An Old-fashioned Failure
A goud story is told, says tbo Bosten Travel r, of two old morcliant iu Esaex County, MaÊsachusetts, wlio ouce at teiuptïd to fail. They wero brotherc, and L) honest industry hud acejuired a liandsüine independence, arid we: e spendng the t v. uing of thuir dys in a quiet, comfortubie way, keeping a store wbiob thoy both diligently tended, ratber for the comfort aod couvenieuou ui haviug a place oí' daily aud regular res rr, tbau for any great prefit in thcir business. Will, be:ng easy, good-natiircd sort of ui i -ij , Üiey bad, "just as a matter of forra," put tlieir ütune to tho par er of a son of oue of tbein, iu business in a neighboring town. Mattes went on as usual for fouie limo aftor the old guütleniea bud adopted tbc babit of indorHÍng the youug mau's pper Uut at length the sou and nepbew discovered that hc could not pay bis horient debts, aud so informed bie fatlicr and uncle. The old gcntlcinen Sat dwu in ibeir k-atber bottoia chaira to lo k over this matter and to duoide on uhat they sbould do. "Well," saya Captain A., "f E. has failed I suppose we have, too, haven 't we, brother ?" "Wby, yes," replied Captain E , "I don't pee but we have ; and if we have failed, we must Uke down our sigu, and not protand to be doing businesg in tbe ordiuary way." Thoae points setiled, the old gentlemen pioceeded to dismmitle their store of its wc. her Btained old üign, and then at themselves down to wuit for credito:'s to come in aud a'.tach their goode and chattels. But to tbeir surprise uobody camo ncar them, and they went tbrough the forenoon as usual. At dinner time they made their way with si'riou.siif-ss to their respective homes, and as Captain E. reauhid bis fine old mansion on H etreet, he looked oautiously round, expecting to Ree strange faces in bis apartmunts. But seeing tone, be turne to hiseldest ter, and in a Bolema voice inquires : "Is liere nobody here but the family, tny aughtor ?" "Nobody, father." "Have here oot beeu auy strangerg here thig 'orenoon ?" "No one. Why, did jou xpeot aoy one, father?" "Why yes. have failed, my daughter ; at leant, I uppose I have ; for E. bas ; and I exect the sbcriffs bere and keepers." But do "heritïd carae, and no creditors roubled the old men. Everybody knew hat they would pay their bonest debts, nd meet all their engagement if it was d their power eo to do ; and that it was useless and eeuseless to resort to the usual methods of oollecting dsbU of hem. So, in epite of all the brothers ould do to fail and have their property attaohed, nobody aeemed inolined to diiurb them ; and so they utterly failed to ail, to the great amusement of tbeir 'ounger ueighbors in trade, same of whom, tbough now old themselves, coninue to laua;h over Captain E. & Co. 's tUmpt to fail.
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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus