rimonially, and, that I
might be perfectly free to break the engagement, should I repent of
it, rarely saw me, nor did any correspondence pass between us. My
regard for him did not lessen on this account, for I understood his
motives. When he was of age, his father died, leaving him a thousand
dollars as his portion. With this he went into business, with good
prospects, in a neighboring city. I shall never forget how earnestly
he spoke, one evening, as we parted after a brief interview.

"'Mary,' said he, 'I will be rich. I've set my mind on that; and then
your father won't be ashamed to own me as a son-in-law, and I shall
come and claim you.'

"It seemed noble and heroic for him to speak thus; but my heart smote
me with foreboding, and I answered,--

"'But what if you do not succeed?'

"'I _will_ succeed;' he replied, impetuously. 'What a man _wills_ he
can do.'

"Ah, how foolish and sinful it is to worship money and show, as my
parents did; how much suffering it has caused me! and how equally
unwise and presumptuous it was for a young man, stung by the pride of
others, to make that the rule of his life, and go forth in his own
strength to build up a fortune, so that he might _demand_ me of my
parents as an equal, and thus gratify his own pride! I see it now, but
not clearly then.

"Joseph, for a time, was prosperous. Everything he turned his hand to
was remunerative; and when we met, his manner was confident and
hopeful.

"'Let the old gentleman look down upon me now if he chooses,' he would
say; 'he won't always do it.'

"He had been a year in business when a partnership was proposed to him
by a man of education and gentlemanly appearance. Joseph spoke to me
about it, and I said,--

"'You are doing well enough now. Why not be contented to go alone? I
have often heard that partnerships are poor ships to sail in.'

"'Well,' said he, 'there's something in his appearance that I do not
quite like, and I think I shall not take him in.'

"But as the man came with the highest testimonials as to his
character, ability, and influence, with the hope of greatly enlarging
his business, a copartnership was entered into. Mr. Jacques, the
partner, was Joseph's senior in age--a stout, robust man, with a high
forehead, light hair, always carried a cane, was jovial, and
good-natured in the extreme, fond of telling a good story, but sharp
in trade. I met him on one occasion, and there was something in the
turn of his eye