Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ... others, an insolvent. The chief object of this communication was, to desire me to visit a cousin of ours, a retired physician. He lived in the vicinity of town; was wealthy, childless, a widower, and a man of no expense--and consequently the likeliest person, on this distressing emergency, to contribute the required loan. Nor was there any indelicacy on my father's part, in applying in his hour of need, to this his opulent kinsman. He had been an orphan--during his struggles to advance himself in life, my parent's roof had been his shelter--and for three years my father's purse had borne the expenses of college terms, and supplied the means of starting successfully in the metropolis. I sent for a post-chaise--left a billet from the dowager unopened--drove six miles from town--found out my relative--told him my business--begged the required loan--and offered to join my father, (a tenant for life, ) in any security he would demand. He listened coldly, replied, that through life he had neither lent nor borrowed--and remarked that he could not be expected now to deviate from a general rule. He lied, the scoundrel! But for my father's assistance he never could have obtained a diploma. I left him, with a look of scorn and a smothered curse. I reached my lodgings before two, and when I had discharged the post-boy, was owner of a "splendid shilling." I strode through the room like a maniac. It was a rascally world after all. My kind and noblehearted father, for lack of a miserable thousand, must sink; and he, the scoundrel, whose fortunes he had founded, had refused that paltry sum. I knew my parent's temper: his proud heart would break. What was to be done? I flung myself in bitter agony upon the sofa, as Mrs. Green's maid came a second time, to...