In a crisis like this, developments are exceedingly rapid, and revulsion of feeling just as much so. The excitement is too intense to endure delay. The best and the worst must be known, if possible, and that at once. It was soon ascertained, therefore, in the case of Charless & Blow, that their loss, by the failure of our good and honorable old friend, was not much; and the chief difficulty with them, as with all other sufferers, lay in the loss of confidence between men, and the consequent scarcity of money in circulation.
Your grandparents passed one troubled night in consequence of this event, in which sleep-tired natures sweet restorer-forsook them. But the next afternoon found them taking a drive in grandpas buggy, calmly talking about their new circumstances, and resolving, with a courageous heart, to meet them, whatever they might be. Of course, I did all I could to encourage him, (else I would not have been worthy the name of wife); became very self-sacrificing for a lady-willing to part with my tea service, and all my silver-ware-any and everything I had of value, except my bridal gifts; and then began to speculate upon how very nice it would be to live in a neat little cottage, etc., etc. For I was not too old to be romantic; and I do really believe now, as I recall my enthusiasm on the subject, that I would have been disappointed had anything occurred to prevent me from exhibiting to my husband how cheerfully I could submit to misfortune. No such test came; for the very next day a widow, who had deposited a few hundred dollars with the firm for safe keeping, hearing of their reverses, called to get her money. They had none; and my husband, remembering my offer, sent a messenger, with a note, requesting me to send the tea-service, with which to secure her. Cheerfully-for I was glad it was in my power to secure the widow against loss, and to relieve the mind of my husband to some little extent-but with a beating heart, (for this was a birth-day gift from him), I parted with my beautiful tea-service, and have never seen it since. It was sold to pay that debt.
Our dear old mother was greatly afflicted because of our reverses in fortune, and wept like a child; but her amazement was to see me so unmoved. I thought then it was Christian submission that enabled me to bear up so well; but I see now there was a great deal of human love, and sympathy, and human pride, too, mixed with it.
Although we were not keeping house, at that time, we were very delightfully and happily situated, for we were boarding (as an especial favor) at our eldest brothers. He had a sweet wife, and they lived in their beautiful new house, which, years after, grandpa purchased. It was there your dear mamma passed her young lady days-where she was married-where her little sons, Charless, Louis and Edward, were born; and where their loving grandpa breathed away his precious life. But the same reasons which made it necessary for us to submit to loss and inconvenience, made it incumbent on my brother to sell his residence. Consequently, we accepted the kind invitation of our mother to occupy a part of her house; and, by strict economy in every practicable thing -paying her a very low price for our board, which the old lady would receive, but not a cent more-we passed three of the happy years of our life, at the end of which time, we had regained a considerable amount of our losses; and, what was better still, your dear grandfather had become firmly and prosperously re-established in business, without having lost an atom of his reputation as a judicious and energetic merchant.
The suspension of Charless & Blow did not result in a complete failure, by any means. They solicited an examination into their affairs, exhibited their books, making a complete and full exposition of the condition of their business, and it was unanimously agreed upon, by the committee chosen for the purpose, that it would be greatly to the advantage of their creditors for the firm not to close up, but to continue the business, each binding himself to extract, for the two succeeding years, only a small (stated) sum for private use, from the proceeds of the store.
As soon as the adverse condition of C. & B. was relieved, and they had regained their former position-which, I think, was in about two years from the time of the crisis-they made up their minds to dissolve partnership: one to take the store; the other, the oil and lead factory. Accordingly, terms of dissolution were drawn up. Mr. Charless, being the elder, had the privilege of choosing, and, after reflection, decided upon retaining the store. My two younger brothers afterwards became his partner in the business, and remained as Charless, Blow & Co. until dissolved by the death of their beloved senior.
This is a long letter, my dear children, and I will close it, with the promise of letting you know something more about our three years sojourn at your great-grandmammas: in which I hope to show you how happy we can be under adverse circumstances, and how much less the evil of coming down in the world is, than generally is supposed.
Affectionately yours, GRANDMA.
Letter Eleven
My Dear Grandchildren: