he has, -deserves to lose his money. I have no charity for him. He had made two -or three hundred thousand dollars in fair, honest, regular trade, and -not content with that, must sell his ships and go to speculating in -western towns.” - -“He was certainly very indiscreet.” - -“Indiscreet! He was a fool! How any man, thoroughly educated as a -merchant, and in the habit of dealing in only such commodities as -possess an intrinsic value, could be so mad as to give forty or fifty -thousand dollars for lots in an imaginary western city, on the mere -word of a speculating sharper, passes my comprehension.” - -“One of the strange occurrences of the present strange times. Had -Townsend much money in United States’ Bank stock?” - -“Every dollar he is worth, I am told.” - -“It can’t be possible! What could have possessed him to make such a -disposition of his property?” - -“The blindest folly of which any man could be guilty.” - -“But this stock was considered the safest in the country. You can -hardly blame a man for investing his money therein.” - -“I blame any man for putting all he has in one adventure or security. -Nothing is absolutely certain here.” - -“And you really think Townsend has beggared himself?” - -“There is no doubt of it in the world. I have my information from those -who know. I don’t believe he is worth ten thousand dollars, if all he -has were turned into cash, and his debts paid.” - -“He still maintains his old style of living.” - -“Yes, but that will not last long. You’ll see a different order of -things before long. I can’t have much sympathy for him. Townsend, in -his best days, was a hard man, and never had the slightest sympathy for -one who happened to be unfortunate in business. You remember Elderkin’s -failure, about three years ago?” - -“Very well.” - -“I was one of the creditors, and attended all the meetings. Townsend -was the most unyielding of all. I shall never forget the insulting -language he used to poor Elderkin, who was honest at heart, if ever -there was an honest man in the world. Every one noticed it, and felt it -as an outrage. ‘No man who properly attends to his business,’ he said, -‘need fail.’” - -“Indeed! That is his view of the case.” - -“I have heard him express it more than a dozen times.” - -“I wonder what he thinks now?” - -“He has not changed his mind, I presume. Nothing in the history of his -own affairs, rightly viewed, would cause him to do so.” - -“They who stand too high may chance to fall.” - -“Yes; and the higher they stand, the more disastrous will be their -fall.” - -“I wonder what old Pascal’s son thinks of all this?” - -“Rather ask what Pascal himself thinks of it. In my opinion, there’s -a match broken off. Eveline ought to have secured her lover long and -long ago. She has had time enough. But I doubt not it is too late now. -Pascal loves money too well to let his son marry a portionless bride.” - -“Won’t Henry consult his own fancy in the matter?” - -“If he does, it will not run off in a tangent to that of his father’s, -I presume. He knows the value of money too well, indifferent as he is -about making it.” - -“Eveline is a beautiful girl. I feel sorry for her.” - -“So do I. But it can’t be helped. She’s somewhat proud and haughty. Her -sister Eunice is the flower of that flock. I don’t know a sweeter young -girl.” - -“She ought to have been married long ago.” - -“And so she would, I am told, if her father had not interfered.” - -“To whom?” - -“To some young man, who, not being rich enough, was not considered good -enough.” - -“Then there is some chance for her now.” - -“I don’t know. Perhaps the young man loved her father’s money quite as -well as he loved her, and will now change his mind altogether. Ah me! -It is wonderful how a man’s views and opinions will alter under the -force of a money-argument.” - -Thus the gossip ran. - -As for old Mr. Pascal, to whom allusion was made in this conversation, -he had his eyes about him, and his ears open to all that concerned Mr. -Townsend. Long before the failure of the United States Bank, he had -seen enough to make him dissatisfied with the proposed alliance, and, -as has been shown, endeavored to induce his son to give up all idea -of marrying Eveline. Immediately upon the failure of the Bank, in the -stock of which he had some twenty or thirty thousand dollars invested, -he said to his son: - -“Henry, nearly every dollar of Mr. Townsend’s property is locked up in -the stock of this institution.” - -“It cannot surely be!” returned the son, evincing surprise and concern. - -“It is true, Henry. Mr. Townsend has acknowledged it himself, and -declared that the failure had ruined him. You will see the necessity -for breaking off all connection with the family, and you had better do -it at once.” - -“There seems something so mercenary and heartless in that,” said the -young man. - -“As to its seeming, Henry, you have nothing to do with that,” replied -Mr. Pascal. “You are, certainly, not so mad as to think of connecting -yourself with this family now, when your position gives you the chance -of forming an alliance with one of the best and wealthiest in the city. -In six months, take my word for it, Mr. Townsend will be bankrupt. Are -you prepared to marry the daughter with that certainty staring you in -the face?” - -“I hardly think I am.” - -“Believe me that such a certainty exists.” - -Under this assurance, Henry Pascal began the work of withdrawing -himself from the society of Eveline. The death of her brother caused -her to exclude herself from company almost entirely, so that he rarely -saw her abroad. To meet her, he had to visit her. Instead of calling -every week, and sometimes two or three times a week, his visits were -made at longer intervals, were briefer, while his manner was more -reserved. - -There was something so deliberately heartless in this, that the young -man shrunk in shame from the image of himself that was reflected in his -own mind. The act lost him his self-respect; but such was the potency -of the influences acting within and without him, that he steadily -persevered in his design, until finally all intercourse between him and -Eveline was at an end. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - - CONSEQUENCES. - - -From the deep grief into which the death of her brother, to whom she -was fondly attached, had plunged the mind of Eveline, she was aroused -by a sudden suspicion of the defection of her lover. There was a -change, not to be mistaken, in his manner, and his visits were far less -frequent. Pride, native independence, and a feeling of indignation, all -arose, and lent their aid to sustain her; but, actively as they exerted -their influence, they were not effective in calming the wild pulsations -of a wounded heart; for Eveline truly loved the faithless Pascal. At -last, and before any suspicion of the real cause of his estrangement -had come to the maiden’s mind, the lover ceased to visit her altogether. - -Nearly a month had elapsed since he had called to see Eveline, and she -was in a state of tremulous doubt and anxiety. She had been out on a -short visit to a friend--the first time she had been in the street for -a week--when, in returning home, her eyes suddenly fell upon Pascal a -short distance in advance of her. He was approaching. The heart of -Eveline gave a sudden strong bound, and then fluttered in her bosom. At -the instant she saw the young man, his eyes met hers. She continued to -look at him as they drew near, but his eyes turned from her face, and -fixed themselves upon some object beyond. He passed without noticing -her. - -Eveline felt, for a few moments, as if she would suffocate. It required -her utmost efforts and presence of mind to keep from losing command -of herself in the street. She had walked on a few squares farther, -when the face of a young lady friend, to whom she was much attached, -presented itself among the passengers on the side-walk. Eveline paused, -and was about speaking, when the young lady nodded coldly and passed -on. Another friend whom she met, appeared under restraint as she -exchanged greetings with her, and then, after a few brief inquiries as -to how she was and had been, moved away. - -Not less surprised than pained was Eveline at these unlooked-for marks -of estrangement in old friends. On arriving at home, she ran up into -her chamber, and, after closing the door and laying off her bonnet, -threw herself upon a bed and gave way to a violent burst of grief. -In the midst of this wild excitement of feeling, Eunice came in, and, -seeing the agitation of her sister, inquired, with much concern, -the cause. A more passionate gush of tears was the only answer she -received. After the mind of Eveline had, in a measure, grown calm, she -said, in reply to the affectionate inquiries of Eunice, - -“I met Henry in the street, and he did not speak to me.” - -“He could not have seen you, sister,” replied Eunice, in an earnest -voice; “I am sure he could not.” - -“And I am sure he did, for he looked me in the face.” And the tears -of Eveline flowed afresh. “He has not been to the house for a month. -Something is wrong. I met Mary Grant, and she, instead of stopping -with her usual pleasant smile, nodded coldly and passed on. I also -saw Adelaide Winters, who merely paused a moment, and spoke in a very -distant way. What can it all mean, Eunie? I am sure there must be some -dreadful story told about me, or why would my friends treat me so -distantly, and Henry, above all things, refuse to know me?” - -And again the maiden wept bitterly. - -“Whatever evil judgment there may be of you, Evie,” said Eunice, with -great tenderness, drawing her arm around the neck of Eveline as she -spoke, “is a false judgment. And however painful the consequences may -be, you have, in the conscious innocence of any wrong, that to sustain -you which will keep your head above the waters. If Henry’s trust in -you be so poorly based, that it can be blown away by a breath of -detraction--if he be so ready to believe an evil report against you--he -never could have really known you or truly loved you, and, therefore, -is himself not worthy the pure love of your heart. It may cost you a -severe struggle to do so, but, Evie, give him up! Erase his image from -your heart. Pardon me for saying now, what I have always thought, that -Henry Pascal is not worthy of you.” - -Eveline started at this, with an indignant expression on her face -and word on her tongue; but she checked herself as she met the calm, -truthful, loving eyes of her sister fixed earnestly upon her. - -“I have uttered what was in my heart, Evie. That my impression has been -as I have said, I cannot help. Of the truth of it, I have not a doubt. -To speak out as I feel, and yet as the sister who loves you truly, I -will go farther, and say, that I am glad of almost any circumstance -that would try his affection for you, and more glad that he has turned -away coldly from one he was not capable of loving as she deserved. -Time, Evie, will prove you the truth of what I now say.” - -The language of Eunice completely bewildered the mind of Eveline. It -was so strange and so unexpected. She knew not what reply to make. - -“All will come out right in the end, Evie,” pursued Eunice. “Trust in -that, sister, and trust in it implicitly. As Mr. Carlton showed so -beautifully last Sunday, there is not the smallest circumstance of our -lives that is not in some way connected with our future, and which the -future will not show to be a link in a progressive series of causes, -all tending to bring out some good result. If Henry has suffered his -mind to be estranged from you, no matter what may be the cause, depend -upon it that it is for the best. This you will one day see. Be brave, -then, dear Evie, to meet the present danger; and let the reflection, -that whatever occurs, whether joyous or grievous, is under the Divine -permission, support you in the trial.” - -The head of Eveline sunk upon the breast of her sister, and her tears -continued to flow; but the deep agitation of her bosom had subsided. An -hour after, and she was calm; but her face was pale, and the marks of -suffering were upon it. She was still alone with her sister. They had -been sitting silent for some time, when Eveline said-- - -“I am distressed in doubt of the cause of this sudden change manifested -toward me. What can it mean, Eunice? Something dreadful has been said -about me.” - -“It may be nothing about you, in particular, sister.” - -“About all of us? What can be said about all of us?” - -The eyes of Eunice grew dim as she replied-- - -“Have you noticed how distressed father has looked for some time?” - -“Yes, ever since we heard of brother’s death.” - -“But there is another cause besides that for his distress of mind, -Evie; I am sure of it. Grief for even those most tenderly beloved, -is softened by time, but father looks more troubled every day. -_Troubled_--yes, that is the word. It is not grief that bows him down, -sister, depend upon it, but trouble.” - -“Trouble? What can he have to trouble him?” - -“Much, I fear. You know the United States Bank failed a few months ago, -and that ever since much has been said in the papers about the terrible -destruction in private fortunes that it occasioned. Do you know that I -have been impressed, ever since that event, with the idea that father -has sustained a heavy loss?” - -“What could have put that into your head, Eunie?” asked Eveline. - -“I will tell you. A good while ago, I remember hearing father say to a -gentleman with whom he was talking, that he believed he would retire -from business and invest every dollar he had in the stock of the United -States Bank, which he considered the safest security in the country. -You know he has given up business; and is it not more than probable -that he has done what he then proposed to do?” - -“You frighten me, sister!” exclaimed Eveline, the expression of her -face not belieing her words. “Do you think he has lost every thing?” - -“I know nothing about it, Eveline. I only state my fears, for which I -think there are too good grounds. Ever since the failure of the Bank, -this has been in my mind, although I have never breathed it before. -Carefully, since that time, have I read all that has been said about -the Bank, and particularly noticed the price at which the stock has -sold. It is now down to twenty cents a share, the par value of which -is one hundred dollars. If father really did own much of this stock, -and has kept it until now, in hope of a better price, you can see how -heavily he must have lost. And if he still holds on to it, and the -price still keeps going down, he may lose nearly every dollar he is -worth.” - -“Dreadful! What will become of us all?” - -With a meek, patient, humble expression of face, Eunice raised her eyes -and said, in a low, earnest voice-- - -“The Lord will provide.” - -Then, with a look of encouragement, and even a smile upon her lips, she -added-- - -“Let us not think of ourselves, sister, but of our father. Let us seek -to lighten this heavy burden, if it should, indeed, be laid upon his -shoulder.” - -“How are we to do that, Eunice?” - -“In many ways. If father’s circumstances should really be so greatly -reduced, as I have been led to fear, we will have to change our style -of living, for the present style cannot be maintained, except at a -heavy expense. This change he will be compelled to make in the end, but -may delay it long beyond a prudent time in dread of shocking us with a -knowledge of what has occurred. Let us, then, the moment we are sure -that things are as I have been led to fear, ourselves with cheerfulness -propose and insist upon the change, and it will take from his mind more -than half the pain the reverse has occasioned. Let us, in this and in -every other way, help him to bear up; and, above all things, let us -be cheerful, so that home may be the sweetest place to him in all the -earth. Evie, we may have a sacred duty to perform toward our parents; -let us perform it with brave hearts and cheerful countenances.” - -“I stand rebuked, dear sister!” said Eveline, tenderly kissing Eunice. -“You are younger, but oh! how much better and wiser. You shall guide -me. Only show the way, and I will walk bravely by your side. Yes, it -may all be as you say, and the world may know it, while we yet remain -in ignorance. And this may be the reason why lover and friend have -grown cold!” - -Eveline’s voice trembled on the last sentence. - -“Neither lover nor friend deserve the name, if such a change can chill -their hearts’ warm impulses,” returned Eunice, with some emphasis in -her voice. - -The idea suggested by Eunice, took strong hold of the mind of Eveline, -and helped to sustain her under the deep trial the defection of her -lover compelled her to bear. Both observed their father more closely -than either had done before, and the observation confirmed, rather than -weakened, the conclusions to which Eunice had come. It was plain that -something more than the death of their brother preyed upon his mind. -The silent, gloomy, troubled state into which he had fallen, was as -unaccountable to Mrs. Townsend as to Eveline and Eunice, and even more -so; for the idea that had occurred to the mind of the latter, had never -crossed hers, as was plain from her replies to their questions on the -subject. - -Anxiously did the daughters wait for some occurrence that would reveal -to them the truth in regard to their father, resolute in their minds -to stand up bravely by his side, let what would come, and forget -themselves in their efforts to sustain him. They were not kept long in -suspense. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - - LIGHT IN DARKNESS. - - -At twenty cents the stock remained only for a brief space of time, and -then kept on steadily receding in price, each new record of its decline -marking itself upon the feelings of Mr. Townsend, in darker characters. -He came in and went out, scarcely feeling the ground under him, and -with a sensation as if the earth were about opening at his feet, and -engulphing him. He tried to eat, when he sat down at the table with -his family, but the food left little or no impression of taste on his -palate. He strove, sometimes, to appear at ease and converse; but his -words were not coherent, and he did not hear what was said to him, as -was evident from his responses. - -At last the price of shares fell to ten cents. Hitherto, from one cause -and another, Mr. Townsend had put off selling his stock at the ruinous -rates at which it was quoted in the market, under the fallacious hope -that an advance would take place. When it was eighty cents on the -dollar, notwithstanding his first wise determination, to sell at any -price that it would bring, the resolution to diminish his fortune, -already reduced nearly one half, by a positive sacrifice of over forty -thousand dollars--the difference between what he had paid for his stock -and the selling price--he could not bring himself to take. He looked at -this large sum, and at what would be left, and was unable to exercise -the firmness required to cut it off. The whole amount of his investment -in United States Bank stock, had been one hundred and forty thousand -dollars, at an average of ten per cent. above par. Since the failure of -the Bank, nearly every thing beyond this had been lost by the failure -of individuals; and what was still worse, notes of hand amounting to -nearly ten thousand dollars, which had been turned into cash, came back -unpaid, and in default of his immediately honoring them, had been sued -out against him as the endorser. Thus did his affairs become more and -more a tangled web, and his mind fell more and more into irresolution -and confusion. - -When the stock fell to seventy, in a moment of desperation, he -determined to sell every share, and thus save a certain remnant. He -called upon a broker, and ordered him to effect a sale for him without -delay. - -“At what rate?” asked the broker. - -“At the last quotation--seventy cents.” - -“That was but nominal,” replied the broker. “No sales, to my knowledge, -were made at that price.” - -“In the name of heaven, then, what will it bring?” said Townsend, much -disturbed. - -“That is hard to say. But, I should suppose, sixty-five might be -obtained.” - -“Sixty-five?” - -“I doubt if a cent more could be had for so large an amount as you have -to sell. Its offer would, alone, depress the market.” - -“Sixty-five! sixty-five!” said Mr. Townsend, to himself, in a -distressed, irresolute voice. “No, no, I cannot think of selling for -that. The stock must get better.” - -“I would not like to encourage you to hope so,” said the broker. - -“If you can get sixty-nine you may sell. I made up my mind to seventy, -the quoted rates.” - -“Very well; I will make the effort,” returned the broker. - -On the next day, Mr. Townsend was informed that the broker had received -an offer of sixty-eight, but had refused it. - -“Couldn’t you get sixty-nine?” - -“No, sir. Sixty-seven was the highest offer, except in a single -quarter.” - -“I don’t like to sell at that, and throw over fifty thousand dollars -into the fire.” - -“It is hard, but my advice to you is, to take the offer.” - -“I will think of it,” replied Mr. Townsend; and he went away to think. -In the afternoon he returned, and directed the sale to be made at -sixty-eight. On the next morning he received a note from the broker, -stating that the market had receded greatly from the rates of the last -few days, and that the party did not feel bound to take the stock, as -the offer of sixty-eight had been at first declined. - -“Confusion!” ejaculated the unhappy merchant, stamping passionately -upon the floor. - -“Pray, sir, what rates can be obtained?” he asked of the broker, in an -excited tone, as he entered his office ten minutes afterward. - -“I do not think sales can be effected at any price to-day,” was -replied. “All is doubt and uncertainty about the stock. I should not -wonder to see it down to fifty, within a week.” - -“Fifty! Good heavens! Never!” - -“I hope not; but things look squally.” - -“Had I better take sixty-five, if I can get it?”---- - -“Yes, or sixty either. My advice is, sell at the first offer.” - -“Very well, get me an offer as soon as you can.” - -The offer came in a few days; it was fifty-seven dollars. - -“Fifty-seven!” ejaculated Mr. Townsend. “That’s out of the question!” - -“It’s the best I can do for you.” - -“I’m sorry; but I can’t take that. I am willing to let it go at sixty.” - -And thus the downward course progressed. The unhappy merchant, by -clinging to a few hundreds in the hope of saving them, daily losing -thousands. When the price at last fell to twenty, he gave up in a kind -of despair, and awaited, in gloomy inactivity, the final result. At -length, ten dollars, for what had cost a hundred and ten, were all that -could be obtained. - -Up to this time, Mr. Townsend had concealed from his family the -desperate state of his affairs. But now, the necessity for breaking to -them a knowledge of his real condition, had come; for the maintenance -of his present style of living, costing from five to six thousand -dollars, annually, was impossible. All that he now really possessed in -the world was his bank stock, which would net him less than fourteen -thousand dollars. The house in which he lived was his property, and -had cost between fifteen and sixteen thousand dollars, but judgment -had been obtained against him for the notes upon which suit had been -brought, and the house would have to go for its satisfaction. - -Sadly impressed with the folly of longer delay lay in bringing to the -minds of his wife and daughters a knowledge of the great reverse he had -sustained, Mr. Townsend returned one evening from his counting-room, -to which he repaired every day; not because business called him there, -but because home was oppressive to him. He had learned from her mother, -the fact that Henry Pascal had broken off all intercourse with Eveline, -and had even passed her without notice in the street. He knew too -well the cause, and the subdued yet sad face of his daughter, and the -earnestness with which she would look at him when he came in, troubled -him deeply. He did not know what was in her heart. - -As was usual with him, he entered quietly, and seating himself alone in -the parlor, took a book in his hand, not for the purpose of reading, -but to appear as if he was doing so, to any one who came in. The hour -was that of twilight, ere the shadows had fallen thickly. Only a few -minutes elapsed before Eveline and Eunice entered, and came to his -side. At the moment they opened the door, they noticed that he had -leaned his head down upon his hand, and that his book was in such a -position that his eyes could not possibly read a line. This posture was -instantly changed, and Mr. Townsend, in order to remove the impression -it was likely to make, smiled as he spoke to his daughters; a thing he -had not attempted for months to do. But it was only the faint semblance -of a smile, and did not deceive them. - -“Dear papa!” said Eunice, tenderly, as she laid her hand upon him on -one side, and Eveline did the same on the other, “you are not happy, -and have not been so for a long time; tell us the reason, and let us -bear a part of the trouble which oppresses you.” - -Taken thus by surprise, Mr. Townsend had great difficulty in -controlling himself. The affectionate consideration of his children, -so unexpected, touched him deeply. Many moments passed before he could -trust himself to speak. Then he said, with ill-concealed emotion: - -“Why do you think I am troubled, children?” - -“You have looked troubled for a great while, papa. Whatever the cause -may be, if we cannot remove it, we are sure that we can lighten the -effects. Trust us, at least, and be sure of one thing, that we are -prepared to stand by your side, cheerfully, let what will come.” - -“Eunice!” said the father, speaking with sudden energy, while an -expression of pain settled upon his face, “you know not what you say! -It will take stouter hearts than beat in your bosoms to meet that -trial. Still, I thank you for this unexpected expression of your -affection, as well as for the opportunity it affords me to say what -must no longer be kept back. My children, fortune, that smiled upon me -for years, no longer smiles--all, all is changed.” - -“We have believed as much,” replied the daughters, speaking together; -“do not fear for us. We are prepared for the worst.” - -“Prepared to sink from affluence into poverty? To give up this home, -where all is luxury and elegance, and go down into obscurity, perhaps -privation and labor?” - -“Yes, father,” said Eunice, in a calm yet earnest voice. “Of all the -good gifts which Providence placed in your hands, we have had our full -share; and shall we hesitate or repine when reverses come? No; fear not -to tell us all.” - -Mr. Townsend hardly knew what to say or think at such unexpected words. -With himself the bitterness had passed; it was for his family that his -heart ached, and from the thoughts of breaking to them the dreadful -intelligence that he shrunk. But the way had been made, unexpectedly, -plain before him; so plain that he could hardly believe himself awake, -or venture to put his foot forth to walk therein. - -“My children!” he said, with much emotion, “you speak to me strange -words. I can hardly believe that I hear them.” - -“But they are true words,” promptly replied Eunice, “for they come from -our hearts. And now let us know the worst, that we may prepare for the -worst. Of course we must leave this house and move into a smaller one.” - -“Yes, that step is inevitable,” returned the father, his voice sinking -again into sadness. - -“And the more cheerfully it is taken, the less shall we feel the -change,” said Eunice. - -“But, can you give up all? Can you sink down from the first circle into -obscurity? Can you give up your associations and friendships? Ah! my -children, you have not counted the cost.” - -“We have, fully, and are ready,” was the firm reply. - -After the silence of a few moments, Mr. Townsend said-- - -“What has been, perhaps, too long concealed from you, I will now -reveal. Three years ago, I was worth three hundred thousand dollars, -and believed myself beyond the danger of a reverse. At a time when -I thought myself most firmly established, losses came, and followed -each other in quick succession. I became alarmed, and my mind was -thrown into confusion. From that time every thing I have done has been -wrong--every move I have made, has been a false move. The last, and -the one that has swept from me the remainder of my shattered fortune, -was the investment of my money in United States Bank stock, which I -considered as safe as any thing in the country. That for which I paid a -hundred and forty thousand dollars, is now worth but little over ten or -twelve thousand, and, judging from the past, will not be worth half of -that in a month.” - -“Then why not sell it and save that little?” said Eunice, in a tone of -decision that made Mr. Townsend lift his eyes to her face. The failing -light gave him but an indistinct view of its expression. - -“I shall do it immediately,” he replied. “You understand, now, my -children,” he added, “precisely the nature of my circumstances, and -how low we have fallen. To maintain our present style of living, would -exhaust our little remnant of property in two years.” - -“But of that folly we will not be guilty,” said Eunice. “Let us -withdraw quickly from our present position, and retire into one that -corresponds to our altered circumstances. We may be just as happy in -that as we have ever been in this. I am sure that Eveline and I will; -and, if you will let us, we will make you so.” - -“God bless you! my children,” said the father, as he drew an arm -around each: “you have taken a mountain-weight from me. With such -true, loving-hearted, cheerful companions in adversity, I feel that it -will not be hard to bear. Why did I not know you better? Why did I not -confide in you sooner?” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - MORE REVERSES. - - -In a far different spirit did Mrs. Townsend receive the news of their -altered circumstances. It broke her down completely for a time. But -the example of Eveline and Eunice, in a cheerful submission to what -was unavoidable, gradually tended to give her strength of mind, and to -nerve her for her new and severer duties in life. - -The first step taken was to procure a smaller house in a retired part -of the town, move into it, and reduce expenses at every point, so as to -make them, in some measure, correspond to their reduced circumstances. -In the carrying of this out, Eveline and Eunice were foremost, and -acted with a decision and energy that, while it surprised, gave -strength and hope to the minds of their parents. - -When Mr. Townsend made sale of his stock, which was in a few days -after the interview with his children related in the last chapter, the -price had fallen still lower. The net proceeds were just ten thousand -dollars. Shortly afterward, his house was sold to satisfy the judgment -mentioned as having been obtained against him. - -To sit idly down and live upon this little remnant of his fortune, -until exhausted, was not to be thought of by Mr. Townsend. Something -must be done, not only to gain the means of present subsistence, and -keep the little stock undiminished, but also to add to it, and lay the -basis of future wealth, after which Mr. Townsend resolved to strive. -Some business must be entered into. But the recollection of former -disasters filled his mind with doubt, and made him hesitate and ponder -long and anxiously the way before him. At length, he opened a store as -a commission merchant, thinking that the safest, and used his capital -in advancing upon goods. This was the aspect of things without. At -home, Eunice and Eveline were doing all in their power to smooth the -asperities of the change that had taken place, and to make every thing -conform to their father’s reduced means. This was their labor of love, -and in the performance of it they had a sweet reward. - -Still, they were not without their trials, and especially did the -heart of Eveline often sink in her bosom. Strong as was the feeling of -indignation with which she thought of her lover’s heartlessness, the -wounds his base desertion of her occasioned, healed but slowly, and -were often painful. Only a few of the many friends and companions of -brighter days sought them out in their retirement; and these were not -of those who had been most beloved; but they were better appreciated -now, and truly loved. - -Less than a year had passed, when Eunice said one day to her sister, -when alone with her-- - -“I am afraid every thing is not going right with father. He is getting -to be very silent, and looks troubled again.” - -“I have noticed as much myself,” returned Eveline, a look of anxiety -crossing her face. “What can it mean? I hope he has not lost in -business the little capital he saved.” - -“I trust not. But I have my fears. He was getting more and more -cheerful every day, when, all at once, there came a change. I noticed -it for the first time last week, when he came home one evening. Ever -since then, he sits silent and seems anxious about something.” - -The words of Eunice filled the mind of Eveline with alarm. The -change in their circumstances had been very great. But, although in -obscurity, and living with plainness and frugality, the means of living -had still been at hand. If, however, another reverse should have met -their father, and stripped from him the little remnant of his property, -how were they to retain the comforts they still enjoyed? This thought -chilled the heart of Eveline. A lower, yet still a firm step, she did -not see. - -“What is to become of us, if your fears are true?” she said, while her -lips trembled and her eyes grew dim. - -“Don’t let such a question find utterance in your thoughts, Evie,” -replied Eunice. “We must not look downward in human despondency, but -upward in spiritual trust. Let us not think of ourselves, nor of what -will become of us. All will come out right in the end. Of that I have a -deep assurance. We may be called upon to pass through severer trials, -and to make greater sacrifices, but the strength to meet the one, and -sustain the other, will be given. Evie, there are deeper places than -any we have yet gone through, but there is a bottom and a shore to all. -He who calls the soul to enter these dark and bitter waters, will not -suffer it to be overwhelmed. Here rests my strong confidence, and here -should rest yours, Evie.” - -“Ah! sister,” said the now weeping girl, “these deeper waters you speak -of, fill me with dismay. I tremble at the thought of entering them, and -shrink back in fear.” - -“Evie, do not give way to such weakness; it is unworthy of you. Life -comes with its lights and with its shadows for all; and as surely as -day follows night, will the darkness of these sad changes pass away; -and, even while it remains, many a bright star will shine in the mental -sky.” - -But still Eveline wept, and continued to weep until Eunice drew -her head down upon her breast, and soothed her with many words of -cheerfulness and hope. - -“I am like a child,” Eveline at length said, rising up with a calmer -face, and eyes now undimmed, “and your braver spirit shames my -weakness. But, I hope to be able, for all this, to stand firmly by your -side, sister, in any new and severer trial that may come.” - -“Spoken like yourself, Evie!” returned Eunice, with a smile. “Let us -not be doubtful but believing--let us be brave and strong, and no -difficulty shall beset our path that will not be easily overcome.” - -The observations of Eunice, as well as her conclusions, were correctly -made. Her father was in trouble, and she had guessed, as before, the -cause. - -Some months previously, he had received a large consignment of goods, -upon which an advance of five thousand dollars was asked. In order to -make this advance, Mr. Townsend had to get a small temporary loan. -The parties consigning the goods, required a guaranty of sales, and -this, although against his wishes, Mr. Townsend agreed to do. Over ten -thousand dollars worth of these goods were sold to one house, and that -house, before the notes given in payment for them had matured, failed. - -On the very day that Eunice called the attention of her sister to -their father’s depressed state of mind, a meeting of creditors was -held, at which it was made clearly apparent, that not twenty cents in -the dollar would be divided, and that, at least, twelve or eighteen -months must pass before the whole of this would be paid. Mr. Townsend -went back to his store, after the meeting had closed, with his mind in -a complete state of despondency. He felt that he was utterly ruined, -and hopelessly gave up the struggle. After writing to his principal -consignors, informing them of what had occurred, and stating that he -would make an assignment for their benefit, he left his place of -business, and returned home. On his way, he stopped at the store of a -druggist, and procured two ounces of laudanum. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - FAITH TRIED AND PROVED. - - -Eunice was sitting alone, and thinking about her father, and waiting -for him to return home. She had made up her mind to approach him on the -subject of his marked depression of spirits, and learn, if possible, -the cause. Eveline was in her own room, and her mother was attending -to some household duty. Many thoughts passed through the mind of the -true-hearted girl. She sat near the window, her eyes looking out upon -the street, but without noticing the passers-by, except as moving -forms indistinctly seen. Deeply had she been pondering, since her -conversation with Eveline, the subject about which they had spoken; and -now her mind was busy with suggestions as to what she could and would -do, if another and still more depressing misfortune had befallen her -father. The result of her thoughts was not altogether satisfactory. -Sacrifices, to almost any extent, she was willing to make, and she was -ready to do to the utmost of her ability; but, all was doubt in regard -to her father’s affairs; and, therefore, her own mind could come to -no fixed conclusions. While she sat thus, she noticed a man pause and -look up at the number of the house; and then ascend the steps and ring -the bell. His appearance was that of a porter, of ordinary laboring -man about a store. The bell was answered by a servant, and then the -man went away. While wondering what message he had left, the servant -entered the parlor, where she was sitting, and handed her a note, which -she said had been left for her. Eunice broke the seal of the envelope -and read: - -“DEAR EUNICE:--Two years and more have passed, since you bade me have -faith in time. I have had faith; I still have faith. Long ere this, -had my heart been consulted, I would have sought to know, from your -own lips, whether my faith might still rest in hope. But few weeks -have passed, during all that time, in which I have not looked upon -your face, at least once, and marked, with feelings that I cannot -well describe, the change that was gradually passing over it. To the -distressing events that have occurred since we met, I will not allude -further than to say, that their only effect upon me has been to make -you more beloved; and I cannot tell you how eager I have been to step -forward and tell you this. But, for many reasons that I need not state -at present, I deemed it best to restrain this ardent desire. Now, I -feel that the time has come for me to say that my heart yet beats in -the right place--that you are, as ever, the best beloved; nay, the only -loved. Eunice, shall my faith in time have its due reward? Do you still -feel toward me as you felt ere the interdiction of your father came in -between our heart’s best impulses, and their hoped-for consummation? -Let me hear from you, changed or unchanged. It is time, and full time, -that our future became the present. - - “Yours, as ever, - - “RUFUS ALBERTSON.” - -Hurriedly folding the letter, after she had read it, Eunice arose and -went quickly from the room. In her own chamber she felt more free to -think and feel. For a while every thing but her true-hearted lover was -forgotten. Sweet to her spirit, wearied and well-nigh overburdened, -were the words he had written, and the faith he still held sacred. -Since the stern interference of her father, she had met him but very -few times, and then under circumstances that prevented any free -interchange of sentiments. After the death of her brother, and the -subsequent fall of her family from affluence, she had lived so secluded -a life that no opportunity for a meeting had occurred. Except at -church, on the Sabbath, where she regularly attended, he never saw her, -after the change in her father’s circumstances had excluded her from -fashionable circles. - -Patiently had the young man waited for the work of time--patiently -and hopefully. The insult received from Mr. Townsend, on applying for -the hand of Eunice, stung him to the quick, and rankled long after. -But he loved Eunice tenderly and truly, and while he felt that she -obeyed, too implicitly, the arbitrary command of her father, he could -not but respect the filial deference with which she regarded an unjust -requirement. To him, it was a trial that proved the character of his -affection, and the result showed that it was of the right quality. - -Long before a suspicion of misfortune had come shadowing the hearts of -Mr. Townsend’s family, Albertson saw the cloud approaching, and knew -that reverses of the most serious character had visited the proud, -uncompromising merchant. Anxiously did he look on and watch the result. -The fact of his investment of nearly all he was worth in United States -Bank stock, he knew immediately after the failure of the Bank. He also -knew, that he did not sell until the stock fell to almost nothing. - -With a deep interest in the result, he saw Mr. Townsend again enter -business, with the small remnant of a large fortune as the basis of -his efforts, and struggle vigorously to recover himself. At this point -he would have come forward and renewed his application for the hand -of Eunice; but the manner of her father, whom he met occasionally in -business, was so cold, reserved, and haughty, that he deemed it wisest -to wait a little longer. - -At last, the final misfortune came. It happened that Jones, Claire, & -Co. were creditors of the failing house, the large sales to which Mr. -Townsend had guarantied, and Albertson represented his firm in the -meeting of creditors. At the last meeting, when it was clearly apparent -that the loss was well-nigh total, and that no dividend would be made -for a long time, he carefully noted the effect of the transpirance -of this fact upon the father of Eunice; and from what he saw, and his -knowledge of his affairs, he was satisfied that this failure would -totally ruin him, and that even the means of a moderate support for his -family would pass from his hands. - -It was now full time, he felt, for him to step forward, and, for the -sake of Eunice, renew his attentions and claim her hand. He therefore -sat down immediately, and wrote and dispatched the letter which Eunice -so unexpectedly received. Anxiously did he await a reply. Two days -passed, yet none came. On the third day, this brief answer was received: - -“DEAR ALBERT--Through all the trials and changes that I have been -called to meet, I have remained the same; and to know that your heart -is still true, fills me with inexpressible delight. Time is doing -its work, but all is not yet finished. I have still a sacred duty -to perform, that no considerations, personal to myself, can make me -forego. Still, Albert, dear Albert! let me repeat--Have faith in time. -I cannot say more at present. Write to me again. Write to me often. -Soon, very soon, I trust we shall meet and speak face to face as of old. - - “EUNICE” - -“Still have faith in time”, murmured Albertson, with some bitterness, -as he finished reading this letter. “Have I not had faith? Have I not -waited long and patiently?” - -But, after reading it over again, his feelings changed, and admiration -for the self-sacrificing spirit of the noble-hearted girl filled his -bosom. - -“Yes, yes, I will still wait. If so true as a daughter, what will she -not be as a wife? That sacred duty is some devotion of herself for the -well-being of her parents. I must learn what it is, and prevent it.” - - - - - CHAPTER XV. - - WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH. - - -When Mr. Townsend came home from his store, after learning that a total -wreck of his affairs had taken place, his mind was fully made up to -shrink away like a coward from his duties and responsibilities in life, -and not only leave his family helpless, friendless, and destitute, -but entail upon them the keenest affliction. His hope in life was -gone. He felt that there was an unseen, but all-potent and malignant -power, whose anger he had by some means invoked; and, to fly from its -persecutions, he resolved to end his earthly existence. - -Not long after Eunice went up to her chamber, he came in and retired -to his own room, firm in the purpose he had conceived. The more he -thought about it, the more desirable did it seem as a means of relief. -It would end at once and forever these hopeless struggles, and free -him from burdens and responsibilities he was unable to bear. The death -pangs would be but brief, and nothing in comparison to the anguish of -mind he was enduring. Of what was beyond the dark bourn of time, he did -not permit himself to think. It seemed to him as if there were nothing -beyond, except what was dreamy and indistinct--as if he would sink into -a lethargic calm, which would be heaven when compared with his present -wild state of suffering. - -“Has father come home yet?” suddenly fell upon his ears in the low, -sweet voice of Eunice, speaking close by the door of his chamber. - -He did not hear the reply, which was uttered in a lower tone. But the -question, asked with such an expression of affectionate interest as -it was, made his heart bound with a tender impulse. At the same time, -his hand, which had just sought, in his pocket, the vial containing the -fatal drug, was slowly withdrawn without accomplishing the mission upon -which it had been sent. - -“Has father come home yet?” He could not get the words out of his ears, -nor the loving tones in which they were uttered. - -“God bless the child!” he murmured, as thoughts of her and all she had -done to lighten the burdens he had been called upon to bear, pressed -themselves upon his mind. His meditated purpose was gone. He could not -effect it then; that was impossible. The tones of his daughter’s voice -had filled his mind with her presence, and in that presence he could -not consummate the dreadful act he had meditated. - -A few moments only passed, before there was a gentle tap at his door. -To his reluctant “come in,” Eunice entered, and approached her father, -who was seated in a remote part of the room. The expression of his face -startled her. It was deeply depressed, but there was in it something -more than depression. - -“Dear father!” she said, as she drew close to his side, “you are in -trouble. I have seen it for some time. Has all gone wrong again? Have -your efforts failed?” - -“Yes,” he replied, speaking with great bitterness, “all has gone wrong, -and this hour I am a beggar!” - -Eunice could with difficulty refrain from abandoning herself to tears -at this announcement, made in such a despairing voice. But, by an -effort, she controlled herself, and stood, for some time, silent by the -side of her father. She could not trust herself to speak for more than -the space of a minute. At last, she said, - -“Others have met with as great misfortunes, and have passed through -them; and so can we. Keep a brave heart, father; all will yet be well! -It is possible for us to live at far less than our present expense. We -can be just as happy in a smaller house; just as happy on a greatly -reduced income.” - -“But all is gone, Eunice! I have nothing. By a failure that occurred in -the city, a short time ago, I lost every dollar that I had. And now I -am done! To struggle is hopeless!” - -“Oh, say not that!” replied Eunice, with energy. “Say not that! The -darkest hour is just before the break of day. Hopeless? Oh, no! -There is no condition in life so depressed that hopelessness need -accompany it. How truly has it been said, that ‘despair is never quite -despair.’ In this last and severest of all your trials, while every -thing is dark around you, let me say, be of good cheer. We will stand -by your side; we will hold up your hands; we will be cheerful in all -extremities--nay, more, we will work with our own hands, if need be; -others have to do it, and it will be no harder for us.” - -In her enthusiasm, the beautiful face of the girl became almost -radiant, and her father felt her presence like that of an angel. - -“My dear child,” he said, in a voice all tremulous with emotion, “you -come to me in my darkest moments, a spirit of comfort, and speak words -of hope when I am sinking in despair. For this, if for nothing else, I -should be thankful to heaven--and I am thankful!” - -The strong man bowed his head, and though he struggled hard with his -feelings, the tears gushed from his eyes. - -“Dear father,” said Eunice, as soon as both had grown calm, for her -tears mingled with those of her parent, “from heaven we receive every -thing; and all that comes from heaven is good. Even reverses and -afflictions are good, for they come as correctives of something in us -that is evil, and whatever is evil causes unhappiness. Is it not good -to have the causes of unhappiness removed, even if we suffer pain in -the removal? We have spiritual diseases as well as natural diseases, -and pain attends the one as well as the other, and both would produce -death if not expelled. How beautifully has Mr. Carlton, over and over -again, set this forth! Is it not better, far better, to lose our -worldly goods, and to suffer in our natural feelings, if thereby we -attain to spiritual riches, and are blessed with that deep peace, which -the world gives not, neither can take away?” - -“May that deep peace be your reward, Eunice,” returned Mr. Townsend, in -a softened tone; “and it will be. Heaven would be unjust if you were -wretched. You are the spirit of good in our family; the righteous in -our city; and for your sake all will not be destroyed. I feel it. I -will hope for a morning dawn upon this thick darkness.” - -“It will dawn, father! Trust that it will; though not for my sake,” -returned Eunice. “But we must be faithful in a wise disposition of what -we have. We must be patient, industrious, prudent, and hopeful, and -after the trial hour passes, the light will come.” - -But little that Eunice said had been in her mind to say. She had not -conned over a form of address to her father, but had come, with a -loving heart, in the hope of saying something that would lift his mind -above the trouble by which it was oppressed. She had spoke, as the -Spirit gave her utterance--the spirit of yearning filial affection; and -her words were true and eloquent, because they came from an over-full -heart. And coming from the heart, they reached the heart, and their -effect was good. - -“Say nothing of all this, Eunice,” Mr. Townsend said, after his mind -had grown calm, and his thoughts began to move in a healthier circle. -“You have inspired me to a new trial. To-morrow, instead of abandoning -all, hopelessly, I will make an effort to sustain myself.” - -“And you will not conceal from me the result, even if it prove -unsuccessful?” - -“No, Eunice; you deserve my full confidence, and you shall have it.” - -“Even if you continue in business, it will be reduced very much,” the -daughter said, “after this entire loss of all your capital; and the -profits will not meet our present expenses.” - -“I fear not, Eunice;” and Mr. Townsend looked troubled. - -“Therefore, we must live at a less expense.” - -“But how can we? To me it is inconceivable.” - -“Though not to me,” said Eunice, smiling. “We are now paying four -hundred dollars for rent; half of this we may at least save, by going -farther from the centre of the city, and taking a still smaller house. -We must not think of appearances, father, but of what it is right for -us to do.” - -“Appearances, child!” returned the father; “I have long since ceased to -care for them. But I do not think you could be comfortable in so small -a house.” - -“Such a house would be a paradise compared to this, if it brought peace -of mind and a clear conscience, while this did not.” - -“Two hundred dollars would be something; but not all we may be -compelled to reduce. I have not much hope in the results of a business, -so crippled for want of means as mine will be, even if it should be -continued.” - -“Much, very much more may be reduced,” said Eunice, confidently; “leave -that to Eveline and me. Only let us know exactly the state of your -affairs, and I am sure we will be able to sustain all by our mutual -exertions.” - -Far more cheerful than it had been for weeks, was the face of Mr. -Townsend, when he met his family at the tea-table that evening. As soon -as an opportunity for doing so occurred, with an inward shudder at the -dreadful act he had contemplated, he destroyed the poisonous drug with -which he had resolved to take his own life. As he did so, the image of -Eunice arose in his mind, and he murmured, half audibly, - -“My saviour!” - -When Mr. Townsend went to his store on the next morning, he was -surprised to find all the letters of notification to consignors and -creditors, which he had written the day before, lying upon his desk. - -“I am very sorry, sir,” said his clerk, “but I forgot entirely to throw -these letters into the post-office last evening. I hope nothing serious -will result from the delay.” - -“It’s as well,” returned Mr. Townsend, suppressing any exhibition of -feeling with an effort. “Circumstances have occurred that render it -unnecessary to send them.” - -“How providential!” was his mental ejaculation, as he turned from his -clerk; and gathering up the letters, thrust them into his desk. - -This was, perhaps, the first time in his life that his heart had felt -and acknowledged the hand of a Divine Providence in any thing, and -the acknowledgment, in this case, was more instinctive than rational. -But the utterance in his mind of the word, and the involuntary -acknowledgment of a “Providence,” came immediately into the perception -of his thoughts, and transferred them from the incident of the letters, -to that involving a matter of infinitely greater importance--no less -than the salvation of his life itself. A shudder passed through every -nerve, as he closed his eyes, and in the silence of a deeply thankful -heart, acknowledged, rationally as well as feelingly, the Divine hand -in what had occurred. - -At that moment a light broke in upon his mind; a feeble light that only -revealed all things that it fell upon indistinctly, but, by it he could -see better than he had ever before seen, the nature of the ground upon -which he was standing--the unsatisfying character of all mere natural -things, and the priceless value of spiritual qualities and endowments, -such as his daughter Eunice possessed. Sustained by them, a young and -feeble girl, who had not been enough in the world to feel its rough -contact or learn its selfish wisdom, was able to hold up the hands of a -strong man, bowed down and helpless from the pressure of misfortune. -Something of wonder and admiration filled his mind, for a few moments, -as this truth forced itself upon him. - -“Shall my child, a delicate, tender girl, be braver than I?” he said -to himself. “Shall she stand up, resolutely, and with a bold front to -the coming storm, and I shrink in the blast, and turn my back like a -coward? No! This shall not be!” - -In this better spirit did Mr. Townsend take up again his life-duties, -and seek to save what could be saved in his business, rather than -abandon all in impotent despair. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - FURTHER RETRENCHMENT. - - -The loss of ten thousand dollars--sweeping from his hands, at a single -stroke, all he was worth, and all his means of doing any thing like a -profitable business--left Mr. Townsend really in a very helpless state, -and filled him with discouragement the moment he turned his thoughts -upon the straitened condition of his affairs. But, after such a lesson -as he had received from Eunice--after such an opening of his eyes to -the true light--he could not utterly despond. He had lifted himself -from the earth, stood up erect, and taken the first step. It would not -do to pause now, sink again, and abandon all. He must do to the utmost -of his ability, let what would come. - -The greatest difficulty that presented itself to Mr. Townsend, was -the universally-prevailing spirit of cupidity existing among men -of business, which led almost every one to seek his own good in a -heartless disregard of others. Were he to make a full exposition of -his affairs, and ask for consideration and aid from those for whom he -did business, instantly their confidence would cease, consignments -be withheld, and the destruction of business he was seeking to avoid -become inevitable. There would be no generous consideration, no -sympathy for his losses, extended toward him, but censure for his want -of sagacity in not perceiving the signs of weakness in the house that -had failed. No longer able to advance upon consignments, or guaranty -sales, those who wished advances would not send him their goods, and -those who were willing to waive the guaranty, would be afraid to trust -their sales to a man who had committed the mistake of selling to a -house just on the eve of its failure. - -That this would be the result of an exposure of his affairs, Mr. -Townsend felt well assured. It was just as he had acted in his days -of prosperity. He never regarded the interests of any man, and never -extended the slightest sympathy toward the unfortunate. His system had -been, to get out of every one who owed him and became embarrassed, all -he would yield by the severest pressure, and then throw his bloodless -carcass out of sight--to the dogs, for all he cared. And little more -consideration than he had given, did he expect. Judging all men by -his own standard, he did not believe in the existence of a particle -of unselfishness in business circles; and he, therefore, expected to -receive no generous consideration in his misfortunes. That this selfish -disregard of others was wrong, he could now see, because it affected -himself. If no other good result came from his reverses, the clear -conviction and acknowledgment of this was something, and worth all he -had lost and suffered to acquire. - -A long and anxious debate on the question of what it was best for him -to do, was at length terminated by his coming to the conclusion, that -his best course was to conceal from every one the desperate condition -of his affairs, and make a vigorous effort to sustain himself. In this, -he believed, lay his only hope. To trust any man with the fact that his -losses had seriously crippled him, would be, he felt well convinced, to -ruin all. - -In a few days, two or three letters were received from eastern -manufacturers, containing invoices and bills of lading of goods -consigned to him on sale, upon which the usual advances they had been -in the habit of receiving were asked. Immediate replies were made, that -he was already so much in advance to various parties, that he could -not extend such accommodations, but that he would endeavor to make -immediate sales, and transmit the proceeds. Before the goods arrived, -Mr. Townsend received advices that their destination had been changed, -and that they were to go into another commission house, from which the -desired advances could be had. - -“Well, let them go!” he said, in the effort to feel indifferent about -the matter, at the same time that a feeling of discouragement oppressed -him, and brought a cloud over his mind. - -By the next mail came notice of a valuable consignment upon which -neither an advance nor guaranty was asked, and it came from new -parties, who promised still heavier shipments of goods. - -“There is hope yet,” was the silent, thankful expression of Mr. -Townsend’s heart, as he read this letter. “If I can only manage to -meet, at maturity, the five or six thousand dollars for which I am -liable under guaranty of sales, I may yet be able to hold up my head -in business, though how I shall manage to support my family on the -diminished proceeds, is beyond my power to tell.” - -One day, about a week after the occurrence of the interview between -himself and daughter, Eunice drew her father aside, and said to him, - -“I saw a neat, pretty house this morning, in a very pleasant -neighborhood, the rent of which is only a hundred and eighty-five -dollars. There is a snug little parlor below, beautifully papered, and -having in it a pure white marble mantle; and quite a large chamber -over that, and another of the same size in the third story. Back -of these is a kitchen, dining-room, and good-sized chamber, with -bath-house and dressing-room. Take it all in all, it is exactly what we -want--perfectly new, neat, genteel, and comfortable; and very cheap. -Won’t you go with me and look at it after dinner?” - -“I’m afraid it’s too small, Eunice,” remarked her father. “We shall not -be able to breathe in it.” - -“Oh, no! it is not too small. The chambers are large and airy. And as -to breathing, it will be done as freely again there, for the pressure -upon our bosoms will be removed.” - -“Are there no garrets to the house?” - -“None.” - -“Then where will a servant sleep?” - -“There’ll be no difficulty about that--none in the world.” - -“But where, Eunice?” - -“There’s the room over the dining-room.” - -“Which will shut us off from the bath. It won’t do, my child.” - -“Will you go with me to look at it?” - -“Oh, yes. But I am sure it will not answer.” - -“And I am sure it will; and you will agree with me after you have seen -it.” - -Mr. Townsend went to look at the house, and thought it really quite -neat, genteel, and comfortable. But his main objection lay in full -force against it. There was no place for the servant to sleep, and -he urged it as an insuperable objection, to which Eunice at length -replied-- - -“We don’t intend to have any servants; Eveline and I have settled all -that.” - -At this, Mr. Townsend shook his head in a most emphatic way, and said, - -“That’s out of the question, child; utterly so. I will not hear to it a -moment.” - -“Why not? Don’t you have to attend to business all day, and are we -better than you?” - -“I don’t have to go into the kitchen and cook. I don’t have to go -through menial household drudgery.” - -“Don’t call any useful employment menial, father. Would it at all -degrade me to bake you a sweet loaf of bread, or prepare you a -comfortable meal when you are hungry? I think not.” - -“But the hard drudgery of the thing, Eunice. You don’t know what you -propose to yourselves to do.” - -“Love will make the labor light,” replied Eunice, with a tone and smile -that found a quick passage to the heart of her father. “Let it be as we -desire.” - -But Mr. Townsend would not yield the point. At least, he would not -consent that a house should be taken without a room in it where a -servant could sleep. So Eunice had to make another search. In a few -days one was procured with the room, additional, required, at a rent of -two hundred dollars per annum; and Mr. Townsend gave his consent that -it should be taken, provided the mother, who had been kept ignorant of -the desperate state of her husband’s business, could be brought to give -a free consent to the change. The procurement of this consent was left -to Eveline and Eunice. The latter, after the first doubt and fear she -had experienced at her sister’s suggestion of another change in their -father’s circumstances, was ready to support Eunice in every thing. - -“Mother,” said Eunice, on the day after the taking of a house at a -lower rent had been determined upon, “I think we might manage to live -at a smaller cost than we do. Indeed, I am sure we could. Father’s -business cannot be very profitable, and even the meeting of our present -family expenses must be a serious matter to him.” - -“To live any plainer than we do, is impossible,” replied Mrs. Townsend; -“we keep but a single servant, and I am sure that no family could -practice more economy.” - -“But we might live in a much smaller house.” - -“Smaller house!” - -“Yes, mother. We don’t occupy much over half of this, and what is -the use of paying one or two hundred dollars for what we don’t want, -especially when father has need in his business of every cent he can -procure. I saw, when I was out yesterday, a beautiful little house, -with rooms very nearly as large as they are in this one, only there -were not so many. It was finished as well as this one is, throughout, -and had quite as respectable an appearance; and the rent was only two -hundred dollars.” - -“Indeed!” said Mrs. Townsend, struck with the difference. - -“That is all. I think we had better take it. Two hundred dollars is a -good deal of money to save off of rent.” - -“I don’t believe your father will hear to such a thing.” - -“If he consents to move, will you make no objection?” - -“I don’t know. But I am sure he will not listen a moment to such a -proposition. The way in which we now live is very different to what it -was. I never could have believed it possible to become reconciled to -it.” - -“You say yes, then, if father is willing?” - -“I think I may safely say yes.” - -“Very well,” replied both the girls, smiling; “we will hold you to this -promise.” - -In the evening, after tea, when all were together, Eunice said, in a -very pleasant way, - -“Father, mother says if you are willing to move into the house I told -you about, that she will make no objection. What do you say?” - -“Of course, your father wouldn’t think of such a thing,” spoke up Mrs. -Townsend. - -“That isn’t fair, mother,” said Eveline, good-humoredly. “We object -to any attempt on your part to use influence. Father must decide this -matter for himself in freedom. We’ve got your promise, and now we must -get his.” - -“I’m sure that is using influence, and with a double power. First, you -get me to make a conditional promise, and then set to work to influence -the conditions. No, no; I object also. Let father, as you say, decide -this matter in freedom.” - -“Very well; father shall speak for himself,” said Eunice. “Let me put -the question. Are you willing to give up this house, and take the one -alluded to, which only rents for two hundred dollars?” - -“If all of you agree to it; if all are willing, I promise not to -object.” - -“There, do you hear that, mother?” exclaimed Eveline. - -Mrs Townsend looked surprised and serious. - -“But, is there any necessity for this?” she asked, turning her eyes -upon her husband’s face. - -“Perhaps it would be a prudent step for us to take, provided we could -be comfortable and happy under the change,” he replied. - -“I hardly think we can be,” said Mrs. Townsend, looking troubled. - -“Then we will not move,” was promptly answered. - -“But what is to hinder us?” urged Eunice. “The house is large enough, -and the rooms of a good size. The situation is pleasant, and the -appearance of the house very nearly equal to the one we now live in. -With all this in its favor, and added thereto, the fact that the change -made a saving of two hundred dollars in our expenses, perhaps more, and -I hardly think we would be less comfortable or happy. Father has said -that this reduction of our expenses would be a prudent step to take. -Should we hesitate a moment after this?” - -“He should know what is best, certainly,” said Mrs. Townsend, struck -with the force of application that Eunice gave to her father’s words. -“And if he thinks it prudent, we ought by all means to move. But, -before it is done, the necessity for it should be understood by all of -us, and then we can all enter into and promote it with a more cheerful -spirit.” - -“Very true, indeed,” answered Mr. Townsend; “and I will therefore -state, that my business does not promise so well as it did a short time -ago; that I have met with a serious loss by the failure of a house to -which I sold a large amount of goods, and that, therefore, it will be a -measure of prudence to do as the girls propose. For their willingness -to make sacrifices, and to prompt to further reductions of expense, we -certainly ought to feel deeply grateful. To find them as they are, is -to find light in a dark place--to meet streams in a desert. With such -loving hearts to sustain us, we ought never to despond.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - THE USES OF ADVERSITY. - - -The change proposed was speedily made. As they shrunk closer together -in this smaller house, they felt more sensibly the warmth of each -other’s hearts. The mother joined with her daughters in their efforts -to cut off every expense, and when they proposed doing without a -servant, made no objection, but rather approved the measure. So the -servant was dismissed, and the whole care and labor of the household -devolved upon Mrs. Townsend, Eveline, and Eunice. - -At their last removal, they found great difficulty in crowding the -furniture, taken from a house almost double that of the one they -were to occupy, into the smaller space allotted for its reception. -Compression was no longer possible. A council on the subject was held, -at which it was decided to sell certain large and costly articles, and -retain only such as corresponded to their reduced style of living. -Quite a large selection was made and sold at vendue, from which the -handsome sum of one thousand dollars was raised, which was paid into -Mr. Townsend’s hands, just in time to enable him to make a heavy -payment, and thus prevent a knowledge of his crippled state from -becoming known. - -“How strangely events turn out,” he said to his daughter Eunice, with -whom he could speak on the subject of his business and prospects, more -freely and intimately than with any other member of his family, not -even excepting his wife, whose spirits usually became depressed, when -allusion was made to the subject. “But for you, no one would have -thought of a reduction of expense by moving into a cheaper house. The -cheaper house was smaller, and, therefore, to get into it, we had to -reduce our furniture. For what was surplus, and therefore useless, a -thousand dollars were received, and these thousand dollars came just -in time to enable me to make a payment, otherwise impossible, upon -which almost every thing depended. How strangely events turn out! I am -bewildered at times.” - -“He leads us by a way that we know not,” Eunice said, low and -reverently. - -“Who?” Mr. Townsend spoke ere he reflected. - -“He whose tender mercies are over all his works,” was replied. - -For a few moments there was silence. - -“You think, then, that the hand of Providence is in every thing?” said -Mr. Townsend. - -“Oh, yes, surely it is!” returned Eunice. “The Creator of all must be -the Sustainer of all.” - -“That is, doubtless, true. A general providence over a man’s life may -exist, but I can hardly believe that there is a particular providence -regarding all the minuter things.” - -“Can there be such a thing as a general, that is not made up -of particulars? A general providence not the sum of particular -providences?” - -This question Mr. Townsend did not answer immediately. The proposition -was new to his mind, and came upon it with the force of truth. - -“There is such a thing as a general superintendence of affairs,” he -said, thoughtfully. - -“True, but is it not to the end that particular things, within its -sphere of supervision, may be kept in order? Break up the harmony and -dependence of particular things one upon another, and what becomes -of general harmony? Does not all sink into confusion? How small a -circumstance often involves the most important consequences; and if -the greater result is regarded by Providence, surely the seemingly -insignificant cause must also be regarded. Depend upon it, father, -there is a particular providence, or no providence at all.” - -“Perhaps you are right, Eunice. I never saw the subject in that light. -As you intimate, we must give up all idea of Providence, and feel -that every thing is governed by chance, or admit that it reaches to -the most intimate things of our lives. It may be as Shakespeare says, -‘There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.’” - -“It is so, father, depend upon it. Human prudence, as Mr. Carlton has -so often said, and said it to you in my hearing some years ago, is -nothing. You did not believe it then, but you cannot entirely doubt it -now.” - -“I cannot, certainly,” replied Mr. Townsend, speaking sadly, “for my -prudence has availed nothing.” - -“Not for the salvation of your worldly possessions. The good things of -natural life were taken from you and from us, but is it not possible -for this to prove a blessing and not a curse?” - -“I do not know. At present it is far from being apparent to my mind.” - -“It is not altogether so to mine,” returned the daughter. “As for me, -I know myself better, and have learned to regard the good of others, -and to seek for that good as well as my own; and this is a heavenly -affection, and its exercise prepares us for heaven. The very life of -heaven is a love of being useful to, and making others happy, and -unless we have this love, we cannot go to heaven when our few brief -years are closed up here. Surely any natural circumstance that helps us -to see what is evil in our hearts, and also to put it away, should be -regarded as a blessing.” - -“Perhaps so, viewed in that light; one in which, I must own, it has -never been presented to my mind.” - -“But is it not the true light, father? Are not our spirits the real and -substantial about us?” - -“Substantial, Eunice? Our bodies are substantial.” - -“Not substantial like our minds. Material substance is perishing, but -spiritual substance endures for ever. In a little while our natural -bodies will decay, but neither death, decay, nor corruption can touch -our spiritual bodies. Our spiritual well-being is, therefore, of -infinite importance, compared to our mere natural well-being.” - -The words of the young preacher sunk into the heart of her father; a -deep sigh struggled up from his bosom, and he sat thoughtful for many -minutes. - -“Doubtless you are right, Eunice,” he then said, speaking in a subdued -voice. “Something of this I have heard before, but it never impressed -me as it does now. I never _felt_ that it was true. Fifty or sixty -years is nothing to an eternal existence. The things of time are, -therefore, of small moment, compared to the things of eternity; and the -wealth of this world dross compared to heavenly riches.” - -The eyes of Eunice were filled with tears as they turned with looks of -happy affection upon the face of her father, and her voice was half -broken as she said, - -“To be able to see and feel this, father, is a great attainment, and -not dearly bought, even at the price you have paid for it.” - -“Perhaps not,” he replied. “The price has certainly been large.” - -“Now it appears so; but the time will come, I hope, when the price that -has been paid will seem really insignificant, compared to the good it -procured; nay, I am sure it will come.” - -“I trust it may, Eunice; but it has not come yet,” said Mr. Townsend, -again sighing deeply. His natural affections still clung to the good -things of natural life, while his perception of spiritual things, seen -clearly only for a few moments in the light of his daughter’s mind, -were but dim and confused. Still, there had been some progress. The -uses of misfortune had been, to some small extent, realized. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - MORE SACRIFICES. - - -“I met your old sweetheart to-day,” said a young friend to Rufus -Albertson. - -“Ah! who was she?” - -“Miss Townsend.” - -“Indeed!” - -“Yes; she looked badly; poor thing! Her proud old father would not say -much to the contrary if you were to renew your acquaintance in that -quarter. I think you were lucky.” - -“Do you?” - -“Yes; I don’t believe he is worth a copper.” - -“You are mistaken; he is rich.” - -“Rich!” - -“The richest man I know.” - -“Didn’t he lose every thing he had by the failure of the United States -Bank?” - -“Not by any means.” - -“Oh, but I am sure he did. He’s been doing a small commission business, -and, to my certain knowledge, has lost several valuable consignments, -because he was unable to make advances. They came to our house.” - -“That may be, and yet Mr. Townsend not be so very poor. I happen to -know that he possesses a treasure of priceless value.” - -“Not transmutable into gold, I presume. No doubt there are a good many -others rich in the same way. You mean in his children--in this daughter -of whom we were speaking, perhaps.” - -“Yes, that is what I mean. No man who has a child like Eunice Townsend -should be called poor.” - -“Really! I was not aware that your inclinations lay in that direction. -I presume you will find no difficulty in obtaining the hand of Eunice, -if such be your desire.” - -“Where did you see Miss Townsend?” asked Albertson. - -“I saw her coming out of Trist & Lee’s auction store. A strange place -for a young lady to be seen; don’t you think so?” - -“I suppose a young lady may go into an auction store as well as any -other store. Mr. Townsend moved into a much smaller house than he -had been living in, some time ago, and it is possible that surplus -furniture has been sent to auction.” - -“Possible. But wouldn’t her father attend to that.” - -“Ordinarily, no doubt such would be the case; but in the misfortunes -that have befallen Mr. Townsend, he has been sustained by Eunice in -a remarkable manner. She seems to have forgotten every thing but how -she may hold up her father’s drooping hands, and inspire him with hope -and confidence. She would not hesitate to attend to this or any other -business for him, not incompatible with her sex.” - -On parting with this friend, to whom he had not expressed all that was -in his mind, Albertson said to himself, while his countenance became -thoughtful, - -“What could she have been doing there?” - -No satisfactory answer was suggested to his mind, for the same question -recurred again and again. He was walking along, still thinking of the -fact that had been stated, when just before him he saw Eunice come out -of a jewelry store, turn up the street, and walk briskly away without -observing him. The very manner in which her steps were taken, showed -that there was a purpose in her mind. - -Albertson went back to his place of business, in a thoughtful mood. -About an hour afterward he entered the auction room of Trist & Lee. -After looking about there for some time, he was joined by Mr. Lee, to -whom he was very well known. - -“Can’t I do something for you to-day, Mr. Albertson?” said Lee, -familiarly, and yet with an eye to business. - -“I don’t know; perhaps you can.” - -“Don’t you want a first-rate piano? We’ve just got in a splendid -instrument, that cost a thousand dollars, and may be had at a bargain. -But, I believe you’re not married yet, and therefore have no wife to -whom you can make such a present. By-the-way, too, Albertson, it is -not a little curious that this piano should belong to an old flame of -yours.” - -“Ah!” said Albertson, affecting indifference. - -“Yes. I believe Miss Townsend was once quite a favorite of yours.” - -“Does it belong to her?” - -“It does. You know her father lost every thing by the failure of the -‘Great Regulator,’ and has since, I am told, been in very reduced -circumstances. To-day, this instrument was sent here, and shortly after -one of his daughters came in, and requested that it might be sold, -either at public or private sale. She asked, as a particular favor, -that as liberal an advance as we could afford might be made upon it. -I offered her a hundred dollars, but the smallness of the sum seemed -to disappoint her. She said it had cost a thousand dollars, and had -never been used a great deal. ‘Do you want the money particularly -to-day?’ I asked. ‘Yes, I must have it to-day!’ she replied. There was -something so anxious and earnest in her voice, that my sympathies were -awakened for her, and I told her to call again this afternoon, and I -would consult Mr. Trist, and see if we could venture to make a larger -advance. I wish I could meet with a purchaser for it, in the mean time, -at a fair price, so as to be able to hand her about three hundred -dollars instead of one. Now there is a romantic incident for you. Don’t -you feel tempted to buy the piano?” - -“What price do you set upon it?” - -“Three hundred dollars.” - -“Isn’t that low?” - -“Very low. But it is second hand; and three hundred dollars is a high -price to get for a second-hand instrument. I am doubtful if even this -will bring it.” - -“You say it cost a thousand?” - -“Yes.” - -“Too great a sacrifice, that, indeed.” - -“Well, suppose you take it at five hundred dollars?” said the -auctioneer, smiling. “You’ll get a bargain, then. No doubt the family -want the money bad enough, and will have their hearts gladdened by the -unexpected receipt of so large a sum.” - -“Isn’t it really worth more? Has the use of it reduced its value one -half?” - -“No, not one fourth. But, it is second hand, you know, and that always -takes fifty per cent. from the estimated value of almost anything.” - -Albertson reflected a few moments, and then said, “If you will promise -me, and faithfully keep the promise, not to mention my name in the -transaction to any one, I will buy this piano, and pay you seven -hundred dollars for it. The money shall be here in an hour.” - -“Agreed. No one shall be the wiser of your agency in the matter. Seven -hundred dollars! It will set the girl wild.” - -“No danger of that, I presume. Her mind, I hope, is more firmly -balanced.” - -After another pause for reflection, Albertson said, in a tone of -confidence, “Of course, Lee, I need hardly tell you, that something -besides mere impulse has prompted me to buy this piano, and pay four -hundred dollars more for it than you asked. I say this, because your -mind would naturally infer it, and also because I wish a little -service, and don’t want too many into my secrets. You are acquainted -with Jones, of the firm of Milford & Jones, jewelers, I believe.” - -“Oh, yes, very well.” - -“I saw Miss Townsend come out of their store to-day, and it’s my -impression that her errand there was similar to her errand to -you--that is, to sell some article or articles that, in their reduced -circumstances, could very well be dispensed with. Are you willing to -see Jones for me, and find out if my impressions are correct?” - -“Certainly.” - -“Will you go at once?” - -“Yes.” - -“Very well. I will call here in half an hour to hear the result.” - -In half an hour, according to agreement, Albertson called upon the -auctioneer. - -“Did you ascertain what I wished to know?” he asked. - -“Yes.” - -“Well, what have you learned?” - -“That Miss Townsend brought to the store a large diamond breast-pin, -two ladies’ gold watches, and several other articles of jewelry, all -costly, and wanted to sell them. Jones told her that he would take -them, and dispose of them for her; but that he was not prepared to -purchase. She then asked if he could not advance something upon them. -This he declined, and she took them away with her, remarking, that -perhaps Milford, just above, would let her have what she wanted. I am -not acquainted with Milford, or I would have made inquiries there.” - -“Thank you for the trouble you took. I happen to know Milford, and will -see him myself. I’ll send you the money for the piano in the course of -an hour.” - -Albertson left the store of the auctioneers, and called upon the -jewelers. - -“Was there a young lady here to-day, with a diamond breast-pin, two -gold watches, and some other articles, that she wished to sell?” he -asked, after passing a few words with Milford. - -“There was. Why? Do you know any thing about them?” - -“Nothing in particular. Did you buy them?” - -“No. I’m not in the habit of doing such things. But I told her I would -sell them for her. Here they are;” and the jeweler pointed to a part -of his show-case where he had deposited them. “That diamond breast-pin -is worth every cent of five hundred dollars. I wonder if she came by -them fairly.” - -“You may set your heart at rest on that subject. I’ll be surety in the -case.” - -“You know her, then?” - -“I think I do.” - -“Who is she?” - -“At present I don’t know that her name need be mentioned.” - -“Oh, as to her name, that she has left. It is Townsend. I gave her a -receipt for the goods. I wonder if she is not one of the daughters of -Townsend the shipping merchant, who was knocked all to pieces by the -failure of the United States Bank?” - -“Did she also give you her place of residence?” - -“Yes; No. 60 ---- street.” - -“You didn’t pay her any thing on the goods?” - -“No; although she was very anxious to get an advance.” - -“What are they all worth?” - -“They are worth seven or eight hundred dollars; but will not bring -that.” - -“How much do you expect to get for them?” - -“Not more than four or five hundred at the outside; and it may be six -months before they are all sold. We are bound to get off our own goods -first, you know.” - -“You will let me have the lot at eight hundred, I suppose?” said -Albertson. - -“Yes, or at five hundred, either.” - -“I don’t want them for less than they are worth. I’ll give you eight -hundred dollars.” - -“Oh, very well! I’ll take a thousand, if you prefer it.” - -“Will you send word to the young lady that you have made the sale, and -request her to call at four o’clock and get the money?” - -“Certainly.” - -“And will you, besides, carefully conceal from her that I purchased the -goods?” - -“Yes.” - -“And, further, will you relinquish all commissions on the sale?” - -“Well, I don’t know about that.” - -“Just as you like, Milford.” - -“Why should I do so?” - -“There is no reason, perhaps, why you should do it; so we’ll say no -more about that.” - -“I’ll think of it, any how,” said the jeweler. - -“Very well; I’ll call and pay you for them before three o’clock.” - -And Albertson left the store and returned to his place of business. - -“He must have plenty of money to throw away,” said Milford to himself, -as the young man retired. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - A DISAPPOINTMENT. - - -The answer received by Albertson from Eunice, was promptly responded -to, and the privilege of visiting her at her father’s house asked; but -she replied, - -“Not yet. My father is in trouble, and doubt hangs over his business, -small as it is. It requires all my efforts to inspire him with -confidence. I do not wish him, just at this time, to think that my -affections are divided. And, besides, your appearance may remind him -too strongly of other and more prosperous days. A little while longer; -only a little while longer. Misfortune is changing him, and the change -is altogether favorable to our wishes.” - -Not long after this, an accidental meeting took place, in which Eunice -made her lover clearly comprehend her position. Admiration for her -filial virtues overcame, from that time, all impatience. - -“She will be the more fully mine,” he said; “and purer and brighter for -the trials through which she has passed.” - -After that, they corresponded regularly, and occasionally met. - -While the fortunes of Mr. Townsend had rapidly declined, those of the -young man he had treated so rudely had rapidly improved. The business -of Jones, Claire, & Co. doubled itself in a single year, and had gone -on increasing almost in a similar ratio. The interest in it held by -Albertson was, therefore, a very profitable one. - -Two months after the last removal, Eunice noticed that her father had -again become unusually serious. This led her to inquire of him as to -the state of his business. - -“I have no reason to despond in regard to business,” he said, “taking -all things into consideration. If I could only meet a payment of twelve -hundred dollars that falls due in a few days, I believe every thing -would go on smoothly enough. This is the last of my guarantied sales -to the house, by the failure of which I lost ten thousand dollars. My -name is on the note, and when it is returned protested, I must take it -up. But how this is to be done, I cannot tell.” - -“Help has come heretofore in extremity, father, and I am sure it will -come now.” - -“But where is it to come from, child? Heaven knows; I do not. I have -struggled up to this point, and overcome many difficulties, but this -seems likely to overwhelm me. I sometimes think, Eunice, that I am -mocked of Providence.” - -“Dear father! do not permit such a thought to find place in your mind -for an instant. It is not so; it cannot be so. These trials are for -your good. We all suffer with you, and we shall all be better in the -end, for our suffering. I feel that I am better, and that my after -life will be a happier and more useful life in consequence. Our real -good, you know, father, does not lie in our worldly possessions or -prosperity; and the failure of our worldly expectations is often but a -salutary reaction upon our natural affections, when too intently fixed -upon mere natural things. Still have confidence, father; still believe -that all will come out right in the end. Even the failure to meet this -payment may not prove so great an evil as you now fear it will be.” - -Thus Eunice sought to inspire her father with confidence, and -succeeded in doing so for the moment, but he soon sunk back again -into despondency. His mind had not sufficient power to rise above the -pressure of present circumstances. - -On the next day, Eunice, while alone with her sister, said to her, “I -mentioned to you last night, the cause of father’s looking so troubled.” - -“Yes; and I have been thinking about it ever since.” - -“Has any thing suggested itself?” - -“Yes. There is my diamond breast-pin. It might be sold. It’s poor -brother John’s present, and I shall grieve to part with it. But, if he -could know the reason of its being sold, I am sure he would approve the -act.” - -“How closely, side by side, run our thoughts,” said Eunice, smiling. -“I have determined to sell my beautiful rosewood piano, also brother -John’s present. It cost a thousand dollars; and I think I ought to get -at least five or six hundred for it. It is quite as good as new.” - -“For the breast-pin and piano, we ought to receive a thousand -dollars,” replied Eveline, with a brightening face. “Father only wants -twelve hundred. If he have a thousand, the additional two hundred will -not be hard to obtain.” - -“I don’t know that we shall get so much as a thousand dollars for the -piano and breast-pin, although they are worth more. I think we had -better add our watches, and some other articles of jewelry, to make -sure of the sum we desire to obtain.” - -“I am ready to throw in every thing that I have in the way of jewelry,” -said Eveline. “But how are these things to be sold?” - -“That’s the most difficult part of the business. The piano, I suppose, -had better go to the auction store where our surplus furniture was -sold. How the jewelry is to be disposed of, I do not know, unless it is -offered at some of the stores where they deal in such articles.” - -“Whether they will buy or not is the question. All are ready enough to -sell.” - -“Yes, selling is their business. But, gold and diamonds have a certain -value in themselves, and, I suppose, will always bring it.” - -After some further consultation on the subject, it was determined to -carry out, as far as possible, these mutual suggestions. But, causes -not easily overcome, prevented the execution of their designs on that -day, and it was, therefore, postponed until the next. - -Early in the day, Eunice, after apprising her mother of what she -intended doing, went out and procured porters, who were directed to -take her piano to the auction store of Trist & Lee. Willing as Eveline -was to make her part of the sacrifice, in order to sustain her father, -she shrunk from the exposure of an attempt to sell her jewelry, and, -therefore, the whole task fell upon Eunice, who nerved herself to its -performance by thinking of her parent’s extremity. Modest and retiring -as she was, the thought of exposing herself among men, in places of -business, as a vender of goods, made her heart beat low in her bosom. -But she thrust this thought from her mind with an effort, and went -forth with a firm step, to do what she felt to be her duty for that -day--and this feeling sustained her. - -When Eunice arrived at the auction rooms, she found them crowded with -men. A sale was in progress. She retired quickly, and went back home, -where she waited for a couple of hours. At her second visit, the rooms -were empty. On asking for one of the firm, she was pointed to Mr. Lee, -who bowed politely as she approached him. - -“I sent a piano here, this morning,” she said, in a low, trembling -voice, at the same time drawing her veil over her face, to hide the -crimson that was overspreading it. She was less composed than she had -hoped to be. - -“The beautiful rosewood piano?” asked the auctioneer. - -“Yes, sir.” Eunice spoke more firmly. - -“You wish it sold, I presume?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“It’s a very beautiful instrument.” As Mr. Lee said this, he turned and -walked toward the part of the store where the piano stood, and Eunice -walked with him. - -“A very beautiful instrument,” he repeated, as he opened it, and ran -his fingers over the keys; “and a high-priced one, too. I suppose it -didn’t cost less than six or seven hundred dollars.” - -“A thousand were paid for it.” - -“Indeed! So much! Do you wish it sold at public or private sale?” - -“In which ever way it can be sold quickest and best,” replied Eunice. - -“It can be sold quickest at public sale, but best at private sale. How -much do you expect to receive for it?” - -“I think it ought to bring five or six hundred dollars. It is not in -the least defaced, or injured in tone.” - -“I am sorry to say,” returned the auctioneer, who really felt grieved -for the disappointment he knew his words would occasion, “that we -shall not be able to get any thing like that sum for the instrument. -Three hundred dollars will be a maximum price, and it may bring less -if it goes under the hammer. Persons who come to auction for pianos, -generally have a low price in their minds, and cannot be tempted to go -much beyond it, no matter how superior the article may be.” - -“When is your next sale?” asked Eunice, in a voice whose huskiness the -auctioneer perceived with regret. - -“Not for a week.” - -“Indeed!” Eunice spoke in a disappointed tone. “I must have the money -for it sooner than that.” - -“You do not want it to-day, do you?” - -“Yes; to-day, if possible. How much could you advance me upon it?” - -“It is your own instrument?” - -Eunice hesitated a moment, and then said, with an effort at composure, -“Yes, sir. But I am compelled to part with it.” - -“I do not think we would be willing to advance more than a hundred -dollars.” - -“A hundred dollars!” The tone of her voice betrayed the surprise and -disappointment Eunice felt. “Can’t you advance me a larger sum?” - -“I should not like to say more at present,” replied Lee; “but if you -will call this afternoon, between four and five o’clock, I will see if -something better cannot be done.” - -Eunice was retiring, when he said, “Miss Townsend, I believe?” - -“Yes, sir, that is the name.” And Eunice again drew her veil over her -face, and quickly retired, feeling sadly disappointed. - -She next called at the store of a jeweler, with the diamond pin, -watches, bracelets, etc. Here a bitterer disappointment awaited her. -The jeweler refused either to buy or advance, merely offering to place -the goods in his case for sale, and appearing indifferent about that. -His manner, moreover, Eunice felt to be very disagreeable. - -There was too much at stake for utter discouragement to succeed to this -failure of the self-devoted girl’s ardent wishes. At the next store -where she applied, she met with a kinder reception, but with no better -success. The owner of it discouraged her from making further attempts -at selling these articles, and alarmed her by hinting that suspicion -might attach to her, and involve her in some unpleasant difficulties. -The anxious desire she felt to realize some money upon the diamond pin -and watches, caused her to urge the jeweler strongly to advance one or -two hundred dollars upon them, but he firmly declined doing so. - -Eveline and her mother awaited the return of Eunice in doubt and hope. -A gush of tears told the story of her ill success. - -“Only a hundred dollars!” said Eveline, after her sister had grown calm -enough to relate what had occurred. “That will be nothing. It can do -father no good.” - -This all felt so oppressively that nothing was replied. More than an -hour passed, before the minds of the deeply-disappointed mother and -daughters recovered in any degree from the depression into which the -attempts to dispose of the piano and jewelry had thrown them. They had -counted so fully upon obtaining a sum sufficient to meet the present -want, that the failure to realize any thing above a mere trifle, -compared to what was needed, broke down their spirits completely. The -case seemed hopeless. At last, Eunice, whose mind was always first to -react, said, - -“Perhaps I may be able to get two hundred dollars on the piano. The -auctioneer appeared inclined to meet my wishes for a larger sum than he -at first offered, but he had, I suppose, to consult others. Two hundred -dollars may be of great service to father. A little is always better -than nothing. And now it occurs to me, that there are stores where they -lend money on deposits of jewelry and other articles. Without doubt, -a couple of hundred dollars could be obtained on Eveline’s pin, and a -hundred dollars on the watch and other things. This, on the supposition -that two hundred dollars are obtained on the piano, will give us five -hundred dollars, which must be a great help to father.” - -“But you must remember,” said the mother, “that the pin and watches -will be forfeited, at the expiration of a certain time, if the money -borrowed upon them is not returned; and the possibility of returning -the amount is very doubtful. It would not do to sell Eveline’s costly -pin for two hundred dollars.” - -“If the sacrifice will save father’s business, it will be cheaply -made,” replied Eveline, quickly. - -“But of that we are not sure,” said Mrs. Townsend. “Five hundred -dollars may not be enough. He has, you know, twelve hundred to pay. -Under these circumstances, I think it would be wrong to run the risk of -losing property worth eight or nine hundred dollars, in order to obtain -two or three hundred.” - -In this view, the daughters could not but acquiesce. Soon after, Mr. -Townsend came home to dinner, looking even more troubled than he had -looked in the morning. He endeavored to rally himself in the presence -of his family, but was unable to do so to any great extent. Eveline and -Eunice tried to be cheerful, but the events of the morning were too -vividly present to their minds. Mr. Townsend did not sit over half his -usual time at the table, and left the house much earlier than usual. - -“Something must be done!” Eveline ejaculated, rising from the table -soon after her father had retired. - -“What can be done?” asked the mother. - -“There are many other stores in the city than the two to which I -applied. I feel certain that I can sell them somewhere. At least, I -am determined to try, if I visit every jeweler’s store in the city. -Father must have aid in this, his last extremity. We have the means in -our hands of affording the aid he needs, and the means must be rendered -available.” - -Eunice spoke with enthusiasm and confidence while her cheeks glowed and -her eyes sparkled. - -Neither Eveline nor her mother said a word to check the newly-awakened -hope that warmed her bosom, but rather replied in words of -encouragement, although they felt little themselves. - -Acting from this new impulse, which the distressed state of her -father’s mind had awakened, Eunice dressed herself and went out on the -errand proposed, about an hour after he had returned to his store. - -“I hope it may do some good,” said the mother, despondingly; “but I -expect no such result, although I would not have said so to discourage -Eunice for the world. Poor girl! She is doing all she can, and -sacrificing much. It is sad to think it will all be in vain.” - -“It may not be, mother,” returned Eveline. “There is no telling what -her perseverance may accomplish. Is it not said, that where there is a -will there is a way?” - -“It is; but all sayings are not true.” - -“No; not to the full extent. But a saying like this means a great deal. -The will inspires to effort, and effort does not always go unrewarded.” - -“I fear it will in this case; there is so little in favor of a -hoped-for result.” - -“It seems to me there is much, mother,” replied Eveline, appearing -to gain confidence, while her mother desponded. “It is not possible -that such earnest self-devotion as Eunice manifests can go unrewarded. -Heaven must smile upon it.” - -“I pray that Heaven may smile upon it,” said Mrs. Townsend, fervently. - -“Heaven will smile upon it.” Eveline’s voice trembled, and the tears -came, unbidden, to her eyes. - -An hour had not gone by since Eunice went out, and Eveline and her -mother still sat as she had left them, feeling no inclination to do -any thing, or even to converse after the few remarks her departure -had elicited, when they heard the street door open, and her feet come -bounding along the passage, and up the stairs. There was hope, even -joy in the sound of those footsteps, that sent a thrilling sensation -through the breasts of the waiting mother and sister. An instant -after, and the door of the room where they were sitting was thrown -open, and Eunice, flushed and agitated, sprung forward, and sinking -down beside her mother, buried her face in her lap, and sobbed and -laughed half hysterically. It was some time before she was able to -control her feelings sufficiently to tell the good fortune the reader -has already anticipated for her. For the jewelry, she had received -eight hundred dollars; and for the piano, seven hundred--fifteen -hundred dollars in all. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - - SURPRISE--UNEXPECTED RELIEF--GRATITUDE. - - -On the morning of the day on which the events of the preceding chapter -took place, Mr. Townsend received by mail a letter notifying him that a -note of twelve hundred dollars, drawn by the firm that had failed, in -his favor, and by him endorsed, would be due at a certain bank on the -next day, and desiring him to see that it was duly honored. All this -was known to Mr. Townsend, but the formal notification thereof by the -holders of the maturing paper, made him feel worse even than he already -felt in the prospect of its being dishonored, both by the drawers and -himself. He had about two hundred dollars, and that was all he had. He -was in no position to borrow. The case, therefore, looked desperate. - -A few recent business transactions with the now quite important house -of Jones, Claire, & Co. had brought him into contact with Albertson, -whom he very well remembered, and also the harsh rebuff he had given -him. Albertson was not only polite, but really kind, and had in two or -three instances, thrown business in his way, for which he could not but -feel grateful, although a recollection of the past stung him at times, -and made him feel exceedingly uncomfortable. The thought of applying to -Albertson for temporary aid, in this important crisis of his affairs, -once or twice crossed his mind. But, - -“No, no; not from him of all others!” he would reply, shaking his head. - -To attend to business was impossible. During most of the morning, he -sat moodily at his desk, or walked uneasily about his store, searching -in his mind for some measure of relief, without meeting with a single -suggestion. - -In the afternoon, in the anxious desire he felt to see the note falling -due on the next day paid, he partly made up his mind to make use of an -advance on goods then landing from a vessel on the wharf, which he was -to receive in the morning, in paying the note, instead of remitting -it to his consignors. But how was the amount to be made up afterward? -What right had he to use the money of others, without their consent, -especially when the prospect of replacing it immediately was very -doubtful? These questions threw his mind off of that dependence. - -“It’s no use,” he at length said, as the day began to decline, “for -me to think about it. The note cannot be paid, and I must take the -consequences. I shall lose a number of good consignors in consequence, -and my business will suffer severely, perhaps be broken up. I shall be -sued at once, and, as I have no defence, judgment will be obtained in a -few weeks, and then will follow an execution, and I shall be swept out -to the last copper. Well, let it come! Perhaps I can stand that, also. -Humph! Providence! It’s a strange kind of Providence!” - -The thought of Providence was connected in his mind with the thought of -Eunice. Her pure young face rose before him, and her mild eyes, full -of religious trust, were looking into his. - -“Dear child!” he murmured, instantly subdued; “there is a Providence, -or such love as yours would never have been given to sustain me in this -extremity, and to teach me patience, reliance, and hope in something -above the world and its corrupting moth. For your sweet spirit, that -holds me up in these dark trials, Heaven knows I am thankful. Let -the worst come. All will not be dark. There will be one star in the -midnight sky, shining ever through rifted clouds.” - -In this better state of mind, Mr. Townsend joined his family that -evening. Something in the expression of each face he met at home, -surprised him. At dinner time, a dead silence, broken occasionally by -a word, had pervaded the cheerless circle. If one looked into the eyes -of another, it was with a meaningless kind of gaze. But now, there was -light in the faces, and something so cheerful in the tones of his wife -and daughters, that he looked from the one to the other, involuntarily, -with surprise. But he did not ask, though he wondered, what could be -the reason. He missed something, too, from the little parlor, though -he did not think enough about this to inquire, even of himself, what it -was. It was more an impression than a thought. - -Tea was announced, and they retired to their little dining-room, and -gathered around the table. Eunice looked into her father’s face with -a sweeter smile than he had seen for a long time, and her voice had a -more cheerful expression than it had borne of late. Eveline was more -silent; her spirit was oppressed with the good tidings about to be -poured in such a grateful stream upon the heart of her father. Mrs. -Townsend’s hand trembled as she served the tea, but even in her eyes -her husband noticed an unusual light. - -Wondering, he could not help looking from face to face. Eunice tried to -talk at first, in a pleasant, indifferent way. But she soon found that -her voice was growing tremulous, and that, if she continued, she would -betray the emotion she felt; so she, like Eveline, became silent. Mr. -Townsend felt no inclination to talk, and therefore the meal proceeded -in silence. At its close they all returned to the parlor. They had been -seated there for only a few minutes, when Eunice said, - -“Will you be able to meet your heavy payment, papa?” - -Mr. Townsend half started at the question, which considerably disturbed -him. But he made an effort to appear calm, and replied, in a low, -subdued voice, - -“No, child, I shall not be able to meet it.” - -“Perhaps something unexpected will occur,” she said, with a tone and -smile that half betrayed her secret. - -Her father looked into her face with renewed wonder. As his eyes -wandered away from the calm, but evidently changing countenance of his -daughter, it fell upon the part of the room where her piano had stood, -and suddenly he made the discovery that it was gone. - -“Where is your piano, Eunice?” he asked quickly, and with a strong -expression of surprise. - -“I have sold it,” replied his daughter, no longer able to control her -feelings; “and here is the money for you--seven hundred dollars. I told -you there would be a way opened!” Tears gushed from the eyes of the -lovely girl. - -“And here are eight hundred dollars more,” said Eveline, coming -forward, and showing equal emotion with her sister. “It is for my -diamond pin, watch, and bracelets, and Eunice’s watch and bracelets.” - -Mr. Townsend had risen, by this time, to his feet. Throwing an arm -around each dear child, he drew her tightly to his bosom, and looking -up, said, with deep fervor, while his eyes were overflowing, - -“For love like this, my God, I thank thee! And even for the misfortunes -I have suffered, I thank thee! They have given me to know, what I -never would have known otherwise, the priceless value of these dear -children’s hearts. I feel now that my last days are to be my best days. -I acknowledge that there is a Providence, whose goodness and wisdom go -hand in hand.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - - THANKFUL FOR EVERY THING. - - -The note had been lifted, and all things looked cheering for the -future. It was the last payment Mr. Townsend had to make. He held in -his hand the only piece of paper, promising to pay, upon which his name -was inscribed, and the approaching due day of which had caused him such -needless alarm. Notwithstanding his loss of ten thousand dollars, and -inability to make advances on consignments, the falling off in his -business had not been very considerable, and had more than been made up -by the great reduction in his family expenses. - -Mr. Townsend was sitting in his store, musing on these things; and, in -connection with them, balancing in his thoughts the account of loss -and gain that had been running on for the space of two or three years. -He felt calm, and a subdued and thankful spirit pervaded his mind. -Doubt, and utter despondency, had given place to confidence and hope. -The spontaneous acknowledgement of a Divine Providence, ruling in all -the events of life by love and wisdom, which had fallen from his lips -on the previous evening, in the passionate enthusiasm of the moment, -did not pass away. He felt, deeply and thankfully felt, that there was -an invisible Hand, leading men into better, and truer, and happier -states of mind, by ways which they knew not; and that, in spite of all -resistance, impatience, and even impious rebellion against the All-Wise -guidance, love unchanged was ever, through seeming evil, leading on -to good. The self-sacrificing love of his children touched him deeply -whenever he thought of it. The fire had tried and proved them, and the -gold was purer than even a father’s partial affection had believed it -to be. - -Such were the thoughts and feelings of Mr. Townsend, as he sat musing -in the great calm that had succeeded to the strong agitation of mind -suffered for many days. In the midst of these reflections, he was -interrupted by the entrance of an individual of whom he had recently -thought very frequently. That individual was Rufus Albertson. - -Of late, business had brought the young man to his store several times; -but he felt, the moment his eyes rested upon him, that this was not -a visit for purposes of business. But of its real nature he had no -suspicion. - -“Can I have a word with you in private?” said Albertson, in a low voice. - -“Certainly.” And the two retired to a part of the store distant -from the counting-room. The young man appeared disturbed, and this -disturbance was very apparent in his voice, when he said, - -“Mr. Townsend, some years ago I was bold enough to ask for the hand of -your daughter Eunice, when you refused my request. I now renew my suit, -and, I trust, with more hope of a favorable issue.” - -Mr. Townsend was taken altogether by surprise. Nothing was further -from his thoughts than this. For some moments he could not reply, but -looked into the suitor’s face with an expression of countenance that -the latter was unable to interpret as favorable or adverse to his -wishes. - -“Have I your consent? Or are you still repugnant to the connection I -propose?” he said, after a pause. - -“Mr. Albertson! take her, in Heaven’s name!” exclaimed the agitated -father, grasping with convulsive energy the hand of the young man. -“If you have the love of her young heart, you possess a treasure of -priceless value. May she be to you as good a wife as she has been to me -a daughter.” - -Mr. Townsend could say no more, for his voice lost its steadiness, and -choked with emotion. - -Albertson returned in silence the pressure of the father’s hand. - -Eunice was with her mother and sister about an hour after, and they -were talking of the occurrences of the day before, when the bell was -rung, and Eveline went to the door. - -“Another of those mysterious billetdoux, Eunice,” she said, as she -returned and handed her a letter. “I’m dying to know who this faithful -correspondent of yours is. If you don’t soon let me into your secret, -I shall be tempted to break open that closely-locked writing-case of -yours, and find it out for myself.” - -By the time Eveline had finished this speech, Eunice had finished her -letter. It was in these few words: - -“DEAR EUNICE:--I saw your father to-day, and he gives a free consent to -our union. I am now the happiest man in the world. This evening I will -see you. - - ALBERTSON.” - -After handing this open letter to her mother, Eunice arose up quickly, -and left the room where they were sitting. - -Of their surprise and pleasure, and of her joy, we will not write. - -A few days subsequently, Eveline, who was reading a newspaper, while -her sister was engaged in some domestic office in the same room where -she was sitting, suddenly exclaimed, while the paper fell from her -hands, - -“Oh! what have I not escaped! Thank God! thank God! for every thing -that has occurred! The evil has been good!” - -Then, covering her face, she sobbed for some time passionately. - -Eunice lifted the paper hastily, and almost the first thing that met -her eyes, was an account of shameless and criminal infidelity on the -part of Henry Pascal, toward a young and lovely bride, led by him to -the altar not a year before. The whole affair had, as is often the -case, led to judicial interference, and thus made its way into the -newspapers. As soon as Eunice comprehended the cause of her sister’s -agitation, she drew her arms tenderly about her, and said, - -“Yes, dear Evie, thank God for every thing!” - -And at the very moment, the father, in his store, dropped his paper, -after reading the same paragraph, and exclaimed, - -“Thank God for every thing!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - - CONCLUSION. - - -Only a few weeks more passed before the hearts of the patient lovers -were blessed in a union, auspicious of the highest happiness the human -mind is capable of enjoying. - -The marriage was celebrated by Mr. Carlton, in the presence of the -family, and two or three particular friends, at the house of Mr. -Townsend. On the next day, the bride, accompanied by her parents and -sister, was taken to the new home which had been provided by her -husband. - -In this new home, Eunice had been for only a few minutes, when her eyes -rested upon the beautiful instrument, the present of her brother, which -she had sold in order to relieve her father in a pressing difficulty. -It stood in her own parlor, and she knew it at a glance. Eveline also -recognized it in a moment, but not a word was said, though both their -hearts swelled with a new and grateful emotion. - -When Eunice went up with Eveline to the chamber above, beautifully -and tastefully furnished, they were still more surprised to find upon -a handsome Chinese dressing-table, the watches, diamond pin, and -bracelets, that had been sold, and, as the sisters supposed, parted -with forever. - -“Why, Eunie!” exclaimed Eveline, whose eyes first fell upon the -jewelry, “how is all this? The piano below and these here!” - -“You understand it all as well as I do,” said Eunice, in a trembling -voice. - -“It was Rufus, then, who bought all these articles at so fair a price.” - -“So it appears.” - -“And did you know nothing of it until now?” - -“Nothing.” - -“Nothing? It seems like a piece of romance. How did he know that you -had offered them for sale?” - -“I cannot tell, Evie. Heaven, I suppose, sent him word. From me he had -no intimation of our design to part with them.” - -“The good are doubly blessed. You deserve all this, and more, Eunie,” -said Eveline, with affectionate warmth. - -“Yes, Evie, the good are doubly blessed,” returned Eunice, caressing -her. “The offer to sell this beautiful pin was the dictate of your own -generous love for our father, and is rewarded. It is restored to you -again.” - -And she took up the pin and handed it to her sister; but Eveline shrunk -back, saying, - -“No, Eunice; it is not mine; you forget that it belongs to your -husband.” - -The countenance of the young bride fell, and for a moment she -experienced a feeling of disappointment. But the voice of one who had -entered with, but unperceived by them, dispelled instantly this shadow. - -“Yes, Eveline, it is yours; take it,” said Albertson, coming forward. - -Eunice turned quickly. She did not speak, but eyes and face were -eloquent of thanks. Words could not have uttered them half so well. - - * * * * * - -A new day had broken on the mind of Mr. Townsend. He had seen his -sun go down, and darkness, like the thick gloom of that old Egyptian -night, gather around him. But, at the very midnight, when his heart was -sinking with despair, the morning star came slowly up the horizon, and -the mild aurora raised, as with the hand of an angel, the curtaining -darkness. Day at last broke broadly and brightly, and the sun lifted -his smiling disk above the eastern hills. - -It was a new day. A clearer, brighter, happier day than the one that -had set. May it grow brighter and brighter even to the “perfect day.” - -Need we say more to assure the reader of the happiness of Mr. Townsend -and his family? Need we follow them farther? Need we add sentence -to sentence, and page to page, to show how salutary had been the -misfortunes they had suffered, and how all were but blessings sent in -disguise by the Giver of all good? No; this would be useless. - -“Riches have wings.” That is, natural riches: not the true spiritual -riches--not the treasure laid up in heaven. The one may escape from the -hand, but the other lies like a dove with wings closely folded against -the heart, and never flies away. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICHES HAVE WINGS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. 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S. Arthur.—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} -table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; width: 60%;} -table.autotable td, -table.autotable th { padding: 4px; } -.x-ebookmaker table {width: 95%;} - -.tdl {text-align: left;} -.tdr {text-align: right;} -.tdc {text-align: center;} -.page {width: 3em; vertical-align: top;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; - text-indent: 0; -} - -.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} - -.right {text-align: right; text-indent: 0em;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.xbig {font-size: 2em;} -.big {font-size: 1.2em;} -.small {font-size: 0.8em;} - -abbr[title] { - text-decoration: none; -} - - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Riches have wings, by Timothy Shay Arthur</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Riches have wings</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>or, A tale for the rich and poor</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Timothy Shay Arthur</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: December 14, 2022 [eBook #69538]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Steve Mattern and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICHES HAVE WINGS ***</div> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> - - - -<h1>RICHES HAVE WINGS; <br><br><span class="small">OR,</span><br><br>A TALE FOR THE RICH AND POOR.</h1> - -<p class="center p2"> -<span class="big">BY T. S. ARTHUR.</span><br><span class="small"> -AUTHOR OF “KEEPING UP APPEARANCES,” “THE YOUNG MUSIC TEACHER,” “LADY AT HOME,” ETC.</span><br> -</p> -<p class="center p2"> -FIFTH THOUSAND.<br> -</p> -<p class="center p2"> -<span class="big">NEW YORK:</span><br> -PUBLISHED BY BAKER & SCRIBNER,<br> -145 NASSAU STREET, AND 36 PARK ROW.<br> -1849.<br> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> - - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center p2"> -Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1847, by<br> -BAKER & SCRIBNER,<br> -in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.<br> -</p> -<p class="center p2"> -S. W. BENEDICT, PRINT. & STER.<br> -16 Spruce Street, N. Y.<br> -</p></div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<hr class="r5"> -<table class="autotable"> -<tr><th></th><th class="tdr page">PAGE.</th></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_I">INTRODUCTION</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_5">5</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_II">HUMAN PRUDENCE</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_11">11</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CONFIDENCE IN HUMAN PRUDENCE SHAKEN</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_24">24</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">SPECULATION</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_36">36</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_V">ELDORADO</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_44">44</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">LOVE AND PRIDE</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_52">52</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">MERCENARY LOVE</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_64">64</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">AFFLICTION</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_69">69</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">MENTAL PROSTRATION</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_75">75</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_X">A GREAT DISASTER</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_81">81</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CONSEQUENCES</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_92">92</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">LIGHT IN DARKNESS</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_102">102</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">MORE REVERSES</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_113">113</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">FAITH TRIED AND PROVED</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_119">119</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_125">125</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">FURTHER RETRENCHMENTS</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_135">135</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">THE USES OF ADVERSITY</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_146">146</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">MORE SACRIFICES</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_153">153</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">A DISAPPOINTMENT</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_163">163</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">SURPRISE—UNEXPECTED RELIEF—GRATITUDE</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_177">177</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THANKFUL FOR EVERY THING</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_183">183</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CONCLUSION</a> -</td><td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_188">188</a> -</td></tr> -</table> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center xbig">RICHES HAVE WINGS.</p> - -<hr class="r5"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.<br><span class="small">INTRODUCTION.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>Riches have wings. In no country is this more strikingly true than -in our own. The social history of the world presents no era, nor any -people, in which, and among whom, such sudden and remarkable changes -in the possession of property have taken place. The man who is worth -a million to-day, has no surety that he will be worth a thousand -to-morrow. Children who are raised amid all the luxuries that money -can procure, too often, when they become men and women, are doomed -to hopeless poverty; while the offspring of the poor man, who grew -up, perhaps, in the hovel beside their princely mansion, is the money -lordling of their darker day.</p> - -<p>The causes for this are various: mainly it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span> depends upon our negation, -in the beginning of our national existence, of the law of primogeniture -and entailment of property. A man cannot be rich here in spite of -himself. He may be born to great possessions, but has the full liberty -to part with them upon almost any terms that please him; and such -alienations are things of every-day occurrence. One result of this is, -that property and possessions of all kinds are continually changing -hands, and thus placed within the reach of nearly all who have the -ability, as well as the desire, to struggle for their attainment. To -superior judgment, skill, and industry, when applied to the various -pursuits in life, comes the reward of wealth; while the supine and -self-indulgent, or those who lack a sound judgment and business acumen, -remain in moderate circumstances, or lose the property that came into -their hands at majority.</p> - -<p>There are no privileged classes here, made such by arbitrary national -preferences of one over another. In the eye of the nation, every man is -born free and equal. The son of the humble artisan or day-laborer can -enter the same course, and start for the same goal, with the son of the -wealthiest and most distinguished in the land—and beat him in the race -if he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> be swifter of foot, and possess greater endurance.</p> - -<p>The consequence of all this is, that wealth becomes a less and less -stable thing every day; for, in the fierce struggle that is ever going -on for its possession, as an end, and not as a means to a higher end, -men become more and more absorbed in the desire for its attainment, -and, as a natural result, more and more acute in their perception of -the means of attaining it. And the most eager and acute are not always -the most conscientious in regard to the use of means, nor the most -careful lest others sustain an injury when they secure a benefit.</p> - -<p>Great instability in the tenure of wealth must flow from the operation -of these causes; for the balance of trade must ever be suffering -disturbance by the inordinate action, at some point, of those engaged -in commercial and business pursuits. This disturbance we see almost -every day, in the dishonest spirit of speculation and overreaching that -prevails to a melancholy extent. Business is not conducted, in this -country, on the permanent, healthy, honest, and only true basis of -demand and supply; but is rendered ever fluctuant and unsafe, from the -reasons just given.</p> - -<p>The apparent causes of the instability alleged,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> are mainly those that -we have stated. But, as every thing that meets the eye is an effect of -something interior to it and invisible, so, in this case, the things -we have set forth are merely the effects of a spiritual cause, or, -in other words, of a perverted state of the <i>mind</i> of the whole -nation viewed as one man; for the truth that a nation is only a man -in a larger form is undeniable. This perversion lies in the almost -universal estimation of wealth as a means of selfish gratification, -and not as a means of promoting and securing the general good; and -from this it arises, that nearly every man seeks to secure wealth to -himself, utterly regardless of his neighbor; and far too many not only -covet their neighbors’ goods, but actually seek to defraud them of -their possessions.</p> - -<p>Every man is regenerated through temptations to evil, by means of which -he comes into a knowledge of his hereditary perversions; and it often -happens, that he is not only tempted of his evil lusts, but yields to -the temptation, and thus, in suffering the consequences that follow, -is made more clearly to see the nature and ultimate tendencies of the -false principles from which he had acted. And this is just as true of -a body of individuals (as a nation) as it is of an individual himself. -The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span> law of primogeniture and entailment of property, which is not -a just law, lays, with its disabilities, upon the mind and ultimate -energies of the nation farthest advanced in civilization, because to -have abolished it would have resulted in a worse evil, even the utter -destruction of that nation by the fierce intestine struggle that would -have resulted therefrom, while there was no conservative spirit strong -enough to sustain it. But, in the fullness of time, this American -Republic sprang into independent existence, an outbirth of Anglo-Saxon -civilization, and prepared to take an advancing step. The law that held -in iron-bound consistency the English nation, was abolished, and all -the strong energies, eager impulses, and natural lust of wealth and -power, that distinguished the people of that nation, were allowed full -scope here.</p> - -<p>In the history of the world’s regeneration, the time had come for this, -and there was virtue enough in the people to meet the consequences that -have flowed therefrom. These consequences, externally disastrous to -individuals as they have proved, have not been severe enough to check -the onward advancement of the nation. They are, in fact, a reaction, -upon individuals, of consequences flowing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span> from their own acts, and -showing them that their acts were evil. The love of wealth, for its -own sake, needed to be regenerated. It was a great evil, fraught with -unhappiness. Its regeneration could only be effected in rational light -and mental freedom. That is, men must see it to be an evil, and freely -put it away. But, so long as a man secures the gratification of every -lust, just so long he sees it to be good instead of evil. It is only -when he is deprived of its gratification, through consequences growing -out of its indulgence, that he is enabled to perceive its true quality. -And this is just the effect produced upon the general mind by the -instability that attends the possession of wealth in this country. A -man who loves money for its own sake, and looks upon it as the greatest -good, is not at all likely to have his false view corrected, while -all is sunshine and prosperity; but, in reverses, he sees with a more -purified vision.</p> - -<p>In a word, then, we believe that the cause why wealth is so unstable a -thing in this country, lies in the free scope that every man’s selfish -impulses find, and instability is only a salutary reaction. And, in -this seeming evil, we recognize a Divine Providence, still educing -good.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> - -<p>A change in our form of government, as some have thought, cannot, -therefore, effect a remedy for the evil which so many lament. Nor is it -to be found in penal statutes. It will come only when the whole nation, -as one man, shall be guided in every transaction, small and great, by -justice and judgment, and not till then. In the mean time, it is every -man’s duty, who sees and acknowledges this truth, to do all in his -power to give it vitality in the minds of the people.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.<br><span class="small">HUMAN PRUDENCE.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>“It’s my opinion, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, that every man who remains poor through -life, or who, once possessing wealth, loses it, has only himself to -blame. I am out of all patience with these constant failures that -occur in the mercantile community, and set them all down to sad -mismanagement, or utter incapacity for business; and I am equally -out of patience with the unceasing murmurs of those who have not the -means of supplying their wants. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> fault, in both cases, is with the -individual, and no where else.”</p> - -<p>“The fault may be, and doubtless is, to some extent, in the individual, -but I am satisfied that you are in error in the broad ground you take, -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. Above and beyond man’s will and action, is a Power that -rules events. Human prudence is not every thing in fact, it is nothing, -when it comes in opposition to the designs of Providence.”</p> - -<p>“Your profession, as a minister, naturally leads you to such -conclusions,” replied the merchant. “But, as a man of business and -close observation of men and things, I am satisfied that, in the -ordinary pursuits of life, Providence interferes but little; and that -all, or nearly all, of success or failure is chargeable to man’s own -efficient or inefficient action.”</p> - -<p>“I will grant that it is chargeable to his ends, and to his actions, so -far as they are influenced by his ends. But that the mere possession of -mercantile ability, and the means of engaging in trade, will give a man -wealth and its permanent enjoyments, I seriously doubt.”</p> - -<p>“I am not sure, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, that I understand what you mean by the -first sentence of your last remark.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> - -<p>“About a man’s ends influencing his external condition?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“I mean, that a man’s end in seeking wealth may be of such a nature, -that, after attaining what he has sought, the loss thereof may be -necessary as a reaction upon that end, in order that it may be changed -into one less useful and soul-destroying. The Divine Providence, which, -I believe, governs in the most intimate things of every man’s life, has -sole reference to what is spiritual and eternal, and so disposes of -things, external and worldly, as to make them subserve man’s highest -and best interests. I believe, therefore, that if it is best for man’s -eternal state that he should be poor, and have to struggle hard to -obtain mere food and clothing, that he will remain poor in spite of a -lifelong effort to get rich. And I also believe, that with one tenth of -his effort, another may accumulate a large fortune, who is no better, -perhaps not so good a man, but whose hereditary evils are of a nature -to be best reacted upon in a state of prosperity.”</p> - -<p>“Very much like fatalism, all that,” said the merchant. “What use is -there in a man’s striving at all?”</p> - -<p>“It is any thing but fatalism, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> And as no man can know -the true quality of his internal life, nor what external condition will -best react upon it, he is not left to the choice of that condition. -Necessity, or a love of gain, causes him to enter into some business or -profession, and according to the pressing nature of his necessities, -or his desire for wealth, is the earnestness with which he struggles -for success. As is best for him, so is the result. To him who needs -the disappointments, anxieties, and sad discouragements that attend -poverty and reverses of fortune, these come; and to him whose external -interests will be best promoted by success, success is given. In all -this, human prudence is actually nothing, though human prudence is the -natural agent by which the Divine Providence works.”</p> - -<p>“All that sounds very well, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, but I don’t believe it. My -doctrine is, and always has been, that every man who will use the right -means, can get rich; and if he will manage his affairs, afterwards, -with common prudence, may retain what he has acquired. I certainly, -am not afraid of the loss of property. But, may be, I am one of your -favored ones, whose spiritual interests are best promoted by a state of -prosperity.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> - -<p>“That, of course, is not for you nor I to know, at present,” returned -the minister, speaking seriously. “The time may come when you will see -the whole subject in a different light, and think, perhaps, as I do -now.”</p> - -<p>“Then you prophesy that I will become a broken merchant?”</p> - -<p>“No, I prophesy no such thing. Judging from appearances, I should -say that few men were less likely to become poor. Still, Riches have -Wings, and your possessions may take flight one day, as well as another -man’s. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Barker, a few years ago, stood as far above the dangers of a -reverse as you now do.”</p> - -<p>“And would have stood there until to-day, but for his own folly. Look -what a mistake he made! How any man, of his age and experience, could -suffer himself to be tempted into such a mad investment of property, is -to me inconceivable. He deserved to fail.”</p> - -<p>“Heretofore he had always been prudent and far-seeing in all his -operations?”</p> - -<p>“No man more so.”</p> - -<p>“But, when it became necessary for his higher and better interests that -he should sustain reverses, he lost his prudence, and his mind was no -longer far-seeing. Depend upon it. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, the hand of Providence -is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> in all this! I have seen <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Barker frequently since the great -change that has taken place in his circumstances. He is not the man -that he was. His whole character has softened.”</p> - -<p>“He must be very miserable.”</p> - -<p>“To me he seems quite as happy, as before.”</p> - -<p>“Impossible!”</p> - -<p>“No. The wind is tempered to the shorn lamb. He who sends reverses -and afflictions for our good, gives strength and patience to bear -them. I have seen many families reduced from affluence to poverty, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend, and in but few instances have I seen individuals made more -wretched thereby.”</p> - -<p>“That to me is inconceivable,” said the merchant. “I cannot credit it.”</p> - -<p>“At first, there was great anguish of mind. The very life seemed about -to be extinguished. But, when all the wild elements that had come -into strife and confusion, had subsided, there came a great calm. The -natural life was yet sustained. Its bread and its water were still -sure. There was a feeling of confidence that all things necessary for -health, comfort, and usefulness, would still be given, if sought for -in a right spirit. Poverty, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, is no curse, nor is wealth a -blessing, abstractly considered.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> They bless or curse according to the -effect they produce upon our minds. The happiest man I ever saw, was a -poor man, so far as this world’s goods were concerned. He was a good -man.”</p> - -<p>There was something in the words of the minister that impressed itself -upon the mind of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, notwithstanding his efforts to put no -value upon what he said. Frequently, afterwards, certain expressions -and positions assumed, would arise in his thought and produce a feeling -of uneasiness. His confidence in human prudence, though still strong, -had been slightly impaired.</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton was the minister of a wealthy and fashionable congregation, -to whom his talents made him acceptable. Not infrequently did he give -offence by his plainness of speech and conscientious discharge of the -duties of his office; but his talents kept him in his position. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend was a wealthy merchant, and a member, for appearance sake, of -his church. As to religion, he did not possess a very large share. His -god was Mammon.</p> - -<p>The occasion of the conversation just given, was the failure of a -substantial member of the church, for whose misfortunes <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, -as might be inferred, felt little sympathy; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> less, perhaps, from -the fact that he was to be the loser of a few thousands of dollars by -the disaster. The minister was on a visit to the house of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, -in the presence of whose family the conversation took place.</p> - -<p>“How I do despise this cant—I can call it by no better name,” said the -merchant, after the minister had left. “I am surprised to hear it from -a man of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton’s talents. He might talk such stuff as this to me -until doomsday, and I would not believe it.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had a son and two daughters. The latter, Eveline and -Eunice, were present during the conversation with the minister, and -noticed the remarks of their father, after <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton left. Some -time afterward, when they were alone, Eunice, the younger of the two -daughters, said, with unusual sobriety of manner, “Father treated what -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton said very lightly; don’t you think so?”</p> - -<p>“Indeed, I don’t know,” was the thoughtless reply of Eveline, who was -noticing the effect of a costly diamond breast-pin with which her -brother had, a day or two before, presented her. “<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton has a -strange way of talking, sometimes. I suppose he would—there! isn’t -that brilliant, Eunie? If brother John could only see the effect! I’m a -thousand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span> times obliged to him. Isn’t it splendid, Eunie?”</p> - -<p>“It is, indeed, Evie. But what were you going to say about <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton?”</p> - -<p>“Dear knows! I forget now. John must have given at least five hundred -dollars for this pin, don’t you think he did?”</p> - -<p>“I am sure I don’t know. I never think about how much a thing costs.”</p> - -<p>“Jane Loming’s is admired by every body; but the diamonds in this are -twice the size of those in hers, and it contains two to one. Just look -how purely the light is sent back from the very bosom of each lucid -gem. Could any thing be more brilliant! How I love gold and diamonds! -They are nature’s highest and loveliest achievements.”</p> - -<p>“In the mineral kingdom,” said Eunice, in her gentle way. “But gold and -diamonds I love not half so well as I do flowers, nor are they half so -beautiful. There is your glittering diamond. There is a flower not only -far more beautiful, but with a spirit of perfume in its heart. And when -I look into your eyes, sister, how dim and cold appear the inanimate -gems that sparkle on your bosom. There are lovelier things in nature, -Evie, than gold and diamonds.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span></p> - -<p>“You are a strange girl, Eunie,” returned Eveline, playfully. “I don’t -know what to make of you, sometimes.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what there is strange about me, sister,” said Eunice. -“Have I not said the truth? Is not a flower a lovelier and more -excellent thing than a brilliant stone, which, because it is the purest -and rarest substance in the mineral kingdom, is prized the highest, but -is still only a stone?”</p> - -<p>“Would you give a diamond for a flower, Eunie? Tell me that, dear.”</p> - -<p>“No, because diamonds have a certain value as property, and are -rarer than flowers. Flowers spring up every where. With a few seeds -and a little earth, or with the fiftieth part of the price of a -moderate-sized diamond, I can have them at my will. But, give me a -little bouquet of sweet flowers, and I will enjoy it more, and love it -better, than all the jewels in my casket.”</p> - -<p>“I verily believe you would, Eunie. It’s like you. And sometimes I half -wish that I, too, could find delight in these simple things; that I -could love a flower as you do. Flowers are beautiful, and please me at -first sight; but I soon grow weary of them, while you will cherish even -a half-opened bud, and love it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> while a leaf retains its beauty and -perfume. But, to change the subject, how are you going to dress at Mrs. -Glover’s, next week?”</p> - -<p>“I havn’t thought about that, yet. What do <i>you</i> mean to wear?”</p> - -<p>“This diamond breast-pin, of course.”</p> - -<p>“No doubt of that,” said Eunice, smiling.</p> - -<p>“And you will go, as likely as not, without an ornament, except a -flower in your hair.”</p> - -<p>“Not quite so plain as that, Evie. You know I don’t dislike -ornament—only the unharmonious profusion of it in which—”</p> - -<p>“I indulge, Eunie.”</p> - -<p>“A simpler style of dress and ornament would doubtless become you -better,” said Eunice, again smiling. “That, you know, I have always -said.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and I have always said that a little more of both would make in -you a wonderful improvement.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps they might. We are all apt to run into extremes; though I -think the extreme of plainness is better than its opposite.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. All extremes are bad.”</p> - -<p>“Even the extreme of gay dressing?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly. But you know, sister, that I don’t plead guilty to that -folly. I have attained the happy medium in dress.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> - -<p>“So you say. Well, if yours be the happy medium, Evie, a stage-dancer’s -must be the extreme.”</p> - -<p>“That’s your opinion, and I won’t quarrel with you about it. But it’s -time, Eunie, that we were selecting our dresses, be they gay or plain.”</p> - -<p>“So it is; but it won’t take me long to make a choice. How would I look -in a white muslin, with just a little satin trimming?”</p> - -<p>“Nonsense, Eunie! White muslin with satin trimming, indeed!”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know any thing more beautiful or becoming than white.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you, indeed! Perhaps I might suggest something?”</p> - -<p>“Not for me, Evie,” returned Eunice, good-humoredly. “It will be best -for each of us to consult her own taste; and if we do run a little into -opposite extremes, it will be no very serious matter.”</p> - -<p>Eveline could not but agree with this and so the good-natured contest -ended.</p> - -<p>The leading traits of character that marked the two sisters, appear, -to some extent, in this conversation. Eveline was a gay, high-spirited -girl, who was fond of pleasure, and enjoyed, sometimes, even to excess, -the privileges<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> afforded by her position; while Eunice was retiring and -thoughtful, and took more delight in doing some useful thing, than in -dress or fashionable company. But, opposite as were their dispositions, -they were tenderly affectionate towards each other, and had been so -from childhood.</p> - -<p>At the time our story opens, Eveline was twenty, and Eunice in the -nineteenth year of her age. For nearly a year, Eveline had been -receiving the attentions of a young man named Henry Pascal, son of a -wealthy merchant and friend of her father. Pascal was in Europe, where -he had been spending some months, and was in familiar correspondence -with Eveline. Although no regular engagement had been made, yet it -was pretty well understood, in both families, that a marriage between -the young couple would take place. Eunice had no acknowledged lover, -although many had looked upon her pure young face with loving eyes.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.<br><span class="small">CONFIDENCE IN HUMAN PRUDENCE SHAKEN.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>Some things that were said by the minister, came back to the mind of -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, and slightly disturbed it. The possibility that there -might be truth in what he had said, was suggested to his thoughts, and -he felt fretted at the idea of any Providential interference with his -worldly prosperity. He wished to be let alone; and even went so far as -to say, mentally, that he considered himself perfectly competent to -manage his own affairs. But this state did not remain long. Possession, -with him, was nine points of the law, and he meant to retain his -advantage.</p> - -<p>It happened, not long after, that an arrival from the Pacific brought -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend letters from the supercargo of one of his vessels, -announcing the loss, in a terrible storm, of a fine ship laden with a -return cargo of specie and hides, valued at thirty thousand dollars. -She had only been out of Callao two days when the disaster took place. -The loss of both ship and cargo, it was feared, would be total.</p> - -<p>“By the ships ‘Gelnare’ and ‘Hyperion,’”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> said one of these letters, -“advices in respect to cargo, were sent.”</p> - -<p>Unfortunately for <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, neither of these vessels had arrived, -and therefore no insurance had been made upon the cargo. They were -both telegraphed on the next day, but they came too late. Three weeks -elapsed without further intelligence, when the captain and supercargo -arrived, bringing news of the entire wreck of the vessel and loss of -the cargo.</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend loved money for its own sake, and, therefore, although -worth some two or three hundred thousand dollars, the loss of thirty -thousand was felt severely. It made him exceedingly unhappy, and by -the reaction of his state upon his family, disturbed the peaceful -atmosphere of home.</p> - -<p>A month after the intelligence of this loss came, he received account -sales of ten thousand barrels of flour, shipped to Montevideo, where -very high prices had ruled in the market for some months. He expected -to make from five to ten thousand dollars by the shipment. But the -arrival of half a dozen ship loads of flour, simultaneously with his -own, had knocked down the price, and he lost by the adventure over -twelve thousand dollars. As a remittance, his consignees sent, in -part, a cargo<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> of cocoa, upon which there was another loss; not of -much consequence in amount, but serious as to the effect produced upon -the merchant’s mind. Hitherto, almost every commercial enterprise had -been successful. All his previous losses did not amount to twenty -thousand dollars, and now, in the space of little over a month, he had -seen nearly fifty thousand dollars pass from his hands, without even -the opportunity of an effort to save it. And the worst of it was, he -could blame no one. The ship had been wrecked in a storm. Previously, -the supercargo had sent by the first vessel that sailed, after he had -determined upon the nature of his return cargo, all the information -necessary for purposes of insurance. But the winds and the waves had -retarded her progress until after the news of the wreck came. If -the loss had been the effects of clearly apparent human errors or -inefficiency, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend would have felt less disturbed about it; -for greater care on his own part, or a nicer discrimination in the -selection of his agents, would prevent a recurrence of like events -in future. But the satisfaction of mind such a reflection would have -produced, he was not permitted to have.</p> - -<p>For months after this, nothing but ill-luck<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> attended <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s -shipping interests. After this, followed several losses through the -failure of old customers, whose solvency, not only he, but every one -else, considered undoubted. During a single year, his riches, to the -amount of over seventy thousand dollars, took to themselves wings and -flew away, beyond the reach of recovery.</p> - -<p>In spite of every effort to put away from his mind the intruding -recollection of what <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton had said about the nothingness of -human prudence, the prominent features of the conversation he had held -with the clergyman were continually forcing themselves upon him, and -impressing him with a sense of his own powerlessness never felt before.</p> - -<p>From this time his trust in commerce became impaired. Hitherto he had -considered it the surest road to wealth, because it had borne him -safely on to prosperity. But now he hesitated and reconsidered the -matter over and over again, when proceeding to send out a ship, and -thought with doubt and anxiety about the result, after she had spread -her white sails to the breeze, and started on her voyage to distant -lands. This uncertain state of mind continued, until <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -began to think of some other mode of using his capital<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> less likely -to be attended with loss. He had been raised in the counting-room -of a shipping merchant; had sailed ten voyages while a young man, -as supercargo, and was now, from twenty five years active devotion -to business, thoroughly conversant with every thing appertaining to -commerce with foreign countries. As a shipper he was at home. But -although, like other men of his class, he had a general and pretty -accurate notion of the operations of trade, he had no practical -knowledge of any branch but his own. A few years before, he had said -that any man who, after ten or twenty years successful devotion to -any business, was silly enough to change it for another, of which he -knew little or nothing, deserved to lose, as he stood ten chances to -one of losing all he had made. And yet, notwithstanding all this, in -the darkness and doubt that had come over his mind, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had -serious thoughts of directing his capital into some other business.</p> - -<p>This important crisis in the merchant’s affairs occurred during a -period when every thing was inflated, and speculation rife. In his -younger days he had made, in one season, by speculating in cotton, -twenty thousand dollars; and, on another occasion, ten thousand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> -dollars in a single day, by operating in flour. Fortunes were lost at -the time, but he had been wise enough to stop at the right moment. -Rumors of this one having made twenty or thirty thousand dollars, and -the other one fifty or one hundred thousand, in the course of a few -months, were floating through all the circles of trade, and inspiring -men who had never made a dollar in their lives, except in regular -trade, to stake their fortunes on little better than the turn of a -die. The whole commercial atmosphere was filled with the miasmata of -speculation, and all men who inhaled it became more or less infected -with the disease. Property, estimated for years at a certain price, -suddenly changed hands at an advance and again at, perhaps, double the -original price paid for it. Why it had become so much more valuable -all at once, nobody could clearly explain, although reasons for it -were given that appeared to be taken for granted as true. A lot of -ground that the owner would have taken a thousand dollars for, and been -glad to have got it, all at once became worth two or three thousand -dollars, and was sold for that sum; and, in the course of a month or -two, perhaps, was resold for five or six thousand, on the rumor of a -railroad terminus being about to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> be located in the neighborhood, or -some great change in the avenues of trade in progress that would make -it immensely valuable. Imaginary cities were bought and sold; and -railroad and canal stocks, while not even the lines of improvement they -pretended to represent had been surveyed, passed from hand to hand at -twenty, thirty, fifty, and sometimes a hundred per cent. above their -par value. Men stood looking on in wonder at this strange state of -affairs, or plunged in headlong to struggle for the wealth they coveted.</p> - -<p>Nor were individuals permitted to remain the passive spectators of all -that was going on around them. Daily, and almost hourly, some one, -infected with the mania, would present himself, and urge, with such -eloquence and seeming fairness, a participation in the vast benefits -of some imposing scheme of profit, that to withstand his persuasions -was almost impossible. And these individuals were so generous, too. -They were not content to make fortunes themselves, but wanted every -body else to take a share of the golden harvests they were reaping. -If you had no cash to spare, that did not matter. Your credit was -good, and your note, as an acknowledgment of the purchase, and a -formulary of trade<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> all that was wanted. To give a note of ten thousand -dollars, to-day, for a piece of property that there was a fair chance -of selling, in a fortnight, for twenty thousand, was, certainly, a -temptation. Of course you had to sell, if you did sell, as you bought, -for paper, not for cash. But that was nothing. Every body was getting -rich, and, therefore, everybody was safe. There was no risk in taking -a man’s note for ten or twenty thousand dollars, payable six or twelve -months hence, when he was known to be worth one, two, three, or four -hundred thousand.</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had a neighbor whose name was Cleveland. This man called -in to see him at least once every day, to talk about schemes of profit, -and the chances of acquiring great wealth suddenly. He was also engaged -in shipping, and had made a good deal of money by fortunate adventures. -Recently he had sold one of his vessels and freighted the other, which -had enabled him to divert a considerable amount of capital into the -new channels of profit that had opened all around him. This Cleveland -was half owner of a western city, a map of which hung up in his -counting-room. The name of the city was “Eldorado.” As could be seen -by its position, relative to other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> parts of the State in which it was -situated, it was plain that “Eldorado” was destined to become, at no -very distant day, one of the most important places in the West. It was -situated on the bank of a rapid river, with a fall close by, affording -water-power for mills and manufactories to any extent. The country -around was healthy, and the lands were rich; and, moreover, a railroad, -now in process of erection, would pass through it from north to south, -and another from east to west. One of these roads started from the -lakes at the north, and was to terminate at the Ohio river. The other -started from, and terminated in, deep navigable rivers.</p> - -<p>This “Eldorado” <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Cleveland said he looked upon as the most valuable -of all his interests. His half of the city cost him twenty thousand -dollars, and he had already sold lots enough to realize fifteen -thousand dollars and expected to sell enough to net him fifteen or -twenty more, and still have a little fortune safely locked up in -“Eldorado.”</p> - -<p>Besides his western town interest, he was largely concerned in a -manufacturing company; owned shares in all sort of internal improvement -and banking corporations; and was, according to his own showing, making -money<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> so fast that he could hardly count it as it came in. Some time -after, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend met with the loss of thirty thousand dollars by -the wreck of a vessel, upon the cargo of which no insurance had been -effected. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Cleveland said to him:</p> - -<p>“I’ve just made an operation from which I expect to realize fifty -thousand dollars before twelve months pass away.”</p> - -<p>“Have you, indeed!” responded Townsend.</p> - -<p>“Yes. I’ve bought up a majority of the stock of the Sandy Hill and -Dismal Lake Canal, at twenty per cent. below par.”</p> - -<p>“I would’nt have it at fifty cents below par,” returned Townsend. “The -project is in itself impracticable, and will never be carried out. The -stock is not worth a dollar, intrinsically, and never will be.”</p> - -<p>“There you are much mistaken,” replied Cleveland. “The survey has not -only been completed, but workmen are upon the lines, and now that I -have secured a control in the Board of Directors I mean to have the -work prosecuted with vigor. In two months I will have the stock up -to par, and in less than a year, as high as thirty per cent. above, -and not to be had easily, at that price. My shares cost a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> hundred -thousand dollars. When the price reaches thirty per cent. above par, -I will sell, and thus make fifty thousand dollars. After that, those -who own the canal may go on with it as they please. Won’t you take ten -or twenty thousand dollars worth of the stock? You will find it better -than the shipping interest?”</p> - -<p>“No, thank you, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Cleveland. I never meddle in matters of that kind. -Give me straight forward, legitimate trade; not uncertain speculation. -I have made my money by commerce, and will certainly not risk it in -fancy stocks or ideal cities. I have no taste for your ‘Eldorados’ and -‘Dismal Lake Canals!’ The one will turn your gold to dross, and the -other will bury it from your sight in its turbid waters.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t believe the half of it, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. Before two years have -passed away, I’ll show you a cool hundred thousand or two that I have -made by these and one or two other schemes I have in my head.”</p> - -<p>“If you don’t find yourself a ruined man you may be thankful. As to -your canal stock, even its par value will be a fictitious one, for, -if the works were completed, they never would pay an interest on the -investment. How much<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> more fictitious, then, will be the value at -thirty per cent. above par. Whoever buys at such a price will ruin -himself.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know how that may be. But I do know, that if I can sell the -stock that cost me only eighty, for a dollar thirty, I shall make just -fifty thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, <i>if</i>; but you are not going to find fools enough in the -world to buy a hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of fancy stock -at that price.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you believe it. I know what has been done, and I know what can -be done. There are stocks in the market, not half so promising as this, -up, already, to fifteen and twenty per cent. above par.”</p> - -<p>“Well, from all such uncertain schemes, I hope to be kept free, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Cleveland. Much more, I am satisfied, will be lost than gained, in the -end.”</p> - -<p>“I shall take good care to be a gainer,” said Cleveland. “Trust me for -that.”</p> - -<p>“Gain or loss, I am not to be tempted into the danger of losing what I -have made in honest trade, by the hope of great returns from doubtful -schemes,” replied Townsend, in a very positive way, and thus closed the -matter for the present.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.<br><span class="small">SPECULATION.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>A few months afterwards, when <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had, from repeated failures -to realize anticipated gains in commerce, grown distrustful of the -means of prosperity so long successfully applied, he listened with more -interest to what Cleveland had to say about the new roads to wealth -that had been opened.</p> - -<p>“Depend upon it, Townsend,” said the individual to him, one day, “that -you are standing still, while other men are seizing upon the golden -opportunities that offer themselves on every hand. Times have greatly -changed. A new order of things prevails. Wealth is no longer to be -gained in the old channels, or, at least, not without twenty times -the labor required in the new channels. Notwithstanding your want of -confidence in my ‘Sandy Hill and Dismal Lake Canal’ stock, I managed it -just as I said I would. I controlled the Board and had the excavations -entered upon with great vigor. I had an office procured in a public -location, where a clerk was placed, and every thing reduced to an -active business aspect.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> I secured one or two editors in favor of the -work, and got one or two shrewd brokers interested in the stock. Every -thing went on just as I desired. The price advanced steadily until -about ten days ago, when it reached the maximum of my wishes, since -which time I have been selling it as fast as I can without creating -suspicion. The stock is still firm. In a week or ten days more I -shall not own a share, and then the company can take care of its own -interests.”</p> - -<p>“And you will have cleared fifty thousand dollars by the operation?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, every cent of it.”</p> - -<p>“I can hardly credit it.”</p> - -<p>“I bought for eighty cents, and am selling for a dollar and thirty. You -can make the calculation yourself. And what is more than all this, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend, I have not had to use ten thousand dollars real money from -beginning to end. My credit was enough. Although such a handsome profit -has been made, only two or three of the first notes given for the stock -have fallen due.”</p> - -<p>“You sold on time?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly. But the notes of such men as D—— and P——, J. S——, and -L——, are as good as so much gold, any day.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> - -<p>“It’s surprising,” remarked Townsend, thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“But no more so than true,” said Cleveland, in a confident voice. “Now -is the time for a man who possesses good credit and a clear head to -make or double his fortune. I shall treble mine, and you can easily do -the same, and this, too, without interfering at all with your regular -business operations. Mine go on the same as usual.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Cleveland believed what he said. But he was slightly mistaken. To -these grand speculating schemes he gave up all his own thoughts and -attention, and left his regular business in charge of his eldest clerk, -in whom he had unlimited confidence. He was satisfied to believe that -every thing was conducted as well as it could have been done, if he had -given to it all his personal attention. In this, however, he was in -error.</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend hardly knew what to think. His confidence in the old way -that he had been for years pursuing, was impaired, and in spite of -his better judgment, confidence in the new way was gaining strength. -It occurred to him that he might be neglecting, unwisely, to improve -the golden opportunities that were presenting themselves every day, -because they did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> not exactly accord with his old notions of business. -He remembered how successful he had been, many years before, in -speculating in flour and cotton, and then asked himself why he might -not be quite as successful, if he tried his hand in some of the many -money-making schemes that were put in operation all around him.</p> - -<p>Another disastrous voyage, which no human foresight could have -prevented, completely unsettled his mind, and, in this state, with a -kind of bewildered desperation, he stepped aside from the old beaten -way, into one of the many paths that diverged towards the mountains of -wealth that were seen in the distance, towering up to the skies.</p> - -<p>Cleveland, like a tempting spirit, was near him to suggest the path he -should take. Stocks, Townsend had a prejudice against, except United -States Bank stock, and in that there was not sufficient fluctuation -in the price to make its purchase desirable. As a safe investment of -money, he would have preferred it to almost any thing else; but as a -matter of speculation, the inducements were not strong.</p> - -<p>“I do not like to have any thing to do with stocks,” he said to -Cleveland, who proposed their buying up a majority of the stock of a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> -broken bank, the charter of which was perpetual, and embraced several -advantages not usually possessed by banking institutions. “To me there -is something intangible about them. A ship, a bale of cotton, or a -piece of real estate, have a certain value in themselves; will always -bring a certain price; but scrip is merely a representative of property -that may or may not exist. You are never certain about it.”</p> - -<p>“You may be certain enough. As to the Eagle Bank stock, it may be had -for thirty cents on the dollar, and, by proper management, in twelve -months, or even a less time, be made worth, in the market, from seventy -to eighty cents, or even par. It has been done with the People’s Bank, -and can and will be done with this. I know several monied men who are -beginning to turn their thoughts towards this charter, and if we don’t -take hold of the matter at once, the opportunity will pass by. Another -such a chance is not likely soon to offer.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, with all his love of money, had a certain degree of -integrity about him, more the result of education as a merchant of the -old school than any thing else. The scheme proposed, he took a day to -reflect on,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> seriously. He looked at it in its incipiency, progress, -and termination, and saw that, although he might make twenty or thirty -thousand dollars, by selling off his stock when it had reached the -highest price to which their forcing system could raise it, others -would lose all he made; for the stock must inevitably fall in price. -In fact, he saw that he would make himself a party to a fraud upon the -public, and this he was unwilling to do. So he refused to enter into -this scheme. Cleveland then proposed to sell him out his interest in -“Eldorado,” that he might have more means, and a freer mind, to enter -into the Eagle Bank speculation—a thing that he said he was determined -to do.</p> - -<p>“I have already sold lots enough to pay for the original purchase, and -now own nearly half of the town,” he said.</p> - -<p>“What will you take for your interest?” <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend asked.</p> - -<p>“Forty thousand dollars; and I wouldn’t part with it for less than -double the price, were it not for my determination to push through -this matter of the Eagle Bank. In six months you can sell lots enough -to clear the whole purchase, and still be owner of at least a third of -the town. Come into my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> counting-room, and let me point out to you the -singular advantages that ‘Eldorado’ possesses.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend went to the store of the ardent speculator, to look at -the city on paper. There stood “Eldorado,” all laid off into streets -and city squares, with churches and public buildings scattered about -it quite thickly. In the centre was a large depot, where two extensive -lines of railroad crossed each other at right angles; and upon each, -at points east, west, north, and south, were long trains of passenger -and burden cars, gliding towards, or rushing away from the city. Across -the stream, upon the banks of which it stood, dams had been thrown, and -flour-mills and extensive factories were seen, admirably located, and -furnished with water-power that was inexhaustible.</p> - -<p>“All this,” said Cleveland, sweeping his hand around an imaginary vast -extent of country to the southwest of “Eldorado,” “is a wheat-growing -country, one of the finest in the world. From sixty to a hundred -bushels to the acre is the common yield. The mills will, therefore, -always have the fullest supply of grain. And this,” sweeping his -hand as before, but to the north of the city, “is a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> hilly country, -admirable for sheep, and the farmers are already finding it to their -advantage to graze them. Along the rich vallies that lie to the east, -millions of bushels of corn and thousands of head of cattle are -annually raised, for which ‘Eldorado’ will be the great entrepot. In -five years from this time, I prophesy that it will be the third city in -the State, and, in ten years, but little behind any city in the West.”</p> - -<p>And thus Cleveland continued to show the superior advantages possessed -by “Eldorado.” About a city with its houses, public squares, churches, -mill sites, etc., there was something more real to the mind of the -merchant, than about stocks in banks, railroads, or canals, and he felt -much better pleased with “Eldorado” than he did with the Eagle Bank.</p> - -<p>After considering the matter for a week, and holding several long -conversations with large holders of lots in “Eldorado,” <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -concluded to purchase out Cleveland’s entire interest, and then turn -his attention towards forwarding the improvements already begun. This -intention was put into execution forthwith. All the necessary papers -were drawn, and duly recorded, and the plan of “Eldorado” transferred -from the walls of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Cleveland’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> counting-room, to those of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend. Previous to this, the notes of the latter for the large sum -of forty thousand dollars, passed into the hands of the former, and -were immediately converted into cash.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.<br><span class="small">ELDORADO.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>About a month after <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend became the owner of nearly half of a -new and flourishing western city, he sent an agent out to examine the -condition of things there, and to take charge of certain improvements -it was his intention to begin forthwith. The agent had been gone a -little over six weeks, when the following letter was received from him:</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>:—After some considerable difficulty, I have, at -last, succeeded in finding ‘Eldorado.’ No one, in this part of the -country, had ever heard of such a place. When I showed the plan of -the city, and map of the surrounding country, people shook their -heads, and said there must be some mistake. But, by the aid of a State -surveyor, who knew rather<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> more about matters and things than the -common people, I was able to find the exact place which, with some -of the natural advantages, as that of a water-power, for instance, -which have been assigned to it, is yet as wild and unbroken a spot -as I have met in these wild regions. I learn that an actual survey -of it was made about a year ago, and the whole tract purchased for a -hundred dollars, and thought dear at that by those who did not know -for what it was designed. Of the railroads that are to run through -it, only one is commenced, or likely to be these ten years, and that -will not pass within sixty miles of the place. In a word, sir, not -the first spade-full of earth has been turned in this beautiful city -of ‘Eldorado,’ nor the first tree cut down. I fear that you have been -most shamefully deceived. I will await your reply to this letter before -returning home. Very respectfully, yours, etc.”</p> - -<p>“Forty thousand dollars more as good as cast into the sea!” said <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend, with forced composure, as he read the last sentence of this -letter, and comprehended the whole matter. “Fool! Fool! Why did I not -send the agent before I made the purchase? Was ever a man so beside -himself!”</p> - -<p>As soon as the mental blindness and confusion<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> that this intelligence -produced, had, in a degree, subsided, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend began to think -whether he could not save something by a forced sale of his interest -in “Eldorado.” But the idea of selling, for a consideration, something -that was utterly worthless, he could not exactly make up his mind to -do. While turning the matter over in his thoughts, it occurred to him -that, perhaps, Cleveland, who might be ignorant of the precise state of -things, would not hesitate to purchase back the interest in “Eldorado,” -if he could get it at five or ten thousand dollars less than he had -received for it. With the intention of making him the offer, at least, -Townsend called upon the sharp-witted speculator, who received him with -unaccustomed coolness, and seemed to feel uneasy in his presence.</p> - -<p>“Don’t you wish your interest in ‘Eldorado’ restored?” said the -merchant, with as much coolness as he could assume. Cleveland -compressed his lips tightly, and shook his head, while an expression -that <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend did not at all like, crossed his face. The merchant -returned to his counting-room, without saying any thing more on the -subject. A few minutes after he had come back, one of his clerks handed -him the morning paper, with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> his finger upon a paragraph, saying, as he -did so,</p> - -<p>“Have you seen that, sir?”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend ran his eyes hurriedly over the article pointed out by his -clerk. It was from a western paper, and read as follows:</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Eldorado.</span>—We were shown, a day or two since, the plan of a -city with this name, located on the L—— river, in our county. The two -great railroads that are to cross the State, in opposite directions, -were made to pass each other at right angles in the centre of this -town, although neither of them will ever come within forty miles of -it. Streets, squares, churches, public halls, and all were there in -beautiful order; and extensive mills were shown erected on the river. -All, or nearly all of them, the person who had the plan expected to -find; and we gathered from him that one third of the town of ‘Eldorado’ -had been sold at the East for the handsome little sum of forty thousand -dollars—not much for the third of a splendid city, we confess, but -rather a large price for a part of ‘Eldorado,’ which still lies in -primitive forest, with trees of a hundred years’ growth, rising from -the very spot where the public halls and pillared churches are made to -stand.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p> - -<p>“In a word, this ‘Eldorado’ is a splendid fraud, but only one of a -thousand that are daily practiced. We warn the public against it; and -we can do so with the belief that our warning will not be disregarded, -for we happen to know that there is as little chance of a great city, -or even a small village, springing up in this out of the way spot, as -upon one of the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.”</p> - -<p>After he had read this, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend understood the meaning of that -expression in Cleveland’s face, which had struck him as peculiar. He -had, doubtless, seen this paragraph, and learned therefrom, that the -bubble he had helped to blow up, was ready to explode. Of course, he -didn’t want “Eldorado” property at any price.</p> - -<p>In a day or two, the paragraph from the western paper appeared in all -the city papers, and with various comments from the different editors. -In one of them it was remarked, that a certain shipping merchant -had, only a few weeks before, paid seventy thousand dollars for half -of the “city.” “Of course,” the article went on to say, “here are -seventy thousand dollars lost in a single gambling operation. When such -splendid stakes as these are lost and won, we must not be astonished -if we hear<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> of failures by the dozens in the ranks of our merchant -princes. In this number we shall not be at all surprised to find the -owner of half of ‘Eldorado.’”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend read this with pain, mortification, and a strange fear -about his heart. In a little over a year, property, amounting to nearly -a hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, had melted away, and passed -from his hands, irrecoverably. It seemed like a dream, so rapidly had -transpired the singularly disastrous incidents. But worse than the -mere loss of money, was the effect produced upon the merchant. His -confidence in all business operations was gone; and he came into the -unhappy state of those who believe that the fates are against them. If -a ship came in, he was afraid to send her forth again, lest the voyage -should prove unsuccessful; and he sold to even his best customers with -timidity. To continue to do business in such a state of doubt as to the -result, was not possible for <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, and he concluded, after a -long and anxious consideration of the subject, to withdraw from trade, -and seek some safe investment of the remainder of his property; the -interest from which would be ample for the maintenance of his family in -the style of elegance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> in which they had been accustomed to live.</p> - -<p>The execution of this determination was hastened by the loss of another -ship and cargo in a typhoon in the Indian Ocean. In this case insurance -had been regularly effected; and the loss was promptly paid; but the -disaster completed the overthrow of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s confidence in all -business operations. More clearly than he had ever perceived it in his -life, did he see the uncertainty that, as a natural consequence, must -attend all commercial adventures, subject as they were to fluctuations -and disturbances in the markets; the caprices of the winds and the -waves, and the doubtful integrity of man. He wondered at the signal -success that had attended his career as a merchant, and felt that -something more than his own sagacity was involved therein.</p> - -<p>The amount received from the underwriters for the ship and cargo which -had been lost, was sixty thousand dollars. This sum was invested -in stock of the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, as the safest -productive disposition of it that could be made. Then, with an earnest -devotion of his time and energies to the end in view, did <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -proceed to wind up his business. His ships were sold;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> his goods -disposed of as rapidly as possible, and, at last, his store was closed, -and he removed his counting-room to a second story, retaining a single -clerk to assist in the final settlement of his affairs.</p> - -<p>As fast as money was realized, United States Bank stock was purchased, -as a temporary disposal of it, until some other and safer investment -could be made. Ground rents, and loans on bond and mortgage, -were looked to as the ultimate mode of investing the bulk of his -fortune—now reduced, he found, to a little over a hundred and seventy -thousand dollars, and a portion of that in doubtful hands.</p> - -<p>Months passed from the time the first purchase of United States Bank -stock was made, and still no other investment of money had taken -place. Several ground rents in the heart of the city, secured by -costly improvements, had come into market, but <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend hesitated -about taking them until it was too late. He had received any number of -applications for loans, to be secured by bond and mortgage, but could -not make up his mind about the safety of any one of the operations. -Thus, the time passed, and more and more of his property was daily -becoming represented by United States Bank scrip, until nearly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> every -thing he possessed was locked up in the stock of an institution, looked -upon by every one as the safest in the country, yet, really, tottering -upon the verge of ruin.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.<br><span class="small">LOVE AND PRIDE.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>Two years have glided away since the opening of our story. During that -time the characters of Eveline and Eunice have developed themselves, -more and more, toward a fixed maturity. While the former is still as -gay and fond of dress and company as before, the latter has retired -more and more, apparently, within herself, but really into the exercise -of those purer thoughts and affections, that look to the good of -others. All who come into close contact with her, love her for the -sweetness of her temper, and the gentle spirit that utters itself in -the tones of her voice, and the mild light of her calm blue eyes.</p> - -<p>Neither Eveline nor Eunice have yet wedded. Henry Pascal has been -home from his long European tour about six months, and,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> since his -return, has been constant in his attentions to Eveline, with whom -he corresponded, regularly, during the whole period of his absence. -Eveline is deeply attached to him, and, although no formal offer of -marriage has taken place, considers herself, as well as is considered -by others, his affianced bride. Twice has the hand of Eunice been -sought—once, all approved the offer but herself; and once, though -her own heart approved, the objections of her parent and friends were -so strong she yielded passively to their opposition. Passively, so -far as act was concerned, but her heart remained the same, and turned -faithfully toward the sun of its love.</p> - -<p>The young man who had thus won the pure regard of Eunice, had recently -been elevated from the position of clerk to that of limited partner, -in a respectable mercantile house, and had, since this elevation, been -introduced into a higher social grade than the one he had been used to. -Here he met Eunice Townsend. The first time his eyes rested upon her, -and before he had heard her name, or knew her connections, her image -impressed itself upon his heart, and remained there ever after. He -could not have effaced it, even if he had made the effort. This young -man’s name was Rufus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> Albertson. His mother, a poor widow, had obtained -for him, when he was quite a lad, a situation in a store, and dying -shortly afterward, he was left without any relative. The owner of the -store finding him active, intelligent, and honest, took him into his -house; and raised and educated him. By his industry and devotion to -business, from his fifteenth to his twenty-first year, the young man -fully repaid the kindness he had received.</p> - -<p>When Albertson learned to what family the sweet young creature, -toward whom his heart had instantly warmed, belonged, he felt, for -a time, unhappy. Townsend was known to be proud and aristocratic in -his feelings, and would not, he felt satisfied, countenance, for an -instant, any advances he might make toward his daughter. But, she -filled his thoughts by day, and was even present with him in his dreams -by night. At his first meeting with Eunice, he looked upon her and -worshipped in the distance. A few weeks afterward, he met her again, -and sought an introduction. The genuine simplicity of her manners -charmed him more than the beauty of her face; and when he entered into -conversation with her, spontaneously their thoughts flowed along in the -same channel; and the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> sentiments they uttered found in each bosom a -reciprocal response. After their third meeting, Albertson noticed that -the eyes of Eunice were frequently turned toward him, while he moved in -distant parts of the room, and drooped slowly beneath his gaze, when he -looked at her steadily. All this was food for his passion.</p> - -<p>Thus the tender flower of love, once having taken root, fixed itself -more firmly in the ground, spread leaf after leaf, and put forth branch -after branch, until bud and blossom became distinctly visible.</p> - -<p>Albertson felt the difficulties of his position, but his was not a mind -to be discouraged by difficulties. He loved Eunice, and it was plain -that she returned his affection. This was the most important point -gained, an advantage that would count against many disadvantages. Manly -and straight-forward in his character, he could not, for a moment, -entertain the thought of any clandestine action. So soon, therefore, as -he was satisfied of the state of the maiden’s feelings, he determined -to visit her at her father’s house, boldly, and he did so. His first -call was made about one month after the suit of a previous lover had -been declined. No notice was taken of it except<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> by Eveline, who made -it the occasion of some sportive remarks, at the expense of the young -man. The seriousness with which this was received, first made her aware -that her sister was very far from feeling indifferent toward him, and -she herself became at once serious. She said nothing at the time, but -closely observed Eunice, and marked her conduct, particularly when they -happened to be in any company where Albertson was present. After the -young man had made his second call, she said to her sister, in order to -bring her out—</p> - -<p>“I don’t like the familiarity with which this young man visits here.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?” asked Eunice. “Is his right to call any less than that of -other young men who visit us?”</p> - -<p>“I rather think it is,” replied Eveline.</p> - -<p>“I do not know why,” returned the sister. “Is he less virtuous?”</p> - -<p>“I know nothing of his virtues or vices; but I believe he has been only -a poor clerk until recently; and now is only the junior partner, with a -limited interest, in some obscure business house.”</p> - -<p>“Does all that take from his worth as a man, Evie? Certainly not in my -eyes!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> - -<p>“Why Eunie! You surprise me!”</p> - -<p>“How so? Have I uttered a strange sentiment? Is it not true that</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">‘Worth makes the man; the want of it the fellow?’</span><br> -</p> - -<p>I thought you understood, perfectly, my sentiments on this subject.”</p> - -<p>“What do you know of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Albertson’s worth as a man?” asked Eveline. -“You have not been acquainted with him for a very long time, I believe.”</p> - -<p>“No; but the little I have seen of him has impressed me favorably. -He seems to be a man with his heart in the right place. I am free to -own that, so far, I like him as a companion exceedingly well. There -is nothing artificial or assumed about him. You see him as he is, a -plain, frank, honest-hearted man, what I cannot help valuing in an -acquaintance, for they are rare virtues among those I happen to meet.”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid father and mother will not approve your preference in this -instance, Eunie. Indeed, I am sure they will not, especially after -your refusing to receive the attentions of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Pelham, whose family -connections are among the best in the city, and whose father is worth a -million of dollars.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> - -<p>A slight shade came over the maiden’s face, and there was a change in -her voice as she replied to this—</p> - -<p>“I should like to please father and mother in every thing; though I -fear this will be impossible.”</p> - -<p>“I am sure you will not please them if you encourage this young man’s -attentions,” said Eveline.</p> - -<p>Eunice sighed gently, but made no answer.</p> - -<p>Not a very long time elapsed before Albertson called again. He happened -to find Eunice alone, and took advantage of the opportunity to make -advances of a nature easily understood by the maiden. These were not -repulsed by Eunice. A month or two later, and a fair opportunity was -offered him to tell his love, and he embraced it. The declaration was -received with great frankness by Eunice, whose well-balanced mind kept -her above the betrayal of any weakness. She owned that he had awakened -in her a tenderer sentiment than she had ever felt for any one; but, -at the same time, she informed him that it would be necessary for -him to see her father, and gain his approval in the matter, without -which, with her present views and feelings, she could give him no -encouragement to hope for her hand.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> - -<p>More than this, Albertson had not expected. But he felt that the result -was still very doubtful. On the next day he called to see <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. -It happened, that the merchant had just received intelligence of a -heavy loss, and was in a very unhappy state of mind.</p> - -<p>“Well, sir?” he said, in a quick and impatient voice to Albertson, as -the latter entered his counting-room, and disturbed him in the midst -of a pile of letters, over which he was looking. He had seen the young -man a few times before, but his youthful appearance had prevented his -noticing him very particularly. He knew nothing of him, and supposed -him to be a clerk, sent on the present occasion with some message from -his employer.</p> - -<p>Albertson bowed, as the merchant thus rudely interrogated him, and -said, with as much composure as he could assume—the manner of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend chafed him—</p> - -<p>“I wish to say a word to you, sir, on a matter that concerns us both.”</p> - -<p>There was something in the way this was uttered, that caused the -supercilious manner of the merchant to change. He turned full around -from his desk, saying in a more respectful voice as he did so,</p> - -<p>“Be seated, sir. Your face is familiar to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> me, although I cannot this -moment call you by name.”</p> - -<p>“My name is Rufus Albertson.”</p> - -<p>“Albertson? Albertson?”</p> - -<p>“I belong to the firm of Jones, Claire, & Co.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! Yes. Very well, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Albertson, what is it you wish to say to me?”</p> - -<p>“Simply, sir, that I have come to ask the privilege of addressing your -daughter Eunice.”</p> - -<p>Instantly the whole manner of the merchant changed. A heavy frown -settled upon his brow, and his eyes became angry in their expression.</p> - -<p>“<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Albertson,” he said, in a firm, resolute voice, “your presumption -surprises me! Who are you? And what claims have you to the hand of my -daughter?”</p> - -<p>“The claim of an honest man who loves your daughter,” replied Albertson.</p> - -<p>“Go, sir! Go!” exclaimed Townsend, losing all patience at this cool -response, “and don’t dare to think of an alliance with my child! It -shall never take place! Go, sir! Go!”</p> - -<p>And he waived his hand for the young man to retire.</p> - -<p>Albertson attempted to urge some considerations upon the excited -merchant, but an order to leave the counting-room, followed by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> an -insulting expression, caused him instantly to depart.</p> - -<p>An hour or two afterward, Eunice received the following brief note from -her lover:</p> - -<p>“I have seen your father, and he has met my request with an -angry refusal. Have I nothing to hope? You said his consent was -indispensable. Are you still of that mind? Dear Eunice! shall the will -of another prevent the union of our hearts? I feel that, upon every -principle of right, this ought not to be. Write to me immediately, and -oh! do not extinguish every light of hope. Let one at least burn, even -if its rays be feeblest.”</p> - -<p>To this, the maiden, after taking time for reflection, replied:</p> - -<p>“I did not hope for a favorable issue to your application. My father -looks, I fear, to wealth and social standing, more than to qualities of -mind. As I said before, his consent is, for the present, indispensable. -The will of another may prevent an external union, although it cannot -prevent an union of our hearts. If your regard for me is deeply -based; if you can have patience to wait long in hope of more favoring -circumstances, then the light you speak of need not go out in your mind.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">‘To patient faith, the prize is sure.’</span><br> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> - -<p>Time works many changes. Have faith in time.”</p> - -<p>Albertson read these precious words over twice, and then pressing them -to his lips, said,</p> - -<p>“Yes! I will have faith in time. I would be unworthy of that true heart -were I to give way to impatience and doubt.”</p> - -<p>Eunice was sitting alone that evening, just after the twilight shadows -had rendered all objects around her indistinct, when her father entered -the room where she was sitting. She felt his presence like a weight -upon her bosom.</p> - -<p>“Eunice! Who is this Albertson?” he asked, abruptly and sternly.</p> - -<p>Even from a child, Eunice had possessed great self-control and -composure under agitating circumstances. But never, in her life, had -she been so deeply disturbed as now, and it required the utmost effort -of her will to keep from bursting into tears. She, however, remained -externally calm, and said in a low, subdued voice:</p> - -<p>“Do you not know him?”</p> - -<p>“How should I know him, pray?”</p> - -<p>“He has been here frequently. I thought you had met him.”</p> - -<p>“And suppose I have! Does the mere meeting of one of your young -whipper-snappers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> constitute a knowledge as to who and what he is? Do -<i>you</i> know him?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, I believe I do.”</p> - -<p>“And what do you know of him?”</p> - -<p>“That he is a young man of virtuous principles.”</p> - -<p>“And I suppose you also know that he aspires to your hand.”</p> - -<p>“I do,” calmly replied Eunice, letting her eyes fall to the floor.</p> - -<p>“And you favor his presumption, I plainly see.”</p> - -<p>“For that, father, I am not to blame,” returned Eunice, in the same -low, subdued voice. “I cannot help loving virtue and all manly -excellencies combined, when they offer themselves for my love.”</p> - -<p>“Girl!” ejaculated <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, passionately, “I forbid, positively -and unequivocally, all alliance with this low born, presumptuous -fellow. If you disobey me, I will discard you forever!”</p> - -<p>“I will not disobey you, father,” answered Eunice, in a tremulous -voice, “though obedience cause my heart to break.” And rising, she -retired from the room, and went up into her chamber to weep.</p> - -<p>So unexpected a reply, as well as the manner<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> and tone in which it was -made, a little surprised the father. The passion into which he had -worked himself was all gone, and he stood half wondering at his loss -of excitement. The even temper of Eunice, during the trying scene, and -her prompt self-denial in a matter so vital to her happiness, he could -not help feeling as a reproof upon his own harsh, hasty, and imperious -spirit.</p> - -<p>Alone, in her chamber, Eunice wept long and bitterly, at this -frost-breath upon the tender leaves of her heart’s young hopes. But she -did not weep despairingly—she had faith in time.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.<br><span class="small">MERCENARY LOVE.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>With a smoother surface ran the stream of Eveline’s love. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Pascal -met the full approval of all her friends, as well as of her own heart. -And yet, that stream contained some deep, dark places, and there were -hidden things therein. Though a contract for marriage was understood -to exist, it had never been formally<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> made, and sometimes unpleasant -doubts would cross the maiden’s mind. Her lover had remained abroad a -very long time, and, since his return, had seemed, if there were really -any change in him, colder than before. Eveline tried to think that this -was not so, but still the impression haunted her every now and then, -and produced a feeling of disquietude.</p> - -<p>Henry Pascal, as has been seen, was the son of a wealthy importer. His -father at first designed to introduce him into his counting-room, and -thoroughly educate him for a merchant. But, the young man showing no -taste for business, he changed his mind in regard to him, and placed -him in the office of an eminent practitioner at the bar. Here he -remained about a year, at the end of which period he knew very little -more of law than he did of physic. Not that he lacked ability; for -Pascal had a clear, strong mind. But he loved pleasure, and had no -incentive to study. His father’s great wealth took away all necessity -for him to strive for money; and eminence in any pursuit in life was -not a motive strong enough to induce him to devote himself with that -unwearied diligence necessary to success.</p> - -<p>It was during the time that he was pretending to study law, that Henry -Pascal became<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> interested in Eveline Townsend. To say that he loved -her, would, perhaps, be speaking too strongly. For, to love any thing -out of himself, was hardly possible. But she was very beautiful, and -of that he could feel proud—and she had a well-cultivated mind, and -winning manners. An attachment to her formed a kind of pursuit in life; -was an impulse in the aimless tenor of his existence. His friends, who -had become anxious for the young man, encouraged this preference for -Eveline, in the hope that it would awaken the dormant energies of his -mind. Disappointed in this, they met his expressed desire to go abroad -with approval, and Pascal started for Europe.</p> - -<p>During his absence, his letters to Eveline came at regular periods, -and expressed just enough affection to keep the heart of the maiden -warm. His return was at a time when <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s affairs were not -exhibiting the most prosperous state, and when rumor set down his -various losses at double the real amount. Old <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Pascal had his eye -upon the merchant. He had seen the prosperous career of many a man -checked, and a blight steel over his fortunes like a mildew, while no -adequate cause could be assigned therefor; and he had his suspicions, -from many little<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> circumstances that transpired, that such a blight was -about falling upon the worldly prosperity of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. With these -suspicions came the wish to have his son break off all intercourse with -Eveline. Immediately on his return, he introduced the subject to him, -and stated his fears.</p> - -<p>“Is there any engagement existing between you?” he closed by asking.</p> - -<p>“No verbal engagements,” replied his son.</p> - -<p>“Very well, Henry. Then do not make any.”</p> - -<p>“But the engagement is implied, father.”</p> - -<p>“No engagement is implied. All contracts to be such must come into oral -or written expression. You may imply anything. Looking at a woman, -or dancing with her, may be construed into a marriage contract under -such a law. No, Henry, you are not engaged, and for the present, keep -yourself free.”</p> - -<p>The young man promised to do so, but continued his visits as usual.</p> - -<p>A few months after his return from Europe, the “Eldorado” speculation -took place, the facts of which, through the newspaper notoriety given -to the fraud, became pretty well known in mercantile circles.</p> - -<p>“Henry, you must give up that girl!” said<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> old <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Pascal, positively. -“Her father is going down hill as fast as he can go, and will not be -worth a dollar in five years. Forty thousand dollars swept away in a -single mad speculation! When a man begins to deal in imaginary western -cities, at such a rate, his case is hopeless.”</p> - -<p>Henry made no reply. The idea of connecting himself in marriage with -the family of a ruined merchant, was by no means pleasant, but he had -become really attached to Eveline, and the thought of giving her up -disturbed him. As before, he continued his attentions, determined to -await the issue of events, and act with decision when circumstances -sufficiently strong to prompt to decided action should occur.</p> - -<p>How utterly unconscious, all this time, was the happy-hearted maiden, -of the near approach of circumstances that threatened to destroy her -peace. Her lover came and went as before, and seemed to be the same. -He was her companion in public places, and sat by her side in private -circles. But still, and she often wondered at it, he never spoke of -marriage.</p> - -<p>Thus progressed events, with the merchant and his family, toward a -great crisis.</p> - -<p>After the repulse which had been given to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> Albertson, Eunice changed, -but the change developed no harsh features in her character. Like -a flower whose leaves have been slightly crushed, the odor thereof -was sweeter. To her father she was ever gentle in her manner, and -thoughtful of his comfort. This troubled him, and made him often repent -of the rudeness with which he had laid his hand upon a heart so full of -gentle impulses. Albertson did not attempt to visit her again, and when -he met her in company, maintained toward her a reserved and distant -manner corresponding with her own. But when they did thus meet, and -their eyes lingered in each other’s gaze for a few brief moments, a -long history of mutual love was told.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.<br><span class="small">AFFLICTION.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>One day <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend came home earlier in the afternoon than usual, his -face wearing a troubled look. He found his wife and daughters alone in -the parlors.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> - -<p>“I’ve just received letters from New Orleans,” he said.</p> - -<p>“How is John?” eagerly asked Mrs. Townsend, interrupting him.</p> - -<p>“He is sick,” was replied.</p> - -<p>“Sick! Not dangerously, I hope?”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid so. One of his clerks has written.”</p> - -<p>“What is the matter with him?”</p> - -<p>“He does not say—but I will read you his letter.”</p> - -<p>And <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend drew forth a letter and read:</p> - -<p>“I regret to inform you that your son, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> John Townsend, has been -quite ill for several days with a violent fever. He has desired me not -to write to you, lest you should be unnecessarily alarmed, but I have -felt it to be my duty to act contrary to his wishes. I have just seen -the doctor, who says I ought to inform you of your son’s illness. He -does not answer any of my inquiries satisfactorily, which makes me fear -that the case is dangerous. I will write you to-morrow, and every day, -until there is some change.”</p> - -<p>“Mercy!” exclaimed the mother, striking her hands together, and -bursting into tears. “It is the yellow fever!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> - -<p>“I fear it is,” replied <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, striving to keep his feelings -under control. “The sickly season has commenced earlier than usual, and -before John could make his arrangements to come north.”</p> - -<p>Oh! how anxiously did that family wait, for the next twenty-four hours, -the arrival of another mail from New Orleans! Mrs. Townsend and her -daughter did little but weep all the time, and <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend in vain -attempted to fix his mind upon business. Long before the southern mail -could be assorted, he was at the post-office; and when the window was -thrown open, his face was the first one presented to the clerk. He -received a package of letters, and hastily retired. One bore the New -Orleans post mark. All the rest were hurriedly thrust into his pocket. -Breaking the seal of this, with trembling hands, he read—</p> - -<p>“Your son is no better. All last night he was delirious under the -raging violence of the fever. The doctors say but little. I have deemed -it right to call in additional medical aid. Rest assured, sir, that all -shall be done that medicine and careful attention can accomplish. I was -with him all last night, and shall remain constantly by his side. All -that human power can do shall be done; the result<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> is with Him in whose -hands are the issues of life.”</p> - -<p>The whole letter, up to the last sentence, deeply agitated <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend; but that sentence, like a knell of doom, subdued the wild -struggles of human passion, and crushed all suddenly down into -hopelessness. He had already discovered that there was a Power above -the human will, and a Disposer of events against whose designs human -prudence was nothing; and he felt that into the hands of this higher -Power he had come, with his very household treasures as well as his -worldly wealth, and that these, too, or a part of these, were to be -taken away. Thus, the very words meant to suggest confidence and -resignation, destroyed the balance of his mind, and overwhelmed it with -the thickest clouds.</p> - -<p>At home, he found an anxious and agitated circle awaiting him.</p> - -<p>“He is no better,” he said, as he entered the room where his wife and -daughter were sitting.</p> - -<p>Tears followed the announcement, that were renewed when the letter he -had received was read.</p> - -<p>Anxiously passed another day. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend was at the post-office, -impatiently awaiting the opening of the mail, long before it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> could -be distributed; but there was no letter. The southern mail had been -delayed beyond Richmond. Two letters came to hand on the next day. -That of the last date was torn open and read, with eyes that took in -sentences rather than words. It ran thus:</p> - -<p>“I wrote you yesterday, stating that there were some favorable -symptoms; that the fever had yielded to the efforts of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s -physicians. To-day he lies in a very low state. Life seems scarcely -to beat in his pulses. But still there is life, and the disease has -abated; we may, therefore, confidently hope that the vital spark will -slowly rekindle. The attack was most malignant, and bore him down with -great rapidity. To-morrow I hope to be able to say that every thing is -progressing toward recovery.”</p> - -<p>“God grant that the issue may be favorable!” murmured the father, as -he crushed the letter in his hand, and hurried away toward the anxious -ones at home.</p> - -<p>It was the first prayer that had ever ascended from the heart of -the merchant—the first deeply-felt acknowledgment of his own -powerlessness, and dependence upon a Supreme Being.</p> - -<p>To the mother and sister this last intelligence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> brought a ray of hope, -feeble though it was, and scarcely to be called light.</p> - -<p>Three days more went by, and in all that time—an age of -suspense—there came no word of the sick son and brother.</p> - -<p>“Has there been a failure of the southern mail?” asked <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -every day. The answer “No,” fell each time upon his feelings like a -stroke from a hammer; for to his mind it indicated the worst. If there -had been any improvement, the clerk would most certainly have written.</p> - -<p>At last another letter came. It was brought to the house of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend by his clerk immediately on the arrival and distribution of -the mail. The merchant had not been out that day. His distress of mind -had become so great that he could attend to no business. This letter -he received as he sat in the midst of his family. He did not break -the seal until the servant who handed it in had retired. A short time -before the letter came, he was walking about the room in an agitated -manner, listening for the ringing of the street bell, as it was full -time for his clerk to be there from the post-office, and had just -seated himself with a deep sigh. Now he was calm, and broke the seal -with strange deliberation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> - -<p>“I have waited three days in the hope of having favorable news to send -you; but, alas! I have waited in vain. Your son expired—”</p> - -<p>A heavy groan broke from the lips of the unhappy father as the letter -fell from his nerveless hand; and at the same time a wild cry of -anguish burst from the mother’s heart. Eunice alone was externally -calm, though she felt the bereavement as deeply, perhaps, as any; but -it was not felt in the same way. It did not strike down, as in the -father’s case, the selfish hopes of a worldly mind.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.<br><span class="small">MENTAL PROSTRATION.</span></h2></div> - - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, minister of the church to which the family of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -belonged, learned, through the newspapers, on the next day, the deep -affliction that had been sustained; and, prompted by a sense of duty, -repaired immediately to the house of mourning. He found the merchant -alone, pacing the floor of the darkened parlor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> - -<p>“My dear sir,” he said, as he took the hand of the wretched man, “I -need not say how deeply I sympathize with you in this melancholy -bereavement, the fact of which I learned but half an hour ago. To lose -so good a son, in the first ripe years of manhood, is, indeed, an -affliction, and one for which there seems, at first, no solace.”</p> - -<p>“There is none, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton,” returned the father, with something stern -and indignant in the tone of his voice.</p> - -<p>“Say not so, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend,” replied the minister. “There is a balm for -every wound—a solace for every affliction. He who sends sorrow, will -surely send the power to bear it, and enable the sufferer, like the -bee, to extract honey even from a noxious plant. All that we are made -to endure here, is for our good.”</p> - -<p>“So it is said, but I cannot believe it, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton. Is it good for me -to lose my son? Is it good that the very hope and pride of my family -should be stricken down, like a young and goodly tree, by the lightning -of heaven? No, it is not good!”</p> - -<p>“God, in his very essence, is goodness, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. His very -nature, as well as his name, is love. Too wise to err, too good to be -unkind, every event that takes place under<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> his Divine appointment -or permission, must, in some way, regard man’s highest and best -interest—in other words, his eternal interest.”</p> - -<p>“But what has the death of my son to do with my eternal interest?” -asked the merchant. “I must own that I see no connection between the -two things whatever.”</p> - -<p>“The connection between acts and events in time, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, and -effects which are spiritual, can rarely, if ever, be traced in the -present; but, notwithstanding this, nothing is truer than that whatever -occurs in a man’s life, whether it be a prosperous or adverse event, -a joyous or afflictive dispensation, is permitted or ordained for his -good—not his natural, but his spiritual good.”</p> - -<p>“It may be, but I cannot understand it,” said <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, sadly.</p> - -<p>“Reflect, but for a moment,” urged the minister, “and I am sure it -will be plain to your mind. We are spiritually organized beings, the -creatures of a wise, good, and eternal God, who has stamped upon our -souls the impress of immortality. We are not made for time, but for -eternity; and, therefore, time to us and all that appertains to it, -must refer to and involve what is eternal. The great error of our lives -is, a resting in the things of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> time and sense as real and substantial -things, and to be most desired, when they are only intended to be the -means of our spiritual purification and elevation. To so rest is to -look down at the things that are beneath, and which will perish in a -little while, instead of looking upward at those substantial things -which endure forever. Now, from the very nature of our Heavenly Father, -he must ever be seeking to lift our minds above these natural and -unsubstantial affections, into the love of such things as are eternal; -and in order to do this, he finds it often necessary to break our -natural loves, as with a hammer of iron, lest they become so selfish -and inordinate as to extinguish all love for what is good and true, -and thus render us unfitted for the pure, unselfish joys of heaven. It -is far better for us, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, to suffer the destruction of our -natural hopes, and the blighting of our natural affections, if by these -means eternal hopes are rekindled in our minds, and the love of things -spiritual and eternal formed in our hearts.”</p> - -<p>To this, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend was silent. Only to a limited extent did he feel -it to be true, and as far as he saw it did his heart rebel against it. -He had no affection for any thing beyond this world, and the crossing -and crushing of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> these affections, he felt to be the greatest calamity -he could suffer. The things of this world were good enough for him, -and he was content to enjoy them forever, if the boon could only be -granted; any interference with this enjoyment he could not but feel as -uncalled for and arbitrary.</p> - -<p>This was his state of mind, which had changed, at least, in one -important feature during the lapse of two years. There was a time, -when, in the pride of success and conscious power, he had fully -believed, with the fool, as well as said in his heart, “There is no -God.” But, he had realized, by painful and disheartening experiences, -that there was an invisible and all-potent Being, who governed in the -affairs of men, and determined the course of events at will. Against -such interference, as he impiously felt it to be, his heart arose, -angry and rebellious.</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, who remembered the conversation held with the merchant -two years previously, saw precisely the change that had taken place. -He was aware that <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had met with a number of heavy -losses in business, and these, with the distressing bereavement now -sustained, fully explained the cause of his altered state. He had hope, -notwithstanding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> the present aspect of his thoughts and feelings, that, -in the end, light would break in upon the darkness of his mind, and -peace reign where all was now agitation.</p> - -<p>The minister’s interview with the other members of the family, -except Eunice, was little more satisfactory than that held with <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend. Time enough had not elapsed for the stricken heart of the -mother to react under the dreadful blow. To all <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton’s words of -consolation, tears were her only response. And it was just the same -with Eveline. But Eunice seemed to forget her own pain of mind in the -sympathetic concern she felt for her mother and father, and in her -efforts to dry up their tears, her own ceased to flow. Thus it is, -that in attempting to sustain others in affliction, our own hearts are -comforted. Love is doubly blessed.</p> - -<p>“They are passing through deep waters,” said <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton to himself, -thoughtfully, as he pursued his way homeward, “but they will not be -overwhelmed. They are in the fire of affliction, but the Refiner and -Purifier sits by, and not an atom of what is good and true in them -shall be consumed. It is painful now, but I trust that I shall yet see -them come forth with rejoicing.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> - -<p>For some weeks <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had no heart to enter into any of the -details of his business, nor to look at what was passing around him in -the business world. He experienced a mental prostration that approached -almost to paralysis. And it was the same with his wife, who, since -the news of her son’s death, had not left her chamber, nor spoken a -cheerful word.</p> - -<p>But, only for a short time longer, did this continue. Then there came -another blow, sudden and appalling, that struck them down to the very -earth.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.<br><span class="small">A GREAT DISASTER.</span></h2></div> - - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend left his home one morning, and was passing slowly along -the street, in the direction of his counting-room, when a business -friend, who was walking on the opposite side of the street, came -briskly over on seeing him, and asked, in an agitated voice,</p> - -<p>“Have you heard the news from Philadelphia?”</p> - -<p>“No; what is it?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> - -<p>“The United States’ Bank has failed!”</p> - -<p>The face of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend became instantly pale, and he caught hold of -an iron railing to support himself.</p> - -<p>“Impossible!” he said, in a faint, husky voice.</p> - -<p>“It is too true. Do you hold any of the stock?”</p> - -<p>“Every dollar I am worth is there!”</p> - -<p>“Every dollar! Surely not, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend!”</p> - -<p>“I’m ruined! ruined! ruined!” murmured the wretched man, losing all -control of himself; “hopelessly ruined!”</p> - -<p>“Not so bad as that, I trust, sir. A large percentage of the stock will -no doubt be paid.”</p> - -<p>“When? Where? How? Hasn’t the Bank failed? And when did a bank fail and -a stockholder receive a dollar? Gracious heavens!”</p> - -<p>And with this ejaculation, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend turned away and walked hastily -in the direction of his place of business, murmuring to himself, -“Ruined! ruined! ruined!”</p> - -<p>At his counting-room he found a letter from a correspondent in -Philadelphia, announcing the failure of the Bank, but advising him by -all means not to sacrifice his stock, nor be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> alarmed at the low price -to which those interested in its depression would at first cause it to -fall. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend read over this letter, and then laying it aside, -murmured to himself, as he bowed his head upon a desk,</p> - -<p>“Ruined! ruined! ruined!”</p> - -<p>To this, and only to this conclusion, could his bewildered mind come.</p> - -<p>But, at length, the very extremity and almost hopelessness of the -condition into which he found himself so suddenly reduced, aroused his -mind into a more active state.</p> - -<p>“I must not sit idly here,” he said. “If any thing is to be saved, let -me try to save it. Not sell! Yes, I will sell at any price, turn the -proceeds into gold, and bury it in my cellar.”</p> - -<p>Under this new impulse, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, after calming himself by a strong -effort of the will, left his counting-room for the purpose of obtaining -information as to the actual condition of the Bank, the price at which -the stock was held, and the ultimate probable result, as determined in -the minds of those who possessed the most accurate information.</p> - -<p>But he found every body astounded and bewildered at the unexpected -event. There was no quotation of the stock whatever, except<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> at a very -low nominal price. Those who did, and those who did not, hold scrip, -alike spoke of the folly of selling at present. Every one said—“Wait.”</p> - -<p>The merchant returned to his counting-room, more undecided than when -he went out, and feeling quite as deeply impressed with the idea that -all was hopeless. The next thoughts that began to pervade his mind, -were of his family. No one at home knew of the particular disposition -that he had made of his property. His wife and daughters might hear -of the failure of the Bank, without having their hearts filled with -alarm, or dreaming that, in this event, was foreshadowed their fall -from affluence to poverty. For the present, at least, he determined to -keep them in ignorance of the approaching danger, while he watched the -progress of events, and seized upon the first favorable opportunity to -clutch, with a vigorous grasp, the remnant of his shattered fortune. -To do one thing his mind was made up, and that was to sell so soon as -there should be any thing like a settled state of the market, and the -stock from a uniform quotation begin to decline in price. If there was -an advance, he would hold on until there came appearance of depression, -and then sell, and invest the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> proceeds in ground rents, the only -security in which he had now a particle of faith.</p> - -<p>At last, the market became, to a certain extent, steady, but at -appallingly low rates. Even at these <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend felt disposed to -sell, but every one said “No!” so emphatically, and so confidently -predicted an advance, that he hesitated and delayed, day after day, -week after week, and month after month, while the price still went -down, until shares that had cost him from a dollar and ten cents to -a dollar and twenty, were quoted at twenty cents nominally, and the -tendency still downward.</p> - -<p>To describe <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s state of mind during the few months that -this steady decline in the price of shares continued, would be -impossible. No man could be more wretched than he was. Carefully did -he conceal from his family the condition of his affairs, fearing all -the time to look his wife or daughters steadily in the face, lest they -should read the truth in his eyes.</p> - -<p>In the mean time the precarious state of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s worldly affairs -became pretty well known in business circles, and all manner of -comments were made thereon. Every one could see and be astonished at -his folly in withdrawing his capital from commerce, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> which he had -amassed a handsome fortune, and investing it in the stock of a single -institution, whose very name was a fraud upon the community, and ought -to have been a fact sufficiently conclusive to destroy all confidence -in its safety. Many were the conversations held on the subject, much -after this tenor:</p> - -<p>“Poor Townsend, I pity him.”</p> - -<p>“It’s more than I do, then. Any man who plays the fool, as he has, -deserves to lose his money. I have no charity for him. He had made two -or three hundred thousand dollars in fair, honest, regular trade, and -not content with that, must sell his ships and go to speculating in -western towns.”</p> - -<p>“He was certainly very indiscreet.”</p> - -<p>“Indiscreet! He was a fool! How any man, thoroughly educated as a -merchant, and in the habit of dealing in only such commodities as -possess an intrinsic value, could be so mad as to give forty or fifty -thousand dollars for lots in an imaginary western city, on the mere -word of a speculating sharper, passes my comprehension.”</p> - -<p>“One of the strange occurrences of the present strange times. Had -Townsend much money in United States’ Bank stock?”</p> - -<p>“Every dollar he is worth, I am told.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> - -<p>“It can’t be possible! What could have possessed him to make such a -disposition of his property?”</p> - -<p>“The blindest folly of which any man could be guilty.”</p> - -<p>“But this stock was considered the safest in the country. You can -hardly blame a man for investing his money therein.”</p> - -<p>“I blame any man for putting all he has in one adventure or security. -Nothing is absolutely certain here.”</p> - -<p>“And you really think Townsend has beggared himself?”</p> - -<p>“There is no doubt of it in the world. I have my information from those -who know. I don’t believe he is worth ten thousand dollars, if all he -has were turned into cash, and his debts paid.”</p> - -<p>“He still maintains his old style of living.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but that will not last long. You’ll see a different order of -things before long. I can’t have much sympathy for him. Townsend, in -his best days, was a hard man, and never had the slightest sympathy for -one who happened to be unfortunate in business. You remember Elderkin’s -failure, about three years ago?”</p> - -<p>“Very well.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p> - -<p>“I was one of the creditors, and attended all the meetings. Townsend -was the most unyielding of all. I shall never forget the insulting -language he used to poor Elderkin, who was honest at heart, if ever -there was an honest man in the world. Every one noticed it, and felt it -as an outrage. ‘No man who properly attends to his business,’ he said, -‘need fail.’”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! That is his view of the case.”</p> - -<p>“I have heard him express it more than a dozen times.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder what he thinks now?”</p> - -<p>“He has not changed his mind, I presume. Nothing in the history of his -own affairs, rightly viewed, would cause him to do so.”</p> - -<p>“They who stand too high may chance to fall.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and the higher they stand, the more disastrous will be their -fall.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder what old Pascal’s son thinks of all this?”</p> - -<p>“Rather ask what Pascal himself thinks of it. In my opinion, there’s -a match broken off. Eveline ought to have secured her lover long and -long ago. She has had time enough. But I doubt not it is too late now. -Pascal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> loves money too well to let his son marry a portionless bride.”</p> - -<p>“Won’t Henry consult his own fancy in the matter?”</p> - -<p>“If he does, it will not run off in a tangent to that of his father’s, -I presume. He knows the value of money too well, indifferent as he is -about making it.”</p> - -<p>“Eveline is a beautiful girl. I feel sorry for her.”</p> - -<p>“So do I. But it can’t be helped. She’s somewhat proud and haughty. Her -sister Eunice is the flower of that flock. I don’t know a sweeter young -girl.”</p> - -<p>“She ought to have been married long ago.”</p> - -<p>“And so she would, I am told, if her father had not interfered.”</p> - -<p>“To whom?”</p> - -<p>“To some young man, who, not being rich enough, was not considered good -enough.”</p> - -<p>“Then there is some chance for her now.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. Perhaps the young man loved her father’s money quite as -well as he loved her, and will now change his mind altogether. Ah me! -It is wonderful how a man’s views and opinions will alter under the -force of a money-argument.”</p> - -<p>Thus the gossip ran.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> - -<p>As for old <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Pascal, to whom allusion was made in this conversation, -he had his eyes about him, and his ears open to all that concerned <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend. Long before the failure of the United States Bank, he had -seen enough to make him dissatisfied with the proposed alliance, and, -as has been shown, endeavored to induce his son to give up all idea -of marrying Eveline. Immediately upon the failure of the Bank, in the -stock of which he had some twenty or thirty thousand dollars invested, -he said to his son:</p> - -<p>“Henry, nearly every dollar of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s property is locked up in -the stock of this institution.”</p> - -<p>“It cannot surely be!” returned the son, evincing surprise and concern.</p> - -<p>“It is true, Henry. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend has acknowledged it himself, and -declared that the failure had ruined him. You will see the necessity -for breaking off all connection with the family, and you had better do -it at once.”</p> - -<p>“There seems something so mercenary and heartless in that,” said the -young man.</p> - -<p>“As to its seeming, Henry, you have nothing to do with that,” replied -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Pascal. “You are, certainly, not so mad as to think of connecting -yourself with this family now,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> when your position gives you the chance -of forming an alliance with one of the best and wealthiest in the city. -In six months, take my word for it, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend will be bankrupt. Are -you prepared to marry the daughter with that certainty staring you in -the face?”</p> - -<p>“I hardly think I am.”</p> - -<p>“Believe me that such a certainty exists.”</p> - -<p>Under this assurance, Henry Pascal began the work of withdrawing -himself from the society of Eveline. The death of her brother caused -her to exclude herself from company almost entirely, so that he rarely -saw her abroad. To meet her, he had to visit her. Instead of calling -every week, and sometimes two or three times a week, his visits were -made at longer intervals, were briefer, while his manner was more -reserved.</p> - -<p>There was something so deliberately heartless in this, that the young -man shrunk in shame from the image of himself that was reflected in his -own mind. The act lost him his self-respect; but such was the potency -of the influences acting within and without him, that he steadily -persevered in his design, until finally all intercourse between him and -Eveline was at an end.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.<br><span class="small">CONSEQUENCES.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>From the deep grief into which the death of her brother, to whom she -was fondly attached, had plunged the mind of Eveline, she was aroused -by a sudden suspicion of the defection of her lover. There was a -change, not to be mistaken, in his manner, and his visits were far less -frequent. Pride, native independence, and a feeling of indignation, all -arose, and lent their aid to sustain her; but, actively as they exerted -their influence, they were not effective in calming the wild pulsations -of a wounded heart; for Eveline truly loved the faithless Pascal. At -last, and before any suspicion of the real cause of his estrangement -had come to the maiden’s mind, the lover ceased to visit her altogether.</p> - -<p>Nearly a month had elapsed since he had called to see Eveline, and she -was in a state of tremulous doubt and anxiety. She had been out on a -short visit to a friend—the first time she had been in the street for -a week—when, in returning home, her eyes suddenly fell upon Pascal a -short distance in advance of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> her. He was approaching. The heart of -Eveline gave a sudden strong bound, and then fluttered in her bosom. At -the instant she saw the young man, his eyes met hers. She continued to -look at him as they drew near, but his eyes turned from her face, and -fixed themselves upon some object beyond. He passed without noticing -her.</p> - -<p>Eveline felt, for a few moments, as if she would suffocate. It required -her utmost efforts and presence of mind to keep from losing command -of herself in the street. She had walked on a few squares farther, -when the face of a young lady friend, to whom she was much attached, -presented itself among the passengers on the side-walk. Eveline paused, -and was about speaking, when the young lady nodded coldly and passed -on. Another friend whom she met, appeared under restraint as she -exchanged greetings with her, and then, after a few brief inquiries as -to how she was and had been, moved away.</p> - -<p>Not less surprised than pained was Eveline at these unlooked-for marks -of estrangement in old friends. On arriving at home, she ran up into -her chamber, and, after closing the door and laying off her bonnet, -threw herself upon a bed and gave way to a violent burst of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> grief. -In the midst of this wild excitement of feeling, Eunice came in, and, -seeing the agitation of her sister, inquired, with much concern, -the cause. A more passionate gush of tears was the only answer she -received. After the mind of Eveline had, in a measure, grown calm, she -said, in reply to the affectionate inquiries of Eunice,</p> - -<p>“I met Henry in the street, and he did not speak to me.”</p> - -<p>“He could not have seen you, sister,” replied Eunice, in an earnest -voice; “I am sure he could not.”</p> - -<p>“And I am sure he did, for he looked me in the face.” And the tears -of Eveline flowed afresh. “He has not been to the house for a month. -Something is wrong. I met Mary Grant, and she, instead of stopping -with her usual pleasant smile, nodded coldly and passed on. I also -saw Adelaide Winters, who merely paused a moment, and spoke in a very -distant way. What can it all mean, Eunie? I am sure there must be some -dreadful story told about me, or why would my friends treat me so -distantly, and Henry, above all things, refuse to know me?”</p> - -<p>And again the maiden wept bitterly.</p> - -<p>“Whatever evil judgment there may be of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> you, Evie,” said Eunice, with -great tenderness, drawing her arm around the neck of Eveline as she -spoke, “is a false judgment. And however painful the consequences may -be, you have, in the conscious innocence of any wrong, that to sustain -you which will keep your head above the waters. If Henry’s trust in -you be so poorly based, that it can be blown away by a breath of -detraction—if he be so ready to believe an evil report against you—he -never could have really known you or truly loved you, and, therefore, -is himself not worthy the pure love of your heart. It may cost you a -severe struggle to do so, but, Evie, give him up! Erase his image from -your heart. Pardon me for saying now, what I have always thought, that -Henry Pascal is not worthy of you.”</p> - -<p>Eveline started at this, with an indignant expression on her face -and word on her tongue; but she checked herself as she met the calm, -truthful, loving eyes of her sister fixed earnestly upon her.</p> - -<p>“I have uttered what was in my heart, Evie. That my impression has been -as I have said, I cannot help. Of the truth of it, I have not a doubt. -To speak out as I feel, and yet as the sister who loves you truly, I -will go farther,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> and say, that I am glad of almost any circumstance -that would try his affection for you, and more glad that he has turned -away coldly from one he was not capable of loving as she deserved. -Time, Evie, will prove you the truth of what I now say.”</p> - -<p>The language of Eunice completely bewildered the mind of Eveline. It -was so strange and so unexpected. She knew not what reply to make.</p> - -<p>“All will come out right in the end, Evie,” pursued Eunice. “Trust in -that, sister, and trust in it implicitly. As <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton showed so -beautifully last Sunday, there is not the smallest circumstance of our -lives that is not in some way connected with our future, and which the -future will not show to be a link in a progressive series of causes, -all tending to bring out some good result. If Henry has suffered his -mind to be estranged from you, no matter what may be the cause, depend -upon it that it is for the best. This you will one day see. Be brave, -then, dear Evie, to meet the present danger; and let the reflection, -that whatever occurs, whether joyous or grievous, is under the Divine -permission, support you in the trial.”</p> - -<p>The head of Eveline sunk upon the breast<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> of her sister, and her tears -continued to flow; but the deep agitation of her bosom had subsided. An -hour after, and she was calm; but her face was pale, and the marks of -suffering were upon it. She was still alone with her sister. They had -been sitting silent for some time, when Eveline said—</p> - -<p>“I am distressed in doubt of the cause of this sudden change manifested -toward me. What can it mean, Eunice? Something dreadful has been said -about me.”</p> - -<p>“It may be nothing about you, in particular, sister.”</p> - -<p>“About all of us? What can be said about all of us?”</p> - -<p>The eyes of Eunice grew dim as she replied—</p> - -<p>“Have you noticed how distressed father has looked for some time?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, ever since we heard of brother’s death.”</p> - -<p>“But there is another cause besides that for his distress of mind, -Evie; I am sure of it. Grief for even those most tenderly beloved, -is softened by time, but father looks more troubled every day. -<i>Troubled</i>—yes, that is the word. It is not grief that bows him -down, sister, depend upon it, but trouble.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span></p> - -<p>“Trouble? What can he have to trouble him?”</p> - -<p>“Much, I fear. You know the United States Bank failed a few months ago, -and that ever since much has been said in the papers about the terrible -destruction in private fortunes that it occasioned. Do you know that I -have been impressed, ever since that event, with the idea that father -has sustained a heavy loss?”</p> - -<p>“What could have put that into your head, Eunie?” asked Eveline.</p> - -<p>“I will tell you. A good while ago, I remember hearing father say to a -gentleman with whom he was talking, that he believed he would retire -from business and invest every dollar he had in the stock of the United -States Bank, which he considered the safest security in the country. -You know he has given up business; and is it not more than probable -that he has done what he then proposed to do?”</p> - -<p>“You frighten me, sister!” exclaimed Eveline, the expression of her -face not belieing her words. “Do you think he has lost every thing?”</p> - -<p>“I know nothing about it, Eveline. I only state my fears, for which I -think there are too<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span> good grounds. Ever since the failure of the Bank, -this has been in my mind, although I have never breathed it before. -Carefully, since that time, have I read all that has been said about -the Bank, and particularly noticed the price at which the stock has -sold. It is now down to twenty cents a share, the par value of which -is one hundred dollars. If father really did own much of this stock, -and has kept it until now, in hope of a better price, you can see how -heavily he must have lost. And if he still holds on to it, and the -price still keeps going down, he may lose nearly every dollar he is -worth.”</p> - -<p>“Dreadful! What will become of us all?”</p> - -<p>With a meek, patient, humble expression of face, Eunice raised her eyes -and said, in a low, earnest voice—</p> - -<p>“The Lord will provide.”</p> - -<p>Then, with a look of encouragement, and even a smile upon her lips, she -added—</p> - -<p>“Let us not think of ourselves, sister, but of our father. Let us seek -to lighten this heavy burden, if it should, indeed, be laid upon his -shoulder.”</p> - -<p>“How are we to do that, Eunice?”</p> - -<p>“In many ways. If father’s circumstances should really be so greatly -reduced, as I have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> been led to fear, we will have to change our style -of living, for the present style cannot be maintained, except at a -heavy expense. This change he will be compelled to make in the end, but -may delay it long beyond a prudent time in dread of shocking us with a -knowledge of what has occurred. Let us, then, the moment we are sure -that things are as I have been led to fear, ourselves with cheerfulness -propose and insist upon the change, and it will take from his mind more -than half the pain the reverse has occasioned. Let us, in this and in -every other way, help him to bear up; and, above all things, let us -be cheerful, so that home may be the sweetest place to him in all the -earth. Evie, we may have a sacred duty to perform toward our parents; -let us perform it with brave hearts and cheerful countenances.”</p> - -<p>“I stand rebuked, dear sister!” said Eveline, tenderly kissing Eunice. -“You are younger, but oh! how much better and wiser. You shall guide -me. Only show the way, and I will walk bravely by your side. Yes, it -may all be as you say, and the world may know it, while we yet remain -in ignorance. And this may be the reason why lover and friend have -grown cold!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p> - -<p>Eveline’s voice trembled on the last sentence.</p> - -<p>“Neither lover nor friend deserve the name, if such a change can chill -their hearts’ warm impulses,” returned Eunice, with some emphasis in -her voice.</p> - -<p>The idea suggested by Eunice, took strong hold of the mind of Eveline, -and helped to sustain her under the deep trial the defection of her -lover compelled her to bear. Both observed their father more closely -than either had done before, and the observation confirmed, rather than -weakened, the conclusions to which Eunice had come. It was plain that -something more than the death of their brother preyed upon his mind. -The silent, gloomy, troubled state into which he had fallen, was as -unaccountable to Mrs. Townsend as to Eveline and Eunice, and even more -so; for the idea that had occurred to the mind of the latter, had never -crossed hers, as was plain from her replies to their questions on the -subject.</p> - -<p>Anxiously did the daughters wait for some occurrence that would reveal -to them the truth in regard to their father, resolute in their minds -to stand up bravely by his side, let what would come, and forget -themselves in their efforts to sustain him. They were not kept long in -suspense.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.<br><span class="small">LIGHT IN DARKNESS.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>At twenty cents the stock remained only for a brief space of time, and -then kept on steadily receding in price, each new record of its decline -marking itself upon the feelings of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, in darker characters. -He came in and went out, scarcely feeling the ground under him, and -with a sensation as if the earth were about opening at his feet, and -engulphing him. He tried to eat, when he sat down at the table with -his family, but the food left little or no impression of taste on his -palate. He strove, sometimes, to appear at ease and converse; but his -words were not coherent, and he did not hear what was said to him, as -was evident from his responses.</p> - -<p>At last the price of shares fell to ten cents. Hitherto, from one cause -and another, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had put off selling his stock at the ruinous -rates at which it was quoted in the market, under the fallacious hope -that an advance would take place. When it was eighty cents on the -dollar, notwithstanding his first wise determination, to sell at any -price that it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> would bring, the resolution to diminish his fortune, -already reduced nearly one half, by a positive sacrifice of over forty -thousand dollars—the difference between what he had paid for his stock -and the selling price—he could not bring himself to take. He looked at -this large sum, and at what would be left, and was unable to exercise -the firmness required to cut it off. The whole amount of his investment -in United States Bank stock, had been one hundred and forty thousand -dollars, at an average of ten per cent. above par. Since the failure of -the Bank, nearly every thing beyond this had been lost by the failure -of individuals; and what was still worse, notes of hand amounting to -nearly ten thousand dollars, which had been turned into cash, came back -unpaid, and in default of his immediately honoring them, had been sued -out against him as the endorser. Thus did his affairs become more and -more a tangled web, and his mind fell more and more into irresolution -and confusion.</p> - -<p>When the stock fell to seventy, in a moment of desperation, he -determined to sell every share, and thus save a certain remnant. He -called upon a broker, and ordered him to effect a sale for him without -delay.</p> - -<p>“At what rate?” asked the broker.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p> - -<p>“At the last quotation—seventy cents.”</p> - -<p>“That was but nominal,” replied the broker. “No sales, to my knowledge, -were made at that price.”</p> - -<p>“In the name of heaven, then, what will it bring?” said Townsend, much -disturbed.</p> - -<p>“That is hard to say. But, I should suppose, sixty-five might be -obtained.”</p> - -<p>“Sixty-five?”</p> - -<p>“I doubt if a cent more could be had for so large an amount as you have -to sell. Its offer would, alone, depress the market.”</p> - -<p>“Sixty-five! sixty-five!” said <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, to himself, in a -distressed, irresolute voice. “No, no, I cannot think of selling for -that. The stock must get better.”</p> - -<p>“I would not like to encourage you to hope so,” said the broker.</p> - -<p>“If you can get sixty-nine you may sell. I made up my mind to seventy, -the quoted rates.”</p> - -<p>“Very well; I will make the effort,” returned the broker.</p> - -<p>On the next day, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend was informed that the broker had received -an offer of sixty-eight, but had refused it.</p> - -<p>“Couldn’t you get sixty-nine?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir. Sixty-seven was the highest offer, except in a single -quarter.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> - -<p>“I don’t like to sell at that, and throw over fifty thousand dollars -into the fire.”</p> - -<p>“It is hard, but my advice to you is, to take the offer.”</p> - -<p>“I will think of it,” replied <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend; and he went away to think. -In the afternoon he returned, and directed the sale to be made at -sixty-eight. On the next morning he received a note from the broker, -stating that the market had receded greatly from the rates of the last -few days, and that the party did not feel bound to take the stock, as -the offer of sixty-eight had been at first declined.</p> - -<p>“Confusion!” ejaculated the unhappy merchant, stamping passionately -upon the floor.</p> - -<p>“Pray, sir, what rates can be obtained?” he asked of the broker, in an -excited tone, as he entered his office ten minutes afterward.</p> - -<p>“I do not think sales can be effected at any price to-day,” was -replied. “All is doubt and uncertainty about the stock. I should not -wonder to see it down to fifty, within a week.”</p> - -<p>“Fifty! Good heavens! Never!”</p> - -<p>“I hope not; but things look squally.”</p> - -<p>“Had I better take sixty-five, if I can get it?”——</p> - -<p>“Yes, or sixty either. My advice is, sell at the first offer.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> - -<p>“Very well, get me an offer as soon as you can.”</p> - -<p>The offer came in a few days; it was fifty-seven dollars.</p> - -<p>“Fifty-seven!” ejaculated <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. “That’s out of the question!”</p> - -<p>“It’s the best I can do for you.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry; but I can’t take that. I am willing to let it go at sixty.”</p> - -<p>And thus the downward course progressed. The unhappy merchant, by -clinging to a few hundreds in the hope of saving them, daily losing -thousands. When the price at last fell to twenty, he gave up in a kind -of despair, and awaited, in gloomy inactivity, the final result. At -length, ten dollars, for what had cost a hundred and ten, were all that -could be obtained.</p> - -<p>Up to this time, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had concealed from his family the -desperate state of his affairs. But now, the necessity for breaking to -them a knowledge of his real condition, had come; for the maintenance -of his present style of living, costing from five to six thousand -dollars, annually, was impossible. All that he now really possessed in -the world was his bank stock, which would net him less than fourteen -thousand dollars. The house in which he lived was his property, and -had cost<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> between fifteen and sixteen thousand dollars, but judgment -had been obtained against him for the notes upon which suit had been -brought, and the house would have to go for its satisfaction.</p> - -<p>Sadly impressed with the folly of longer delay lay in bringing to the -minds of his wife and daughters a knowledge of the great reverse he had -sustained, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend returned one evening from his counting-room, -to which he repaired every day; not because business called him there, -but because home was oppressive to him. He had learned from her mother, -the fact that Henry Pascal had broken off all intercourse with Eveline, -and had even passed her without notice in the street. He knew too -well the cause, and the subdued yet sad face of his daughter, and the -earnestness with which she would look at him when he came in, troubled -him deeply. He did not know what was in her heart.</p> - -<p>As was usual with him, he entered quietly, and seating himself alone in -the parlor, took a book in his hand, not for the purpose of reading, -but to appear as if he was doing so, to any one who came in. The hour -was that of twilight, ere the shadows had fallen thickly. Only a few -minutes elapsed before Eveline and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span> Eunice entered, and came to his -side. At the moment they opened the door, they noticed that he had -leaned his head down upon his hand, and that his book was in such a -position that his eyes could not possibly read a line. This posture was -instantly changed, and <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, in order to remove the impression -it was likely to make, smiled as he spoke to his daughters; a thing he -had not attempted for months to do. But it was only the faint semblance -of a smile, and did not deceive them.</p> - -<p>“Dear papa!” said Eunice, tenderly, as she laid her hand upon him on -one side, and Eveline did the same on the other, “you are not happy, -and have not been so for a long time; tell us the reason, and let us -bear a part of the trouble which oppresses you.”</p> - -<p>Taken thus by surprise, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had great difficulty in -controlling himself. The affectionate consideration of his children, -so unexpected, touched him deeply. Many moments passed before he could -trust himself to speak. Then he said, with ill-concealed emotion:</p> - -<p>“Why do you think I am troubled, children?”</p> - -<p>“You have looked troubled for a great while, papa. Whatever the cause -may be, if<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> we cannot remove it, we are sure that we can lighten the -effects. Trust us, at least, and be sure of one thing, that we are -prepared to stand by your side, cheerfully, let what will come.”</p> - -<p>“Eunice!” said the father, speaking with sudden energy, while an -expression of pain settled upon his face, “you know not what you say! -It will take stouter hearts than beat in your bosoms to meet that -trial. Still, I thank you for this unexpected expression of your -affection, as well as for the opportunity it affords me to say what -must no longer be kept back. My children, fortune, that smiled upon me -for years, no longer smiles—all, all is changed.”</p> - -<p>“We have believed as much,” replied the daughters, speaking together; -“do not fear for us. We are prepared for the worst.”</p> - -<p>“Prepared to sink from affluence into poverty? To give up this home, -where all is luxury and elegance, and go down into obscurity, perhaps -privation and labor?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, father,” said Eunice, in a calm yet earnest voice. “Of all the -good gifts which Providence placed in your hands, we have had our full -share; and shall we hesitate or repine when reverses come? No; fear not -to tell us all.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend hardly knew what to say or think at such unexpected words. -With himself the bitterness had passed; it was for his family that his -heart ached, and from the thoughts of breaking to them the dreadful -intelligence that he shrunk. But the way had been made, unexpectedly, -plain before him; so plain that he could hardly believe himself awake, -or venture to put his foot forth to walk therein.</p> - -<p>“My children!” he said, with much emotion, “you speak to me strange -words. I can hardly believe that I hear them.”</p> - -<p>“But they are true words,” promptly replied Eunice, “for they come from -our hearts. And now let us know the worst, that we may prepare for the -worst. Of course we must leave this house and move into a smaller one.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that step is inevitable,” returned the father, his voice sinking -again into sadness.</p> - -<p>“And the more cheerfully it is taken, the less shall we feel the -change,” said Eunice.</p> - -<p>“But, can you give up all? Can you sink down from the first circle into -obscurity? Can you give up your associations and friendships? Ah! my -children, you have not counted the cost.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> - -<p>“We have, fully, and are ready,” was the firm reply.</p> - -<p>After the silence of a few moments, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend said—</p> - -<p>“What has been, perhaps, too long concealed from you, I will now -reveal. Three years ago, I was worth three hundred thousand dollars, -and believed myself beyond the danger of a reverse. At a time when -I thought myself most firmly established, losses came, and followed -each other in quick succession. I became alarmed, and my mind was -thrown into confusion. From that time every thing I have done has been -wrong—every move I have made, has been a false move. The last, and -the one that has swept from me the remainder of my shattered fortune, -was the investment of my money in United States Bank stock, which I -considered as safe as any thing in the country. That for which I paid a -hundred and forty thousand dollars, is now worth but little over ten or -twelve thousand, and, judging from the past, will not be worth half of -that in a month.”</p> - -<p>“Then why not sell it and save that little?” said Eunice, in a tone of -decision that made <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend lift his eyes to her face. The failing -light gave him but an indistinct view of its expression.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> - -<p>“I shall do it immediately,” he replied. “You understand, now, my -children,” he added, “precisely the nature of my circumstances, and -how low we have fallen. To maintain our present style of living, would -exhaust our little remnant of property in two years.”</p> - -<p>“But of that folly we will not be guilty,” said Eunice. “Let us -withdraw quickly from our present position, and retire into one that -corresponds to our altered circumstances. We may be just as happy in -that as we have ever been in this. I am sure that Eveline and I will; -and, if you will let us, we will make you so.”</p> - -<p>“God bless you! my children,” said the father, as he drew an arm -around each: “you have taken a mountain-weight from me. With such -true, loving-hearted, cheerful companions in adversity, I feel that it -will not be hard to bear. Why did I not know you better? Why did I not -confide in you sooner?”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.<br><span class="small">MORE REVERSES.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>In a far different spirit did Mrs. Townsend receive the news of their -altered circumstances. It broke her down completely for a time. But -the example of Eveline and Eunice, in a cheerful submission to what -was unavoidable, gradually tended to give her strength of mind, and to -nerve her for her new and severer duties in life.</p> - -<p>The first step taken was to procure a smaller house in a retired part -of the town, move into it, and reduce expenses at every point, so as to -make them, in some measure, correspond to their reduced circumstances. -In the carrying of this out, Eveline and Eunice were foremost, and -acted with a decision and energy that, while it surprised, gave -strength and hope to the minds of their parents.</p> - -<p>When <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend made sale of his stock, which was in a few days -after the interview with his children related in the last chapter, the -price had fallen still lower. The net proceeds were just ten thousand -dollars. Shortly afterward, his house was sold to satisfy the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> judgment -mentioned as having been obtained against him.</p> - -<p>To sit idly down and live upon this little remnant of his fortune, -until exhausted, was not to be thought of by <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. Something -must be done, not only to gain the means of present subsistence, and -keep the little stock undiminished, but also to add to it, and lay the -basis of future wealth, after which <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend resolved to strive. -Some business must be entered into. But the recollection of former -disasters filled his mind with doubt, and made him hesitate and ponder -long and anxiously the way before him. At length, he opened a store as -a commission merchant, thinking that the safest, and used his capital -in advancing upon goods. This was the aspect of things without. At -home, Eunice and Eveline were doing all in their power to smooth the -asperities of the change that had taken place, and to make every thing -conform to their father’s reduced means. This was their labor of love, -and in the performance of it they had a sweet reward.</p> - -<p>Still, they were not without their trials, and especially did the -heart of Eveline often sink in her bosom. Strong as was the feeling of -indignation with which she thought of her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> lover’s heartlessness, the -wounds his base desertion of her occasioned, healed but slowly, and -were often painful. Only a few of the many friends and companions of -brighter days sought them out in their retirement; and these were not -of those who had been most beloved; but they were better appreciated -now, and truly loved.</p> - -<p>Less than a year had passed, when Eunice said one day to her sister, -when alone with her—</p> - -<p>“I am afraid every thing is not going right with father. He is getting -to be very silent, and looks troubled again.”</p> - -<p>“I have noticed as much myself,” returned Eveline, a look of anxiety -crossing her face. “What can it mean? I hope he has not lost in -business the little capital he saved.”</p> - -<p>“I trust not. But I have my fears. He was getting more and more -cheerful every day, when, all at once, there came a change. I noticed -it for the first time last week, when he came home one evening. Ever -since then, he sits silent and seems anxious about something.”</p> - -<p>The words of Eunice filled the mind of Eveline with alarm. The -change in their circumstances had been very great. But, although<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> in -obscurity, and living with plainness and frugality, the means of living -had still been at hand. If, however, another reverse should have met -their father, and stripped from him the little remnant of his property, -how were they to retain the comforts they still enjoyed? This thought -chilled the heart of Eveline. A lower, yet still a firm step, she did -not see.</p> - -<p>“What is to become of us, if your fears are true?” she said, while her -lips trembled and her eyes grew dim.</p> - -<p>“Don’t let such a question find utterance in your thoughts, Evie,” -replied Eunice. “We must not look downward in human despondency, but -upward in spiritual trust. Let us not think of ourselves, nor of what -will become of us. All will come out right in the end. Of that I have a -deep assurance. We may be called upon to pass through severer trials, -and to make greater sacrifices, but the strength to meet the one, and -sustain the other, will be given. Evie, there are deeper places than -any we have yet gone through, but there is a bottom and a shore to all. -He who calls the soul to enter these dark and bitter waters, will not -suffer it to be overwhelmed. Here rests my strong confidence, and here -should rest yours, Evie.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> - -<p>“Ah! sister,” said the now weeping girl, “these deeper waters you speak -of, fill me with dismay. I tremble at the thought of entering them, and -shrink back in fear.”</p> - -<p>“Evie, do not give way to such weakness; it is unworthy of you. Life -comes with its lights and with its shadows for all; and as surely as -day follows night, will the darkness of these sad changes pass away; -and, even while it remains, many a bright star will shine in the mental -sky.”</p> - -<p>But still Eveline wept, and continued to weep until Eunice drew -her head down upon her breast, and soothed her with many words of -cheerfulness and hope.</p> - -<p>“I am like a child,” Eveline at length said, rising up with a calmer -face, and eyes now undimmed, “and your braver spirit shames my -weakness. But, I hope to be able, for all this, to stand firmly by your -side, sister, in any new and severer trial that may come.”</p> - -<p>“Spoken like yourself, Evie!” returned Eunice, with a smile. “Let us -not be doubtful but believing—let us be brave and strong, and no -difficulty shall beset our path that will not be easily overcome.”</p> - -<p>The observations of Eunice, as well as her conclusions, were correctly -made. Her father<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> was in trouble, and she had guessed, as before, the -cause.</p> - -<p>Some months previously, he had received a large consignment of goods, -upon which an advance of five thousand dollars was asked. In order to -make this advance, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had to get a small temporary loan. -The parties consigning the goods, required a guaranty of sales, and -this, although against his wishes, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend agreed to do. Over ten -thousand dollars worth of these goods were sold to one house, and that -house, before the notes given in payment for them had matured, failed.</p> - -<p>On the very day that Eunice called the attention of her sister to -their father’s depressed state of mind, a meeting of creditors was -held, at which it was made clearly apparent, that not twenty cents in -the dollar would be divided, and that, at least, twelve or eighteen -months must pass before the whole of this would be paid. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -went back to his store, after the meeting had closed, with his mind in -a complete state of despondency. He felt that he was utterly ruined, -and hopelessly gave up the struggle. After writing to his principal -consignors, informing them of what had occurred, and stating that he -would make an assignment for their benefit, he left his place<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> of -business, and returned home. On his way, he stopped at the store of a -druggist, and procured two ounces of laudanum.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.<br><span class="small">FAITH TRIED AND PROVED.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>Eunice was sitting alone, and thinking about her father, and waiting -for him to return home. She had made up her mind to approach him on the -subject of his marked depression of spirits, and learn, if possible, -the cause. Eveline was in her own room, and her mother was attending -to some household duty. Many thoughts passed through the mind of the -true-hearted girl. She sat near the window, her eyes looking out upon -the street, but without noticing the passers-by, except as moving -forms indistinctly seen. Deeply had she been pondering, since her -conversation with Eveline, the subject about which they had spoken; and -now her mind was busy with suggestions as to what she could and would -do, if another and still more depressing misfortune had befallen her -father.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span> The result of her thoughts was not altogether satisfactory. -Sacrifices, to almost any extent, she was willing to make, and she was -ready to do to the utmost of her ability; but, all was doubt in regard -to her father’s affairs; and, therefore, her own mind could come to -no fixed conclusions. While she sat thus, she noticed a man pause and -look up at the number of the house; and then ascend the steps and ring -the bell. His appearance was that of a porter, of ordinary laboring -man about a store. The bell was answered by a servant, and then the -man went away. While wondering what message he had left, the servant -entered the parlor, where she was sitting, and handed her a note, which -she said had been left for her. Eunice broke the seal of the envelope -and read:</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Eunice</span>:—Two years and more have passed, since you bade -me have faith in time. I have had faith; I still have faith. Long ere -this, had my heart been consulted, I would have sought to know, from -your own lips, whether my faith might still rest in hope. But few -weeks have passed, during all that time, in which I have not looked -upon your face, at least once, and marked, with feelings that I cannot -well describe, the change that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> was gradually passing over it. To the -distressing events that have occurred since we met, I will not allude -further than to say, that their only effect upon me has been to make -you more beloved; and I cannot tell you how eager I have been to step -forward and tell you this. But, for many reasons that I need not state -at present, I deemed it best to restrain this ardent desire. Now, I -feel that the time has come for me to say that my heart yet beats in -the right place—that you are, as ever, the best beloved; nay, the only -loved. Eunice, shall my faith in time have its due reward? Do you still -feel toward me as you felt ere the interdiction of your father came in -between our heart’s best impulses, and their hoped-for consummation? -Let me hear from you, changed or unchanged. It is time, and full time, -that our future became the present.</p> - -<p class="right">“Yours, as ever,</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Rufus Albertson</span>.” -</p> - -<p>Hurriedly folding the letter, after she had read it, Eunice arose and -went quickly from the room. In her own chamber she felt more free to -think and feel. For a while every thing but her true-hearted lover was -forgotten. Sweet to her spirit, wearied and well-nigh overburdened, -were the words he had written,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> and the faith he still held sacred. -Since the stern interference of her father, she had met him but very -few times, and then under circumstances that prevented any free -interchange of sentiments. After the death of her brother, and the -subsequent fall of her family from affluence, she had lived so secluded -a life that no opportunity for a meeting had occurred. Except at -church, on the Sabbath, where she regularly attended, he never saw her, -after the change in her father’s circumstances had excluded her from -fashionable circles.</p> - -<p>Patiently had the young man waited for the work of time—patiently -and hopefully. The insult received from <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, on applying for -the hand of Eunice, stung him to the quick, and rankled long after. -But he loved Eunice tenderly and truly, and while he felt that she -obeyed, too implicitly, the arbitrary command of her father, he could -not but respect the filial deference with which she regarded an unjust -requirement. To him, it was a trial that proved the character of his -affection, and the result showed that it was of the right quality.</p> - -<p>Long before a suspicion of misfortune had come shadowing the hearts of -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s family, Albertson saw the cloud approaching,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> and knew -that reverses of the most serious character had visited the proud, -uncompromising merchant. Anxiously did he look on and watch the result. -The fact of his investment of nearly all he was worth in United States -Bank stock, he knew immediately after the failure of the Bank. He also -knew, that he did not sell until the stock fell to almost nothing.</p> - -<p>With a deep interest in the result, he saw <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend again enter -business, with the small remnant of a large fortune as the basis of -his efforts, and struggle vigorously to recover himself. At this point -he would have come forward and renewed his application for the hand -of Eunice; but the manner of her father, whom he met occasionally in -business, was so cold, reserved, and haughty, that he deemed it wisest -to wait a little longer.</p> - -<p>At last, the final misfortune came. It happened that Jones, Claire, & -Co. were creditors of the failing house, the large sales to which <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend had guarantied, and Albertson represented his firm in the -meeting of creditors. At the last meeting, when it was clearly apparent -that the loss was well-nigh total, and that no dividend would be made -for a long time, he carefully noted the effect of the transpirance<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> -of this fact upon the father of Eunice; and from what he saw, and his -knowledge of his affairs, he was satisfied that this failure would -totally ruin him, and that even the means of a moderate support for his -family would pass from his hands.</p> - -<p>It was now full time, he felt, for him to step forward, and, for the -sake of Eunice, renew his attentions and claim her hand. He therefore -sat down immediately, and wrote and dispatched the letter which Eunice -so unexpectedly received. Anxiously did he await a reply. Two days -passed, yet none came. On the third day, this brief answer was received:</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Albert</span>—Through all the trials and changes that I have -been called to meet, I have remained the same; and to know that your -heart is still true, fills me with inexpressible delight. Time is doing -its work, but all is not yet finished. I have still a sacred duty -to perform, that no considerations, personal to myself, can make me -forego. Still, Albert, dear Albert! let me repeat—Have faith in time. -I cannot say more at present. Write to me again. Write to me often. -Soon, very soon, I trust we shall meet and speak face to face as of old.</p> - -<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Eunice</span>” -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> - -<p>“Still have faith in time”, murmured Albertson, with some bitterness, -as he finished reading this letter. “Have I not had faith? Have I not -waited long and patiently?”</p> - -<p>But, after reading it over again, his feelings changed, and admiration -for the self-sacrificing spirit of the noble-hearted girl filled his -bosom.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, I will still wait. If so true as a daughter, what will she -not be as a wife? That sacred duty is some devotion of herself for the -well-being of her parents. I must learn what it is, and prevent it.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.<br><span class="small">WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>When <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend came home from his store, after learning that a total -wreck of his affairs had taken place, his mind was fully made up to -shrink away like a coward from his duties and responsibilities in life, -and not only leave his family helpless, friendless, and destitute, -but entail upon them the keenest affliction. His hope in life was -gone. He felt that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> there was an unseen, but all-potent and malignant -power, whose anger he had by some means invoked; and, to fly from its -persecutions, he resolved to end his earthly existence.</p> - -<p>Not long after Eunice went up to her chamber, he came in and retired -to his own room, firm in the purpose he had conceived. The more he -thought about it, the more desirable did it seem as a means of relief. -It would end at once and forever these hopeless struggles, and free -him from burdens and responsibilities he was unable to bear. The death -pangs would be but brief, and nothing in comparison to the anguish of -mind he was enduring. Of what was beyond the dark bourn of time, he did -not permit himself to think. It seemed to him as if there were nothing -beyond, except what was dreamy and indistinct—as if he would sink into -a lethargic calm, which would be heaven when compared with his present -wild state of suffering.</p> - -<p>“Has father come home yet?” suddenly fell upon his ears in the low, -sweet voice of Eunice, speaking close by the door of his chamber.</p> - -<p>He did not hear the reply, which was uttered in a lower tone. But the -question, asked with such an expression of affectionate interest<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> as -it was, made his heart bound with a tender impulse. At the same time, -his hand, which had just sought, in his pocket, the vial containing the -fatal drug, was slowly withdrawn without accomplishing the mission upon -which it had been sent.</p> - -<p>“Has father come home yet?” He could not get the words out of his ears, -nor the loving tones in which they were uttered.</p> - -<p>“God bless the child!” he murmured, as thoughts of her and all she had -done to lighten the burdens he had been called upon to bear, pressed -themselves upon his mind. His meditated purpose was gone. He could not -effect it then; that was impossible. The tones of his daughter’s voice -had filled his mind with her presence, and in that presence he could -not consummate the dreadful act he had meditated.</p> - -<p>A few moments only passed, before there was a gentle tap at his door. -To his reluctant “come in,” Eunice entered, and approached her father, -who was seated in a remote part of the room. The expression of his face -startled her. It was deeply depressed, but there was in it something -more than depression.</p> - -<p>“Dear father!” she said, as she drew close<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span> to his side, “you are in -trouble. I have seen it for some time. Has all gone wrong again? Have -your efforts failed?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” he replied, speaking with great bitterness, “all has gone wrong, -and this hour I am a beggar!”</p> - -<p>Eunice could with difficulty refrain from abandoning herself to tears -at this announcement, made in such a despairing voice. But, by an -effort, she controlled herself, and stood, for some time, silent by the -side of her father. She could not trust herself to speak for more than -the space of a minute. At last, she said,</p> - -<p>“Others have met with as great misfortunes, and have passed through -them; and so can we. Keep a brave heart, father; all will yet be well! -It is possible for us to live at far less than our present expense. We -can be just as happy in a smaller house; just as happy on a greatly -reduced income.”</p> - -<p>“But all is gone, Eunice! I have nothing. By a failure that occurred in -the city, a short time ago, I lost every dollar that I had. And now I -am done! To struggle is hopeless!”</p> - -<p>“Oh, say not that!” replied Eunice, with energy. “Say not that! The -darkest hour is just before the break of day. Hopeless? Oh, no! -There is no condition in life so depressed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> that hopelessness need -accompany it. How truly has it been said, that ‘despair is never quite -despair.’ In this last and severest of all your trials, while every -thing is dark around you, let me say, be of good cheer. We will stand -by your side; we will hold up your hands; we will be cheerful in all -extremities—nay, more, we will work with our own hands, if need be; -others have to do it, and it will be no harder for us.”</p> - -<p>In her enthusiasm, the beautiful face of the girl became almost -radiant, and her father felt her presence like that of an angel.</p> - -<p>“My dear child,” he said, in a voice all tremulous with emotion, “you -come to me in my darkest moments, a spirit of comfort, and speak words -of hope when I am sinking in despair. For this, if for nothing else, I -should be thankful to heaven—and I am thankful!”</p> - -<p>The strong man bowed his head, and though he struggled hard with his -feelings, the tears gushed from his eyes.</p> - -<p>“Dear father,” said Eunice, as soon as both had grown calm, for her -tears mingled with those of her parent, “from heaven we receive every -thing; and all that comes from heaven is good. Even reverses and -afflictions are good, for they come as correctives of something in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> us -that is evil, and whatever is evil causes unhappiness. Is it not good -to have the causes of unhappiness removed, even if we suffer pain in -the removal? We have spiritual diseases as well as natural diseases, -and pain attends the one as well as the other, and both would produce -death if not expelled. How beautifully has <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, over and over -again, set this forth! Is it not better, far better, to lose our -worldly goods, and to suffer in our natural feelings, if thereby we -attain to spiritual riches, and are blessed with that deep peace, which -the world gives not, neither can take away?”</p> - -<p>“May that deep peace be your reward, Eunice,” returned <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, in -a softened tone; “and it will be. Heaven would be unjust if you were -wretched. You are the spirit of good in our family; the righteous in -our city; and for your sake all will not be destroyed. I feel it. I -will hope for a morning dawn upon this thick darkness.”</p> - -<p>“It will dawn, father! Trust that it will; though not for my sake,” -returned Eunice. “But we must be faithful in a wise disposition of what -we have. We must be patient, industrious, prudent, and hopeful, and -after the trial hour passes, the light will come.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> - -<p>But little that Eunice said had been in her mind to say. She had not -conned over a form of address to her father, but had come, with a -loving heart, in the hope of saying something that would lift his mind -above the trouble by which it was oppressed. She had spoke, as the -Spirit gave her utterance—the spirit of yearning filial affection; and -her words were true and eloquent, because they came from an over-full -heart. And coming from the heart, they reached the heart, and their -effect was good.</p> - -<p>“Say nothing of all this, Eunice,” <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend said, after his mind -had grown calm, and his thoughts began to move in a healthier circle. -“You have inspired me to a new trial. To-morrow, instead of abandoning -all, hopelessly, I will make an effort to sustain myself.”</p> - -<p>“And you will not conceal from me the result, even if it prove -unsuccessful?”</p> - -<p>“No, Eunice; you deserve my full confidence, and you shall have it.”</p> - -<p>“Even if you continue in business, it will be reduced very much,” the -daughter said, “after this entire loss of all your capital; and the -profits will not meet our present expenses.”</p> - -<p>“I fear not, Eunice;” and <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend looked troubled.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> - -<p>“Therefore, we must live at a less expense.”</p> - -<p>“But how can we? To me it is inconceivable.”</p> - -<p>“Though not to me,” said Eunice, smiling. “We are now paying four -hundred dollars for rent; half of this we may at least save, by going -farther from the centre of the city, and taking a still smaller house. -We must not think of appearances, father, but of what it is right for -us to do.”</p> - -<p>“Appearances, child!” returned the father; “I have long since ceased to -care for them. But I do not think you could be comfortable in so small -a house.”</p> - -<p>“Such a house would be a paradise compared to this, if it brought peace -of mind and a clear conscience, while this did not.”</p> - -<p>“Two hundred dollars would be something; but not all we may be -compelled to reduce. I have not much hope in the results of a business, -so crippled for want of means as mine will be, even if it should be -continued.”</p> - -<p>“Much, very much more may be reduced,” said Eunice, confidently; “leave -that to Eveline and me. Only let us know exactly the state of your -affairs, and I am sure we will be able to sustain all by our mutual -exertions.”</p> - -<p>Far more cheerful than it had been for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> weeks, was the face of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend, when he met his family at the tea-table that evening. As soon -as an opportunity for doing so occurred, with an inward shudder at the -dreadful act he had contemplated, he destroyed the poisonous drug with -which he had resolved to take his own life. As he did so, the image of -Eunice arose in his mind, and he murmured, half audibly,</p> - -<p>“My saviour!”</p> - -<p>When <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend went to his store on the next morning, he was -surprised to find all the letters of notification to consignors and -creditors, which he had written the day before, lying upon his desk.</p> - -<p>“I am very sorry, sir,” said his clerk, “but I forgot entirely to throw -these letters into the post-office last evening. I hope nothing serious -will result from the delay.”</p> - -<p>“It’s as well,” returned <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, suppressing any exhibition of -feeling with an effort. “Circumstances have occurred that render it -unnecessary to send them.”</p> - -<p>“How providential!” was his mental ejaculation, as he turned from his -clerk; and gathering up the letters, thrust them into his desk.</p> - -<p>This was, perhaps, the first time in his life that his heart had felt -and acknowledged the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> hand of a Divine Providence in any thing, and -the acknowledgment, in this case, was more instinctive than rational. -But the utterance in his mind of the word, and the involuntary -acknowledgment of a “Providence,” came immediately into the perception -of his thoughts, and transferred them from the incident of the letters, -to that involving a matter of infinitely greater importance—no less -than the salvation of his life itself. A shudder passed through every -nerve, as he closed his eyes, and in the silence of a deeply thankful -heart, acknowledged, rationally as well as feelingly, the Divine hand -in what had occurred.</p> - -<p>At that moment a light broke in upon his mind; a feeble light that only -revealed all things that it fell upon indistinctly, but, by it he could -see better than he had ever before seen, the nature of the ground upon -which he was standing—the unsatisfying character of all mere natural -things, and the priceless value of spiritual qualities and endowments, -such as his daughter Eunice possessed. Sustained by them, a young and -feeble girl, who had not been enough in the world to feel its rough -contact or learn its selfish wisdom, was able to hold up the hands of a -strong man, bowed down and helpless from the pressure of misfortune.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> -Something of wonder and admiration filled his mind, for a few moments, -as this truth forced itself upon him.</p> - -<p>“Shall my child, a delicate, tender girl, be braver than I?” he said -to himself. “Shall she stand up, resolutely, and with a bold front to -the coming storm, and I shrink in the blast, and turn my back like a -coward? No! This shall not be!”</p> - -<p>In this better spirit did <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend take up again his life-duties, -and seek to save what could be saved in his business, rather than -abandon all in impotent despair.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.<br><span class="small">FURTHER RETRENCHMENT.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>The loss of ten thousand dollars—sweeping from his hands, at a single -stroke, all he was worth, and all his means of doing any thing like a -profitable business—left <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend really in a very helpless state, -and filled him with discouragement the moment he turned his thoughts -upon the straitened condition of his affairs. But, after such a lesson -as he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> received from Eunice—after such an opening of his eyes to -the true light—he could not utterly despond. He had lifted himself -from the earth, stood up erect, and taken the first step. It would not -do to pause now, sink again, and abandon all. He must do to the utmost -of his ability, let what would come.</p> - -<p>The greatest difficulty that presented itself to <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, was -the universally-prevailing spirit of cupidity existing among men -of business, which led almost every one to seek his own good in a -heartless disregard of others. Were he to make a full exposition of -his affairs, and ask for consideration and aid from those for whom he -did business, instantly their confidence would cease, consignments -be withheld, and the destruction of business he was seeking to avoid -become inevitable. There would be no generous consideration, no -sympathy for his losses, extended toward him, but censure for his want -of sagacity in not perceiving the signs of weakness in the house that -had failed. No longer able to advance upon consignments, or guaranty -sales, those who wished advances would not send him their goods, and -those who were willing to waive the guaranty, would be afraid to trust -their sales to a man who had committed the mistake<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> of selling to a -house just on the eve of its failure.</p> - -<p>That this would be the result of an exposure of his affairs, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend felt well assured. It was just as he had acted in his days -of prosperity. He never regarded the interests of any man, and never -extended the slightest sympathy toward the unfortunate. His system had -been, to get out of every one who owed him and became embarrassed, all -he would yield by the severest pressure, and then throw his bloodless -carcass out of sight—to the dogs, for all he cared. And little more -consideration than he had given, did he expect. Judging all men by -his own standard, he did not believe in the existence of a particle -of unselfishness in business circles; and he, therefore, expected to -receive no generous consideration in his misfortunes. That this selfish -disregard of others was wrong, he could now see, because it affected -himself. If no other good result came from his reverses, the clear -conviction and acknowledgment of this was something, and worth all he -had lost and suffered to acquire.</p> - -<p>A long and anxious debate on the question of what it was best for him -to do, was at length terminated by his coming to the conclusion,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> that -his best course was to conceal from every one the desperate condition -of his affairs, and make a vigorous effort to sustain himself. In this, -he believed, lay his only hope. To trust any man with the fact that his -losses had seriously crippled him, would be, he felt well convinced, to -ruin all.</p> - -<p>In a few days, two or three letters were received from eastern -manufacturers, containing invoices and bills of lading of goods -consigned to him on sale, upon which the usual advances they had been -in the habit of receiving were asked. Immediate replies were made, that -he was already so much in advance to various parties, that he could -not extend such accommodations, but that he would endeavor to make -immediate sales, and transmit the proceeds. Before the goods arrived, -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend received advices that their destination had been changed, -and that they were to go into another commission house, from which the -desired advances could be had.</p> - -<p>“Well, let them go!” he said, in the effort to feel indifferent about -the matter, at the same time that a feeling of discouragement oppressed -him, and brought a cloud over his mind.</p> - -<p>By the next mail came notice of a valuable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> consignment upon which -neither an advance nor guaranty was asked, and it came from new -parties, who promised still heavier shipments of goods.</p> - -<p>“There is hope yet,” was the silent, thankful expression of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend’s heart, as he read this letter. “If I can only manage to -meet, at maturity, the five or six thousand dollars for which I am -liable under guaranty of sales, I may yet be able to hold up my head -in business, though how I shall manage to support my family on the -diminished proceeds, is beyond my power to tell.”</p> - -<p>One day, about a week after the occurrence of the interview between -himself and daughter, Eunice drew her father aside, and said to him,</p> - -<p>“I saw a neat, pretty house this morning, in a very pleasant -neighborhood, the rent of which is only a hundred and eighty-five -dollars. There is a snug little parlor below, beautifully papered, and -having in it a pure white marble mantle; and quite a large chamber -over that, and another of the same size in the third story. Back -of these is a kitchen, dining-room, and good-sized chamber, with -bath-house and dressing-room. Take it all in all, it is exactly what we -want—perfectly new, neat, genteel, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> comfortable; and very cheap. -Won’t you go with me and look at it after dinner?”</p> - -<p>“I’m afraid it’s too small, Eunice,” remarked her father. “We shall not -be able to breathe in it.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no! it is not too small. The chambers are large and airy. And as -to breathing, it will be done as freely again there, for the pressure -upon our bosoms will be removed.”</p> - -<p>“Are there no garrets to the house?”</p> - -<p>“None.”</p> - -<p>“Then where will a servant sleep?”</p> - -<p>“There’ll be no difficulty about that—none in the world.”</p> - -<p>“But where, Eunice?”</p> - -<p>“There’s the room over the dining-room.”</p> - -<p>“Which will shut us off from the bath. It won’t do, my child.”</p> - -<p>“Will you go with me to look at it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes. But I am sure it will not answer.”</p> - -<p>“And I am sure it will; and you will agree with me after you have seen -it.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend went to look at the house, and thought it really quite -neat, genteel, and comfortable. But his main objection lay in full -force against it. There was no place for the servant to sleep, and -he urged it as an insuperable<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span> objection, to which Eunice at length -replied—</p> - -<p>“We don’t intend to have any servants; Eveline and I have settled all -that.”</p> - -<p>At this, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend shook his head in a most emphatic way, and said,</p> - -<p>“That’s out of the question, child; utterly so. I will not hear to it a -moment.”</p> - -<p>“Why not? Don’t you have to attend to business all day, and are we -better than you?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t have to go into the kitchen and cook. I don’t have to go -through menial household drudgery.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t call any useful employment menial, father. Would it at all -degrade me to bake you a sweet loaf of bread, or prepare you a -comfortable meal when you are hungry? I think not.”</p> - -<p>“But the hard drudgery of the thing, Eunice. You don’t know what you -propose to yourselves to do.”</p> - -<p>“Love will make the labor light,” replied Eunice, with a tone and smile -that found a quick passage to the heart of her father. “Let it be as we -desire.”</p> - -<p>But <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend would not yield the point. At least, he would not -consent that a house should be taken without a room in it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> where a -servant could sleep. So Eunice had to make another search. In a few -days one was procured with the room, additional, required, at a rent of -two hundred dollars per annum; and <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend gave his consent that -it should be taken, provided the mother, who had been kept ignorant of -the desperate state of her husband’s business, could be brought to give -a free consent to the change. The procurement of this consent was left -to Eveline and Eunice. The latter, after the first doubt and fear she -had experienced at her sister’s suggestion of another change in their -father’s circumstances, was ready to support Eunice in every thing.</p> - -<p>“Mother,” said Eunice, on the day after the taking of a house at a -lower rent had been determined upon, “I think we might manage to live -at a smaller cost than we do. Indeed, I am sure we could. Father’s -business cannot be very profitable, and even the meeting of our present -family expenses must be a serious matter to him.”</p> - -<p>“To live any plainer than we do, is impossible,” replied Mrs. Townsend; -“we keep but a single servant, and I am sure that no family could -practice more economy.”</p> - -<p>“But we might live in a much smaller house.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span></p> - -<p>“Smaller house!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, mother. We don’t occupy much over half of this, and what is -the use of paying one or two hundred dollars for what we don’t want, -especially when father has need in his business of every cent he can -procure. I saw, when I was out yesterday, a beautiful little house, -with rooms very nearly as large as they are in this one, only there -were not so many. It was finished as well as this one is, throughout, -and had quite as respectable an appearance; and the rent was only two -hundred dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed!” said Mrs. Townsend, struck with the difference.</p> - -<p>“That is all. I think we had better take it. Two hundred dollars is a -good deal of money to save off of rent.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe your father will hear to such a thing.”</p> - -<p>“If he consents to move, will you make no objection?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. But I am sure he will not listen a moment to such a -proposition. The way in which we now live is very different to what it -was. I never could have believed it possible to become reconciled to -it.”</p> - -<p>“You say yes, then, if father is willing?”</p> - -<p>“I think I may safely say yes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> - -<p>“Very well,” replied both the girls, smiling; “we will hold you to this -promise.”</p> - -<p>In the evening, after tea, when all were together, Eunice said, in a -very pleasant way,</p> - -<p>“Father, mother says if you are willing to move into the house I told -you about, that she will make no objection. What do you say?”</p> - -<p>“Of course, your father wouldn’t think of such a thing,” spoke up Mrs. -Townsend.</p> - -<p>“That isn’t fair, mother,” said Eveline, good-humoredly. “We object -to any attempt on your part to use influence. Father must decide this -matter for himself in freedom. We’ve got your promise, and now we must -get his.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure that is using influence, and with a double power. First, you -get me to make a conditional promise, and then set to work to influence -the conditions. No, no; I object also. Let father, as you say, decide -this matter in freedom.”</p> - -<p>“Very well; father shall speak for himself,” said Eunice. “Let me put -the question. Are you willing to give up this house, and take the one -alluded to, which only rents for two hundred dollars?”</p> - -<p>“If all of you agree to it; if all are willing, I promise not to -object.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span></p> - -<p>“There, do you hear that, mother?” exclaimed Eveline.</p> - -<p>Mrs Townsend looked surprised and serious.</p> - -<p>“But, is there any necessity for this?” she asked, turning her eyes -upon her husband’s face.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps it would be a prudent step for us to take, provided we could -be comfortable and happy under the change,” he replied.</p> - -<p>“I hardly think we can be,” said Mrs. Townsend, looking troubled.</p> - -<p>“Then we will not move,” was promptly answered.</p> - -<p>“But what is to hinder us?” urged Eunice. “The house is large enough, -and the rooms of a good size. The situation is pleasant, and the -appearance of the house very nearly equal to the one we now live in. -With all this in its favor, and added thereto, the fact that the change -made a saving of two hundred dollars in our expenses, perhaps more, and -I hardly think we would be less comfortable or happy. Father has said -that this reduction of our expenses would be a prudent step to take. -Should we hesitate a moment after this?”</p> - -<p>“He should know what is best, certainly,” said Mrs. Townsend, struck -with the force of application that Eunice gave to her father’s words. -“And if he thinks it prudent, we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> ought by all means to move. But, -before it is done, the necessity for it should be understood by all of -us, and then we can all enter into and promote it with a more cheerful -spirit.”</p> - -<p>“Very true, indeed,” answered <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend; “and I will therefore -state, that my business does not promise so well as it did a short time -ago; that I have met with a serious loss by the failure of a house to -which I sold a large amount of goods, and that, therefore, it will be a -measure of prudence to do as the girls propose. For their willingness -to make sacrifices, and to prompt to further reductions of expense, we -certainly ought to feel deeply grateful. To find them as they are, is -to find light in a dark place—to meet streams in a desert. With such -loving hearts to sustain us, we ought never to despond.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.<br><span class="small">THE USES OF ADVERSITY.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>The change proposed was speedily made. As they shrunk closer together -in this smaller house, they felt more sensibly the warmth of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> each -other’s hearts. The mother joined with her daughters in their efforts -to cut off every expense, and when they proposed doing without a -servant, made no objection, but rather approved the measure. So the -servant was dismissed, and the whole care and labor of the household -devolved upon Mrs. Townsend, Eveline, and Eunice.</p> - -<p>At their last removal, they found great difficulty in crowding the -furniture, taken from a house almost double that of the one they -were to occupy, into the smaller space allotted for its reception. -Compression was no longer possible. A council on the subject was held, -at which it was decided to sell certain large and costly articles, and -retain only such as corresponded to their reduced style of living. -Quite a large selection was made and sold at vendue, from which the -handsome sum of one thousand dollars was raised, which was paid into -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend’s hands, just in time to enable him to make a heavy -payment, and thus prevent a knowledge of his crippled state from -becoming known.</p> - -<p>“How strangely events turn out,” he said to his daughter Eunice, with -whom he could speak on the subject of his business and prospects, more -freely and intimately than with any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> other member of his family, not -even excepting his wife, whose spirits usually became depressed, when -allusion was made to the subject. “But for you, no one would have -thought of a reduction of expense by moving into a cheaper house. The -cheaper house was smaller, and, therefore, to get into it, we had to -reduce our furniture. For what was surplus, and therefore useless, a -thousand dollars were received, and these thousand dollars came just -in time to enable me to make a payment, otherwise impossible, upon -which almost every thing depended. How strangely events turn out! I am -bewildered at times.”</p> - -<p>“He leads us by a way that we know not,” Eunice said, low and -reverently.</p> - -<p>“Who?” <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend spoke ere he reflected.</p> - -<p>“He whose tender mercies are over all his works,” was replied.</p> - -<p>For a few moments there was silence.</p> - -<p>“You think, then, that the hand of Providence is in every thing?” said -<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, surely it is!” returned Eunice. “The Creator of all must be -the Sustainer of all.”</p> - -<p>“That is, doubtless, true. A general providence over a man’s life may -exist, but I can<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span> hardly believe that there is a particular providence -regarding all the minuter things.”</p> - -<p>“Can there be such a thing as a general, that is not made up -of particulars? A general providence not the sum of particular -providences?”</p> - -<p>This question <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend did not answer immediately. The proposition -was new to his mind, and came upon it with the force of truth.</p> - -<p>“There is such a thing as a general superintendence of affairs,” he -said, thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“True, but is it not to the end that particular things, within its -sphere of supervision, may be kept in order? Break up the harmony and -dependence of particular things one upon another, and what becomes -of general harmony? Does not all sink into confusion? How small a -circumstance often involves the most important consequences; and if -the greater result is regarded by Providence, surely the seemingly -insignificant cause must also be regarded. Depend upon it, father, -there is a particular providence, or no providence at all.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you are right, Eunice. I never saw the subject in that light. -As you intimate, we must give up all idea of Providence, and feel -that every thing is governed by chance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> or admit that it reaches to -the most intimate things of our lives. It may be as Shakespeare says, -‘There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will.’”</p> - -<p>“It is so, father, depend upon it. Human prudence, as <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton has -so often said, and said it to you in my hearing some years ago, is -nothing. You did not believe it then, but you cannot entirely doubt it -now.”</p> - -<p>“I cannot, certainly,” replied <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, speaking sadly, “for my -prudence has availed nothing.”</p> - -<p>“Not for the salvation of your worldly possessions. The good things of -natural life were taken from you and from us, but is it not possible -for this to prove a blessing and not a curse?”</p> - -<p>“I do not know. At present it is far from being apparent to my mind.”</p> - -<p>“It is not altogether so to mine,” returned the daughter. “As for me, -I know myself better, and have learned to regard the good of others, -and to seek for that good as well as my own; and this is a heavenly -affection, and its exercise prepares us for heaven. The very life of -heaven is a love of being useful to, and making others happy, and -unless we have this love, we cannot go to heaven when our few<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> brief -years are closed up here. Surely any natural circumstance that helps us -to see what is evil in our hearts, and also to put it away, should be -regarded as a blessing.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps so, viewed in that light; one in which, I must own, it has -never been presented to my mind.”</p> - -<p>“But is it not the true light, father? Are not our spirits the real and -substantial about us?”</p> - -<p>“Substantial, Eunice? Our bodies are substantial.”</p> - -<p>“Not substantial like our minds. Material substance is perishing, but -spiritual substance endures for ever. In a little while our natural -bodies will decay, but neither death, decay, nor corruption can touch -our spiritual bodies. Our spiritual well-being is, therefore, of -infinite importance, compared to our mere natural well-being.”</p> - -<p>The words of the young preacher sunk into the heart of her father; a -deep sigh struggled up from his bosom, and he sat thoughtful for many -minutes.</p> - -<p>“Doubtless you are right, Eunice,” he then said, speaking in a subdued -voice. “Something of this I have heard before, but it never impressed -me as it does now. I never <i>felt</i> that it was true. Fifty or sixty -years is nothing to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> an eternal existence. The things of time are, -therefore, of small moment, compared to the things of eternity; and the -wealth of this world dross compared to heavenly riches.”</p> - -<p>The eyes of Eunice were filled with tears as they turned with looks of -happy affection upon the face of her father, and her voice was half -broken as she said,</p> - -<p>“To be able to see and feel this, father, is a great attainment, and -not dearly bought, even at the price you have paid for it.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not,” he replied. “The price has certainly been large.”</p> - -<p>“Now it appears so; but the time will come, I hope, when the price that -has been paid will seem really insignificant, compared to the good it -procured; nay, I am sure it will come.”</p> - -<p>“I trust it may, Eunice; but it has not come yet,” said <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, -again sighing deeply. His natural affections still clung to the good -things of natural life, while his perception of spiritual things, seen -clearly only for a few moments in the light of his daughter’s mind, -were but dim and confused. Still, there had been some progress. The -uses of misfortune had been, to some small extent, realized.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.<br><span class="small">MORE SACRIFICES.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>“I met your old sweetheart to-day,” said a young friend to Rufus -Albertson.</p> - -<p>“Ah! who was she?”</p> - -<p>“Miss Townsend.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed!”</p> - -<p>“Yes; she looked badly; poor thing! Her proud old father would not say -much to the contrary if you were to renew your acquaintance in that -quarter. I think you were lucky.”</p> - -<p>“Do you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I don’t believe he is worth a copper.”</p> - -<p>“You are mistaken; he is rich.”</p> - -<p>“Rich!”</p> - -<p>“The richest man I know.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t he lose every thing he had by the failure of the United States -Bank?”</p> - -<p>“Not by any means.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, but I am sure he did. He’s been doing a small commission business, -and, to my certain knowledge, has lost several valuable consignments, -because he was unable to make advances. They came to our house.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p> - -<p>“That may be, and yet <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend not be so very poor. I happen to -know that he possesses a treasure of priceless value.”</p> - -<p>“Not transmutable into gold, I presume. No doubt there are a good many -others rich in the same way. You mean in his children—in this daughter -of whom we were speaking, perhaps.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that is what I mean. No man who has a child like Eunice Townsend -should be called poor.”</p> - -<p>“Really! I was not aware that your inclinations lay in that direction. -I presume you will find no difficulty in obtaining the hand of Eunice, -if such be your desire.”</p> - -<p>“Where did you see Miss Townsend?” asked Albertson.</p> - -<p>“I saw her coming out of Trist & Lee’s auction store. A strange place -for a young lady to be seen; don’t you think so?”</p> - -<p>“I suppose a young lady may go into an auction store as well as any -other store. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend moved into a much smaller house than he -had been living in, some time ago, and it is possible that surplus -furniture has been sent to auction.”</p> - -<p>“Possible. But wouldn’t her father attend to that.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> - -<p>“Ordinarily, no doubt such would be the case; but in the misfortunes -that have befallen <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, he has been sustained by Eunice in -a remarkable manner. She seems to have forgotten every thing but how -she may hold up her father’s drooping hands, and inspire him with hope -and confidence. She would not hesitate to attend to this or any other -business for him, not incompatible with her sex.”</p> - -<p>On parting with this friend, to whom he had not expressed all that was -in his mind, Albertson said to himself, while his countenance became -thoughtful,</p> - -<p>“What could she have been doing there?”</p> - -<p>No satisfactory answer was suggested to his mind, for the same question -recurred again and again. He was walking along, still thinking of the -fact that had been stated, when just before him he saw Eunice come out -of a jewelry store, turn up the street, and walk briskly away without -observing him. The very manner in which her steps were taken, showed -that there was a purpose in her mind.</p> - -<p>Albertson went back to his place of business, in a thoughtful mood. -About an hour afterward he entered the auction room of Trist & Lee. -After looking about there for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> some time, he was joined by <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Lee, to -whom he was very well known.</p> - -<p>“Can’t I do something for you to-day, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Albertson?” said Lee, -familiarly, and yet with an eye to business.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know; perhaps you can.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you want a first-rate piano? We’ve just got in a splendid -instrument, that cost a thousand dollars, and may be had at a bargain. -But, I believe you’re not married yet, and therefore have no wife to -whom you can make such a present. By-the-way, too, Albertson, it is -not a little curious that this piano should belong to an old flame of -yours.”</p> - -<p>“Ah!” said Albertson, affecting indifference.</p> - -<p>“Yes. I believe Miss Townsend was once quite a favorite of yours.”</p> - -<p>“Does it belong to her?”</p> - -<p>“It does. You know her father lost every thing by the failure of the -‘Great Regulator,’ and has since, I am told, been in very reduced -circumstances. To-day, this instrument was sent here, and shortly after -one of his daughters came in, and requested that it might be sold, -either at public or private sale. She asked, as a particular favor, -that as liberal an advance as we could afford might be made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> upon it. -I offered her a hundred dollars, but the smallness of the sum seemed -to disappoint her. She said it had cost a thousand dollars, and had -never been used a great deal. ‘Do you want the money particularly -to-day?’ I asked. ‘Yes, I must have it to-day!’ she replied. There was -something so anxious and earnest in her voice, that my sympathies were -awakened for her, and I told her to call again this afternoon, and I -would consult <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Trist, and see if we could venture to make a larger -advance. I wish I could meet with a purchaser for it, in the mean time, -at a fair price, so as to be able to hand her about three hundred -dollars instead of one. Now there is a romantic incident for you. Don’t -you feel tempted to buy the piano?”</p> - -<p>“What price do you set upon it?”</p> - -<p>“Three hundred dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t that low?”</p> - -<p>“Very low. But it is second hand; and three hundred dollars is a high -price to get for a second-hand instrument. I am doubtful if even this -will bring it.”</p> - -<p>“You say it cost a thousand?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Too great a sacrifice, that, indeed.”</p> - -<p>“Well, suppose you take it at five hundred<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span> dollars?” said the -auctioneer, smiling. “You’ll get a bargain, then. No doubt the family -want the money bad enough, and will have their hearts gladdened by the -unexpected receipt of so large a sum.”</p> - -<p>“Isn’t it really worth more? Has the use of it reduced its value one -half?”</p> - -<p>“No, not one fourth. But, it is second hand, you know, and that always -takes fifty per cent. from the estimated value of almost anything.”</p> - -<p>Albertson reflected a few moments, and then said, “If you will promise -me, and faithfully keep the promise, not to mention my name in the -transaction to any one, I will buy this piano, and pay you seven -hundred dollars for it. The money shall be here in an hour.”</p> - -<p>“Agreed. No one shall be the wiser of your agency in the matter. Seven -hundred dollars! It will set the girl wild.”</p> - -<p>“No danger of that, I presume. Her mind, I hope, is more firmly -balanced.”</p> - -<p>After another pause for reflection, Albertson said, in a tone of -confidence, “Of course, Lee, I need hardly tell you, that something -besides mere impulse has prompted me to buy this piano, and pay four -hundred dollars more for it than you asked. I say this, because your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> -mind would naturally infer it, and also because I wish a little -service, and don’t want too many into my secrets. You are acquainted -with Jones, of the firm of Milford & Jones, jewelers, I believe.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes, very well.”</p> - -<p>“I saw Miss Townsend come out of their store to-day, and it’s my -impression that her errand there was similar to her errand to -you—that is, to sell some article or articles that, in their reduced -circumstances, could very well be dispensed with. Are you willing to -see Jones for me, and find out if my impressions are correct?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>“Will you go at once?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. I will call here in half an hour to hear the result.”</p> - -<p>In half an hour, according to agreement, Albertson called upon the -auctioneer.</p> - -<p>“Did you ascertain what I wished to know?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what have you learned?”</p> - -<p>“That Miss Townsend brought to the store a large diamond breast-pin, -two ladies’ gold watches, and several other articles of jewelry,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span> all -costly, and wanted to sell them. Jones told her that he would take -them, and dispose of them for her; but that he was not prepared to -purchase. She then asked if he could not advance something upon them. -This he declined, and she took them away with her, remarking, that -perhaps Milford, just above, would let her have what she wanted. I am -not acquainted with Milford, or I would have made inquiries there.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you for the trouble you took. I happen to know Milford, and will -see him myself. I’ll send you the money for the piano in the course of -an hour.”</p> - -<p>Albertson left the store of the auctioneers, and called upon the -jewelers.</p> - -<p>“Was there a young lady here to-day, with a diamond breast-pin, two -gold watches, and some other articles, that she wished to sell?” he -asked, after passing a few words with Milford.</p> - -<p>“There was. Why? Do you know any thing about them?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing in particular. Did you buy them?”</p> - -<p>“No. I’m not in the habit of doing such things. But I told her I would -sell them for her. Here they are;” and the jeweler<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> pointed to a part -of his show-case where he had deposited them. “That diamond breast-pin -is worth every cent of five hundred dollars. I wonder if she came by -them fairly.”</p> - -<p>“You may set your heart at rest on that subject. I’ll be surety in the -case.”</p> - -<p>“You know her, then?”</p> - -<p>“I think I do.”</p> - -<p>“Who is she?”</p> - -<p>“At present I don’t know that her name need be mentioned.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, as to her name, that she has left. It is Townsend. I gave her a -receipt for the goods. I wonder if she is not one of the daughters of -Townsend the shipping merchant, who was knocked all to pieces by the -failure of the United States Bank?”</p> - -<p>“Did she also give you her place of residence?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; No. 60 —— street.”</p> - -<p>“You didn’t pay her any thing on the goods?”</p> - -<p>“No; although she was very anxious to get an advance.”</p> - -<p>“What are they all worth?”</p> - -<p>“They are worth seven or eight hundred dollars; but will not bring -that.”</p> - -<p>“How much do you expect to get for them?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> - -<p>“Not more than four or five hundred at the outside; and it may be six -months before they are all sold. We are bound to get off our own goods -first, you know.”</p> - -<p>“You will let me have the lot at eight hundred, I suppose?” said -Albertson.</p> - -<p>“Yes, or at five hundred, either.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want them for less than they are worth. I’ll give you eight -hundred dollars.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, very well! I’ll take a thousand, if you prefer it.”</p> - -<p>“Will you send word to the young lady that you have made the sale, and -request her to call at four o’clock and get the money?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>“And will you, besides, carefully conceal from her that I purchased the -goods?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“And, further, will you relinquish all commissions on the sale?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know about that.”</p> - -<p>“Just as you like, Milford.”</p> - -<p>“Why should I do so?”</p> - -<p>“There is no reason, perhaps, why you should do it; so we’ll say no -more about that.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll think of it, any how,” said the jeweler.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> - -<p>“Very well; I’ll call and pay you for them before three o’clock.”</p> - -<p>And Albertson left the store and returned to his place of business.</p> - -<p>“He must have plenty of money to throw away,” said Milford to himself, -as the young man retired.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.<br><span class="small">A DISAPPOINTMENT.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>The answer received by Albertson from Eunice, was promptly responded -to, and the privilege of visiting her at her father’s house asked; but -she replied,</p> - -<p>“Not yet. My father is in trouble, and doubt hangs over his business, -small as it is. It requires all my efforts to inspire him with -confidence. I do not wish him, just at this time, to think that my -affections are divided. And, besides, your appearance may remind him -too strongly of other and more prosperous days. A little while longer; -only a little while longer. Misfortune is changing him, and the change -is altogether favorable to our wishes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> - -<p>Not long after this, an accidental meeting took place, in which Eunice -made her lover clearly comprehend her position. Admiration for her -filial virtues overcame, from that time, all impatience.</p> - -<p>“She will be the more fully mine,” he said; “and purer and brighter for -the trials through which she has passed.”</p> - -<p>After that, they corresponded regularly, and occasionally met.</p> - -<p>While the fortunes of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had rapidly declined, those of the -young man he had treated so rudely had rapidly improved. The business -of Jones, Claire, & Co. doubled itself in a single year, and had gone -on increasing almost in a similar ratio. The interest in it held by -Albertson was, therefore, a very profitable one.</p> - -<p>Two months after the last removal, Eunice noticed that her father had -again become unusually serious. This led her to inquire of him as to -the state of his business.</p> - -<p>“I have no reason to despond in regard to business,” he said, “taking -all things into consideration. If I could only meet a payment of twelve -hundred dollars that falls due in a few days, I believe every thing -would go on smoothly enough. This is the last of my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> guarantied sales -to the house, by the failure of which I lost ten thousand dollars. My -name is on the note, and when it is returned protested, I must take it -up. But how this is to be done, I cannot tell.”</p> - -<p>“Help has come heretofore in extremity, father, and I am sure it will -come now.”</p> - -<p>“But where is it to come from, child? Heaven knows; I do not. I have -struggled up to this point, and overcome many difficulties, but this -seems likely to overwhelm me. I sometimes think, Eunice, that I am -mocked of Providence.”</p> - -<p>“Dear father! do not permit such a thought to find place in your mind -for an instant. It is not so; it cannot be so. These trials are for -your good. We all suffer with you, and we shall all be better in the -end, for our suffering. I feel that I am better, and that my after -life will be a happier and more useful life in consequence. Our real -good, you know, father, does not lie in our worldly possessions or -prosperity; and the failure of our worldly expectations is often but a -salutary reaction upon our natural affections, when too intently fixed -upon mere natural things. Still have confidence, father; still believe -that all will come out right in the end. Even the failure<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> to meet this -payment may not prove so great an evil as you now fear it will be.”</p> - -<p>Thus Eunice sought to inspire her father with confidence, and -succeeded in doing so for the moment, but he soon sunk back again -into despondency. His mind had not sufficient power to rise above the -pressure of present circumstances.</p> - -<p>On the next day, Eunice, while alone with her sister, said to her, “I -mentioned to you last night, the cause of father’s looking so troubled.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and I have been thinking about it ever since.”</p> - -<p>“Has any thing suggested itself?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. There is my diamond breast-pin. It might be sold. It’s poor -brother John’s present, and I shall grieve to part with it. But, if he -could know the reason of its being sold, I am sure he would approve the -act.”</p> - -<p>“How closely, side by side, run our thoughts,” said Eunice, smiling. -“I have determined to sell my beautiful rosewood piano, also brother -John’s present. It cost a thousand dollars; and I think I ought to get -at least five or six hundred for it. It is quite as good as new.”</p> - -<p>“For the breast-pin and piano, we ought to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> receive a thousand -dollars,” replied Eveline, with a brightening face. “Father only wants -twelve hundred. If he have a thousand, the additional two hundred will -not be hard to obtain.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know that we shall get so much as a thousand dollars for the -piano and breast-pin, although they are worth more. I think we had -better add our watches, and some other articles of jewelry, to make -sure of the sum we desire to obtain.”</p> - -<p>“I am ready to throw in every thing that I have in the way of jewelry,” -said Eveline. “But how are these things to be sold?”</p> - -<p>“That’s the most difficult part of the business. The piano, I suppose, -had better go to the auction store where our surplus furniture was -sold. How the jewelry is to be disposed of, I do not know, unless it is -offered at some of the stores where they deal in such articles.”</p> - -<p>“Whether they will buy or not is the question. All are ready enough to -sell.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, selling is their business. But, gold and diamonds have a certain -value in themselves, and, I suppose, will always bring it.”</p> - -<p>After some further consultation on the subject, it was determined to -carry out, as far as possible, these mutual suggestions. But,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> causes -not easily overcome, prevented the execution of their designs on that -day, and it was, therefore, postponed until the next.</p> - -<p>Early in the day, Eunice, after apprising her mother of what she -intended doing, went out and procured porters, who were directed to -take her piano to the auction store of Trist & Lee. Willing as Eveline -was to make her part of the sacrifice, in order to sustain her father, -she shrunk from the exposure of an attempt to sell her jewelry, and, -therefore, the whole task fell upon Eunice, who nerved herself to its -performance by thinking of her parent’s extremity. Modest and retiring -as she was, the thought of exposing herself among men, in places of -business, as a vender of goods, made her heart beat low in her bosom. -But she thrust this thought from her mind with an effort, and went -forth with a firm step, to do what she felt to be her duty for that -day—and this feeling sustained her.</p> - -<p>When Eunice arrived at the auction rooms, she found them crowded with -men. A sale was in progress. She retired quickly, and went back home, -where she waited for a couple of hours. At her second visit, the rooms -were empty. On asking for one of the firm, she was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> pointed to <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Lee, -who bowed politely as she approached him.</p> - -<p>“I sent a piano here, this morning,” she said, in a low, trembling -voice, at the same time drawing her veil over her face, to hide the -crimson that was overspreading it. She was less composed than she had -hoped to be.</p> - -<p>“The beautiful rosewood piano?” asked the auctioneer.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.” Eunice spoke more firmly.</p> - -<p>“You wish it sold, I presume?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“It’s a very beautiful instrument.” As <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Lee said this, he turned and -walked toward the part of the store where the piano stood, and Eunice -walked with him.</p> - -<p>“A very beautiful instrument,” he repeated, as he opened it, and ran -his fingers over the keys; “and a high-priced one, too. I suppose it -didn’t cost less than six or seven hundred dollars.”</p> - -<p>“A thousand were paid for it.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! So much! Do you wish it sold at public or private sale?”</p> - -<p>“In which ever way it can be sold quickest and best,” replied Eunice.</p> - -<p>“It can be sold quickest at public sale, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> best at private sale. How -much do you expect to receive for it?”</p> - -<p>“I think it ought to bring five or six hundred dollars. It is not in -the least defaced, or injured in tone.”</p> - -<p>“I am sorry to say,” returned the auctioneer, who really felt grieved -for the disappointment he knew his words would occasion, “that we -shall not be able to get any thing like that sum for the instrument. -Three hundred dollars will be a maximum price, and it may bring less -if it goes under the hammer. Persons who come to auction for pianos, -generally have a low price in their minds, and cannot be tempted to go -much beyond it, no matter how superior the article may be.”</p> - -<p>“When is your next sale?” asked Eunice, in a voice whose huskiness the -auctioneer perceived with regret.</p> - -<p>“Not for a week.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed!” Eunice spoke in a disappointed tone. “I must have the money -for it sooner than that.”</p> - -<p>“You do not want it to-day, do you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; to-day, if possible. How much could you advance me upon it?”</p> - -<p>“It is your own instrument?”</p> - -<p>Eunice hesitated a moment, and then said,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> with an effort at composure, -“Yes, sir. But I am compelled to part with it.”</p> - -<p>“I do not think we would be willing to advance more than a hundred -dollars.”</p> - -<p>“A hundred dollars!” The tone of her voice betrayed the surprise and -disappointment Eunice felt. “Can’t you advance me a larger sum?”</p> - -<p>“I should not like to say more at present,” replied Lee; “but if you -will call this afternoon, between four and five o’clock, I will see if -something better cannot be done.”</p> - -<p>Eunice was retiring, when he said, “Miss Townsend, I believe?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir, that is the name.” And Eunice again drew her veil over her -face, and quickly retired, feeling sadly disappointed.</p> - -<p>She next called at the store of a jeweler, with the diamond pin, -watches, bracelets, etc. Here a bitterer disappointment awaited her. -The jeweler refused either to buy or advance, merely offering to place -the goods in his case for sale, and appearing indifferent about that. -His manner, moreover, Eunice felt to be very disagreeable.</p> - -<p>There was too much at stake for utter discouragement to succeed to this -failure of the self-devoted girl’s ardent wishes. At the next<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> store -where she applied, she met with a kinder reception, but with no better -success. The owner of it discouraged her from making further attempts -at selling these articles, and alarmed her by hinting that suspicion -might attach to her, and involve her in some unpleasant difficulties. -The anxious desire she felt to realize some money upon the diamond pin -and watches, caused her to urge the jeweler strongly to advance one or -two hundred dollars upon them, but he firmly declined doing so.</p> - -<p>Eveline and her mother awaited the return of Eunice in doubt and hope. -A gush of tears told the story of her ill success.</p> - -<p>“Only a hundred dollars!” said Eveline, after her sister had grown calm -enough to relate what had occurred. “That will be nothing. It can do -father no good.”</p> - -<p>This all felt so oppressively that nothing was replied. More than an -hour passed, before the minds of the deeply-disappointed mother and -daughters recovered in any degree from the depression into which the -attempts to dispose of the piano and jewelry had thrown them. They had -counted so fully upon obtaining a sum sufficient to meet the present -want, that the failure to realize any thing above<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> a mere trifle, -compared to what was needed, broke down their spirits completely. The -case seemed hopeless. At last, Eunice, whose mind was always first to -react, said,</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I may be able to get two hundred dollars on the piano. The -auctioneer appeared inclined to meet my wishes for a larger sum than he -at first offered, but he had, I suppose, to consult others. Two hundred -dollars may be of great service to father. A little is always better -than nothing. And now it occurs to me, that there are stores where they -lend money on deposits of jewelry and other articles. Without doubt, -a couple of hundred dollars could be obtained on Eveline’s pin, and a -hundred dollars on the watch and other things. This, on the supposition -that two hundred dollars are obtained on the piano, will give us five -hundred dollars, which must be a great help to father.”</p> - -<p>“But you must remember,” said the mother, “that the pin and watches -will be forfeited, at the expiration of a certain time, if the money -borrowed upon them is not returned; and the possibility of returning -the amount is very doubtful. It would not do to sell Eveline’s costly -pin for two hundred dollars.”</p> - -<p>“If the sacrifice will save father’s business,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span> it will be cheaply -made,” replied Eveline, quickly.</p> - -<p>“But of that we are not sure,” said Mrs. Townsend. “Five hundred -dollars may not be enough. He has, you know, twelve hundred to pay. -Under these circumstances, I think it would be wrong to run the risk of -losing property worth eight or nine hundred dollars, in order to obtain -two or three hundred.”</p> - -<p>In this view, the daughters could not but acquiesce. Soon after, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend came home to dinner, looking even more troubled than he had -looked in the morning. He endeavored to rally himself in the presence -of his family, but was unable to do so to any great extent. Eveline and -Eunice tried to be cheerful, but the events of the morning were too -vividly present to their minds. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend did not sit over half his -usual time at the table, and left the house much earlier than usual.</p> - -<p>“Something must be done!” Eveline ejaculated, rising from the table -soon after her father had retired.</p> - -<p>“What can be done?” asked the mother.</p> - -<p>“There are many other stores in the city than the two to which I -applied. I feel certain that I can sell them somewhere. At least,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> I -am determined to try, if I visit every jeweler’s store in the city. -Father must have aid in this, his last extremity. We have the means in -our hands of affording the aid he needs, and the means must be rendered -available.”</p> - -<p>Eunice spoke with enthusiasm and confidence while her cheeks glowed and -her eyes sparkled.</p> - -<p>Neither Eveline nor her mother said a word to check the newly-awakened -hope that warmed her bosom, but rather replied in words of -encouragement, although they felt little themselves.</p> - -<p>Acting from this new impulse, which the distressed state of her -father’s mind had awakened, Eunice dressed herself and went out on the -errand proposed, about an hour after he had returned to his store.</p> - -<p>“I hope it may do some good,” said the mother, despondingly; “but I -expect no such result, although I would not have said so to discourage -Eunice for the world. Poor girl! She is doing all she can, and -sacrificing much. It is sad to think it will all be in vain.”</p> - -<p>“It may not be, mother,” returned Eveline. “There is no telling what -her perseverance may accomplish. Is it not said, that where there is a -will there is a way?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p> - -<p>“It is; but all sayings are not true.”</p> - -<p>“No; not to the full extent. But a saying like this means a great deal. -The will inspires to effort, and effort does not always go unrewarded.”</p> - -<p>“I fear it will in this case; there is so little in favor of a -hoped-for result.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me there is much, mother,” replied Eveline, appearing -to gain confidence, while her mother desponded. “It is not possible -that such earnest self-devotion as Eunice manifests can go unrewarded. -Heaven must smile upon it.”</p> - -<p>“I pray that Heaven may smile upon it,” said Mrs. Townsend, fervently.</p> - -<p>“Heaven will smile upon it.” Eveline’s voice trembled, and the tears -came, unbidden, to her eyes.</p> - -<p>An hour had not gone by since Eunice went out, and Eveline and her -mother still sat as she had left them, feeling no inclination to do -any thing, or even to converse after the few remarks her departure -had elicited, when they heard the street door open, and her feet come -bounding along the passage, and up the stairs. There was hope, even -joy in the sound of those footsteps, that sent a thrilling sensation -through the breasts of the waiting mother and sister.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span> An instant -after, and the door of the room where they were sitting was thrown -open, and Eunice, flushed and agitated, sprung forward, and sinking -down beside her mother, buried her face in her lap, and sobbed and -laughed half hysterically. It was some time before she was able to -control her feelings sufficiently to tell the good fortune the reader -has already anticipated for her. For the jewelry, she had received -eight hundred dollars; and for the piano, seven hundred—fifteen -hundred dollars in all.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.<br><span class="small">SURPRISE—UNEXPECTED RELIEF—GRATITUDE.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>On the morning of the day on which the events of the preceding chapter -took place, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend received by mail a letter notifying him that a -note of twelve hundred dollars, drawn by the firm that had failed, in -his favor, and by him endorsed, would be due at a certain bank on the -next day, and desiring him to see that it was duly honored. All this -was known to <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, but the formal notification<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> thereof by the -holders of the maturing paper, made him feel worse even than he already -felt in the prospect of its being dishonored, both by the drawers and -himself. He had about two hundred dollars, and that was all he had. He -was in no position to borrow. The case, therefore, looked desperate.</p> - -<p>A few recent business transactions with the now quite important house -of Jones, Claire, & Co. had brought him into contact with Albertson, -whom he very well remembered, and also the harsh rebuff he had given -him. Albertson was not only polite, but really kind, and had in two or -three instances, thrown business in his way, for which he could not but -feel grateful, although a recollection of the past stung him at times, -and made him feel exceedingly uncomfortable. The thought of applying to -Albertson for temporary aid, in this important crisis of his affairs, -once or twice crossed his mind. But,</p> - -<p>“No, no; not from him of all others!” he would reply, shaking his head.</p> - -<p>To attend to business was impossible. During most of the morning, he -sat moodily at his desk, or walked uneasily about his store, searching -in his mind for some measure of relief, without meeting with a single -suggestion.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span></p> - -<p>In the afternoon, in the anxious desire he felt to see the note falling -due on the next day paid, he partly made up his mind to make use of an -advance on goods then landing from a vessel on the wharf, which he was -to receive in the morning, in paying the note, instead of remitting -it to his consignors. But how was the amount to be made up afterward? -What right had he to use the money of others, without their consent, -especially when the prospect of replacing it immediately was very -doubtful? These questions threw his mind off of that dependence.</p> - -<p>“It’s no use,” he at length said, as the day began to decline, “for -me to think about it. The note cannot be paid, and I must take the -consequences. I shall lose a number of good consignors in consequence, -and my business will suffer severely, perhaps be broken up. I shall be -sued at once, and, as I have no defence, judgment will be obtained in a -few weeks, and then will follow an execution, and I shall be swept out -to the last copper. Well, let it come! Perhaps I can stand that, also. -Humph! Providence! It’s a strange kind of Providence!”</p> - -<p>The thought of Providence was connected in his mind with the thought of -Eunice. Her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> pure young face rose before him, and her mild eyes, full -of religious trust, were looking into his.</p> - -<p>“Dear child!” he murmured, instantly subdued; “there is a Providence, -or such love as yours would never have been given to sustain me in this -extremity, and to teach me patience, reliance, and hope in something -above the world and its corrupting moth. For your sweet spirit, that -holds me up in these dark trials, Heaven knows I am thankful. Let -the worst come. All will not be dark. There will be one star in the -midnight sky, shining ever through rifted clouds.”</p> - -<p>In this better state of mind, <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend joined his family that -evening. Something in the expression of each face he met at home, -surprised him. At dinner time, a dead silence, broken occasionally by -a word, had pervaded the cheerless circle. If one looked into the eyes -of another, it was with a meaningless kind of gaze. But now, there was -light in the faces, and something so cheerful in the tones of his wife -and daughters, that he looked from the one to the other, involuntarily, -with surprise. But he did not ask, though he wondered, what could be -the reason. He missed something, too, from the little parlor, though<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> -he did not think enough about this to inquire, even of himself, what it -was. It was more an impression than a thought.</p> - -<p>Tea was announced, and they retired to their little dining-room, and -gathered around the table. Eunice looked into her father’s face with -a sweeter smile than he had seen for a long time, and her voice had a -more cheerful expression than it had borne of late. Eveline was more -silent; her spirit was oppressed with the good tidings about to be -poured in such a grateful stream upon the heart of her father. Mrs. -Townsend’s hand trembled as she served the tea, but even in her eyes -her husband noticed an unusual light.</p> - -<p>Wondering, he could not help looking from face to face. Eunice tried to -talk at first, in a pleasant, indifferent way. But she soon found that -her voice was growing tremulous, and that, if she continued, she would -betray the emotion she felt; so she, like Eveline, became silent. <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend felt no inclination to talk, and therefore the meal proceeded -in silence. At its close they all returned to the parlor. They had been -seated there for only a few minutes, when Eunice said,</p> - -<p>“Will you be able to meet your heavy payment, papa?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend half started at the question, which considerably disturbed -him. But he made an effort to appear calm, and replied, in a low, -subdued voice,</p> - -<p>“No, child, I shall not be able to meet it.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps something unexpected will occur,” she said, with a tone and -smile that half betrayed her secret.</p> - -<p>Her father looked into her face with renewed wonder. As his eyes -wandered away from the calm, but evidently changing countenance of his -daughter, it fell upon the part of the room where her piano had stood, -and suddenly he made the discovery that it was gone.</p> - -<p>“Where is your piano, Eunice?” he asked quickly, and with a strong -expression of surprise.</p> - -<p>“I have sold it,” replied his daughter, no longer able to control her -feelings; “and here is the money for you—seven hundred dollars. I told -you there would be a way opened!” Tears gushed from the eyes of the -lovely girl.</p> - -<p>“And here are eight hundred dollars more,” said Eveline, coming -forward, and showing equal emotion with her sister. “It is for my -diamond pin, watch, and bracelets, and Eunice’s watch and bracelets.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had risen, by this time, to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> his feet. Throwing an arm -around each dear child, he drew her tightly to his bosom, and looking -up, said, with deep fervor, while his eyes were overflowing,</p> - -<p>“For love like this, my God, I thank thee! And even for the misfortunes -I have suffered, I thank thee! They have given me to know, what I -never would have known otherwise, the priceless value of these dear -children’s hearts. I feel now that my last days are to be my best days. -I acknowledge that there is a Providence, whose goodness and wisdom go -hand in hand.”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.<br><span class="small">THANKFUL FOR EVERY THING.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>The note had been lifted, and all things looked cheering for the -future. It was the last payment <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend had to make. He held in -his hand the only piece of paper, promising to pay, upon which his name -was inscribed, and the approaching due day of which had caused him such -needless alarm. Notwithstanding his loss of ten thousand dollars, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> -inability to make advances on consignments, the falling off in his -business had not been very considerable, and had more than been made up -by the great reduction in his family expenses.</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend was sitting in his store, musing on these things; and, in -connection with them, balancing in his thoughts the account of loss -and gain that had been running on for the space of two or three years. -He felt calm, and a subdued and thankful spirit pervaded his mind. -Doubt, and utter despondency, had given place to confidence and hope. -The spontaneous acknowledgement of a Divine Providence, ruling in all -the events of life by love and wisdom, which had fallen from his lips -on the previous evening, in the passionate enthusiasm of the moment, -did not pass away. He felt, deeply and thankfully felt, that there was -an invisible Hand, leading men into better, and truer, and happier -states of mind, by ways which they knew not; and that, in spite of all -resistance, impatience, and even impious rebellion against the All-Wise -guidance, love unchanged was ever, through seeming evil, leading on -to good. The self-sacrificing love of his children touched him deeply -whenever he thought of it. The fire had tried and proved them, and the -gold<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> was purer than even a father’s partial affection had believed it -to be.</p> - -<p>Such were the thoughts and feelings of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, as he sat musing -in the great calm that had succeeded to the strong agitation of mind -suffered for many days. In the midst of these reflections, he was -interrupted by the entrance of an individual of whom he had recently -thought very frequently. That individual was Rufus Albertson.</p> - -<p>Of late, business had brought the young man to his store several times; -but he felt, the moment his eyes rested upon him, that this was not -a visit for purposes of business. But of its real nature he had no -suspicion.</p> - -<p>“Can I have a word with you in private?” said Albertson, in a low voice.</p> - -<p>“Certainly.” And the two retired to a part of the store distant -from the counting-room. The young man appeared disturbed, and this -disturbance was very apparent in his voice, when he said,</p> - -<p>“<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend, some years ago I was bold enough to ask for the hand of -your daughter Eunice, when you refused my request. I now renew my suit, -and, I trust, with more hope of a favorable issue.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend was taken altogether by surprise.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> Nothing was further -from his thoughts than this. For some moments he could not reply, but -looked into the suitor’s face with an expression of countenance that -the latter was unable to interpret as favorable or adverse to his -wishes.</p> - -<p>“Have I your consent? Or are you still repugnant to the connection I -propose?” he said, after a pause.</p> - -<p>“<abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Albertson! take her, in Heaven’s name!” exclaimed the agitated -father, grasping with convulsive energy the hand of the young man. -“If you have the love of her young heart, you possess a treasure of -priceless value. May she be to you as good a wife as she has been to me -a daughter.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend could say no more, for his voice lost its steadiness, and -choked with emotion.</p> - -<p>Albertson returned in silence the pressure of the father’s hand.</p> - -<p>Eunice was with her mother and sister about an hour after, and they -were talking of the occurrences of the day before, when the bell was -rung, and Eveline went to the door.</p> - -<p>“Another of those mysterious billetdoux, Eunice,” she said, as she -returned and handed her a letter. “I’m dying to know who this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> faithful -correspondent of yours is. If you don’t soon let me into your secret, -I shall be tempted to break open that closely-locked writing-case of -yours, and find it out for myself.”</p> - -<p>By the time Eveline had finished this speech, Eunice had finished her -letter. It was in these few words:</p> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Eunice</span>:—I saw your father to-day, and he gives a free -consent to our union. I am now the happiest man in the world. This -evening I will see you.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Albertson</span>.”</span><br> -</p> - -<p>After handing this open letter to her mother, Eunice arose up quickly, -and left the room where they were sitting.</p> - -<p>Of their surprise and pleasure, and of her joy, we will not write.</p> - -<p>A few days subsequently, Eveline, who was reading a newspaper, while -her sister was engaged in some domestic office in the same room where -she was sitting, suddenly exclaimed, while the paper fell from her -hands,</p> - -<p>“Oh! what have I not escaped! Thank God! thank God! for every thing -that has occurred! The evil has been good!”</p> - -<p>Then, covering her face, she sobbed for some time passionately.</p> - -<p>Eunice lifted the paper hastily, and almost<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> the first thing that met -her eyes, was an account of shameless and criminal infidelity on the -part of Henry Pascal, toward a young and lovely bride, led by him to -the altar not a year before. The whole affair had, as is often the -case, led to judicial interference, and thus made its way into the -newspapers. As soon as Eunice comprehended the cause of her sister’s -agitation, she drew her arms tenderly about her, and said,</p> - -<p>“Yes, dear Evie, thank God for every thing!”</p> - -<p>And at the very moment, the father, in his store, dropped his paper, -after reading the same paragraph, and exclaimed,</p> - -<p>“Thank God for every thing!”</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.<br><span class="small">CONCLUSION.</span></h2></div> - - -<p>Only a few weeks more passed before the hearts of the patient lovers -were blessed in a union, auspicious of the highest happiness the human -mind is capable of enjoying.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span></p> - -<p>The marriage was celebrated by <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Carlton, in the presence of the -family, and two or three particular friends, at the house of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> -Townsend. On the next day, the bride, accompanied by her parents and -sister, was taken to the new home which had been provided by her -husband.</p> - -<p>In this new home, Eunice had been for only a few minutes, when her eyes -rested upon the beautiful instrument, the present of her brother, which -she had sold in order to relieve her father in a pressing difficulty. -It stood in her own parlor, and she knew it at a glance. Eveline also -recognized it in a moment, but not a word was said, though both their -hearts swelled with a new and grateful emotion.</p> - -<p>When Eunice went up with Eveline to the chamber above, beautifully -and tastefully furnished, they were still more surprised to find upon -a handsome Chinese dressing-table, the watches, diamond pin, and -bracelets, that had been sold, and, as the sisters supposed, parted -with forever.</p> - -<p>“Why, Eunie!” exclaimed Eveline, whose eyes first fell upon the -jewelry, “how is all this? The piano below and these here!”</p> - -<p>“You understand it all as well as I do,” said Eunice, in a trembling -voice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span></p> - -<p>“It was Rufus, then, who bought all these articles at so fair a price.”</p> - -<p>“So it appears.”</p> - -<p>“And did you know nothing of it until now?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing.”</p> - -<p>“Nothing? It seems like a piece of romance. How did he know that you -had offered them for sale?”</p> - -<p>“I cannot tell, Evie. Heaven, I suppose, sent him word. From me he had -no intimation of our design to part with them.”</p> - -<p>“The good are doubly blessed. You deserve all this, and more, Eunie,” -said Eveline, with affectionate warmth.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Evie, the good are doubly blessed,” returned Eunice, caressing -her. “The offer to sell this beautiful pin was the dictate of your own -generous love for our father, and is rewarded. It is restored to you -again.”</p> - -<p>And she took up the pin and handed it to her sister; but Eveline shrunk -back, saying,</p> - -<p>“No, Eunice; it is not mine; you forget that it belongs to your -husband.”</p> - -<p>The countenance of the young bride fell, and for a moment she -experienced a feeling of disappointment. But the voice of one who had -entered with, but unperceived by them, dispelled instantly this shadow.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, Eveline, it is yours; take it,” said Albertson, coming forward.</p> - -<p>Eunice turned quickly. She did not speak, but eyes and face were -eloquent of thanks. Words could not have uttered them half so well.</p> - -<hr class="tb"> - -<p>A new day had broken on the mind of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend. He had seen his -sun go down, and darkness, like the thick gloom of that old Egyptian -night, gather around him. But, at the very midnight, when his heart was -sinking with despair, the morning star came slowly up the horizon, and -the mild aurora raised, as with the hand of an angel, the curtaining -darkness. Day at last broke broadly and brightly, and the sun lifted -his smiling disk above the eastern hills.</p> - -<p>It was a new day. A clearer, brighter, happier day than the one that -had set. May it grow brighter and brighter even to the “perfect day.”</p> - -<p>Need we say more to assure the reader of the happiness of <abbr title="mister">Mr.</abbr> Townsend -and his family? Need we follow them farther? Need we add sentence -to sentence, and page to page, to show how salutary had been the -misfortunes they had suffered, and how all were but blessings sent in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> -disguise by the Giver of all good? No; this would be useless.</p> - -<p>“Riches have wings.” That is, natural riches: not the true spiritual -riches—not the treasure laid up in heaven. The one may escape from the -hand, but the other lies like a dove with wings closely folded against -the heart, and never flies away.</p> - - -<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop chap"> -<div class="chapter transnote"> - -<h2>Transcriber Note</h2> - -<p>The cover image was created by the transcriber from the original and is placed in the public domain.</p> -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICHES HAVE WINGS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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