CHAPTER XXI. BANKRUPT. The gods in bounty work up storms upon us, That give mankind occasion to exert Their hidden strength, and throw out into practice In the smooth seasons and calms of life. -Addison's Cato.. IT T was but a short time after the funeral that General Ivers received a letter from Mr. Wheat, the father of Bernard's partner, in which he intimated that it would be well to fix up the affairs of the concern as soon as possible. It being the season of the year when farmers are very busy the General postponed it from day today, until some weeks had passed, when a second letter came somewhat pressing. The fall work now being pretty well over he concluded it would be but proper to give the matter his attention. Within a day or two he set off for the city, where he found the books of the late firm of Wheat & Ivers made up and balanced. But most astonishing to him instead of his having due him one-half of the value of the goods on hand, as well as of the accounts due the concern, he found, to his great surprise, that Bernard had largely overdrawn his account, so much so, that it required more than the amount of his father's last payment to make it good. In addition to this there were several thousand dollars of gambling debts for which he had given the firm's notes, besides nearly as much more was represented by his individual note. The good man, his father, was staggered. He was ruined past hope, even if he did not attempt to make good his individual liabilities. He determined to protect the partner from loss, though he could not but blame him for not advising him sooner of Bernard's habits. In fact at the time he was called upon to pay the note for the balance of the stock, not a word was said or intimated that all was not right with his son. As it appeared there was nothing to do but to make the best settlement he could. His property was already mortgaged to its full value, besides he had unsecured debts which were to him real debts of honor, with nothing to pay them with. How, then, could it be expected that he would assume still other obligations when there was nothing to meet them with? When he He returned to his family. Alas! his home no more. entered the house, which he had hoped would be his refuge and resting-place when old age came on, his feelings so overcame him that he came near falling to the floor, which so frightened Mrs. Ivers and Endura that they, too, almost fainted. He soon recovered himself, and little by little made known the terrible facts. He did not tell them that they were homeless, and that the beautiful house in which they lived was theirs no longer; but gradually it came out that he had agreed to pay more than his entire earthly possessions were worth. It was then that the good man fully appreciated the true worth of his noble wife and affectionate daughter. They comforted him by telling him how they could get along, and they had no doubt but that some way would be provided by which he could extricate himself. Bad news flies fast, and it was not surprising that the whole country thereabout, should hear of the misfortunes that had befallen the Ivers'. Mr. Haywood first learned of it through the papers, which gave a full account of the affair, with some severe remarks thereon. Of course the young man who slept undisturbed came in for a great share of blame, which was but right. Some blamed Mr. Wheat and his son for not informing General Ivers of the doings of his son, while others said that it was a delicate affair to meddle in family matters. But all were bitter in their denunciations of the saloon-keepers and gamblers who had led the young man astray. The feeling against them ran so high that they were threatened with prosecution, and a committee was actually appointed to wait upon them, to try and make them disgorge some of their ill-gotten gains. Of course, the notes which Bernard had given were worthless, as it was said there had been no value received. Upon a thorough investigation of the affairs of the concern, there were found to be some assets which had been overlooked, and some accounts which had been pronounced worthless, out of which something might be expected. At all events General Ivers would not be obliged to pay any more money to make good his son's deficit, but on the contrary, there was a small amount coming to him from the concern. When Mr. Haywood heard of the calamity he hastened to offer any assistance that it might be in his power to render to the heart-broken man. General Ivers thanked him, but told him that he might be glad to accept assistance from him at some future day, but that at present there were no actual demands which he could not meet. His personal notes were in the hands of friends, and the mortgage upon the farm was given to the bank of which he was himself a director, and the interest upon the. money was all it was necessary for him to pay at present. "But," said he to Mr. Haywood, "when necessity requires it, you are the first man I shall apply to for assistance." And so the matter rested, as far as Mr. Haywood was concerned, but with others it did not rest there. When it was reported that Bernard Ivers had committed suicide in consequence of his embarrassments brought about by drink, gambling and other dissipations, there were a great many who said, "I told you so." Mrs. Tartar, who had become very old and childish, had still enough of her old nature left to pretend pity. While she could not help reverting to the time when they all talked so against her poor boy, she was thankful, she said, that he had proven himself innocent. Joe Tartar himself affected the greatest sympathy for the misforfortunes of the Ivers. But those who knew him best did not, for a moment, believe him sincere. He could not help betraying himself whenever the matter was alluded to in his presence. Younger members of the community appeared to be imbued with feelings akin to those of Joe Tartar, and it was but fair to conclude that they were in a measure, influenced by the sayings and acts of that gentleman, especially as they were oftenest seen in his society. Some of the more ignorant and consequently more bigoted members of the orthodox churches attributed the misfortunes of the Ivers' to their association with such heretics and infidels as the Haywoods, while others said that the boy had always been allowed too much latitude. In fact that he had been spoiled as a child, and that it was little wonder that he had turned out as he had as a man. The general feeling in the neighborhood had apparently undergone a complete change since the day of the funeral, and much of that feeling could be directly traced to the ignorant, the jealous and the spiteful persons of the community; and among them all there were none more bitter, sarcastic and hypocritical than the pretended Christians and members of the church, who seemed to believe that none could be saved unless they accepted their doctrine. The narrow-minded could not see beyond their own limited sphere, and there were plenty who coincided with them. The ministers of the gospel preached upon the subject without any of the milk of human kindness in their souls. Without charity except that which is spoken, and not felt or acted; without love, without sympathy. Many pretended to sympathize, but hypocrites that they were, their cloven feet were seen howsoever much they tried to hide them. Like the ass in the lion's skin their ears protruded, and thus they discovered each other and herded together. Not all in the neighborhood were like the above, but it was equivalent to ostracism for those who differed in their opinion to advocate a belief not in accordance with that most generally accepted in the community. It did not matter what that belief was. The Baptist did not think the Methodist was on exactly the right road, but there was a possibility that he might get to heaven. And so thought the Methodist of his Baptist brother. Even an Episcopalian might be allowed to enter the golden portal under extraordinary circumstances. The Catholics had a poor show. Nothing short of a miracle would admit them. But the Universalists were past praying for, and must certainly be damned. Nothing could save them. If there were other creeds worse than the Universalists they did not know of them. In some parts of New England such an absurd belief still exists, and the man must be rash to advocate new doctrines among such people, no matter upon what authority, or what may be its merits. So the winter passed and spring came forth in royal robes to gladden the heart and quicken the blood. It was not unlike other springs. The buds opened and the leaves expanded. The fields were covered with verdure, the birds sang as of old their matin songs; the violets bloomed in the pastures and the lilacs by the garden wall. But how different were the circumstances of the Ivers' from what they were when spring greeted them before! Then they were rich, contented and happy. But now they were dependent and cast down. General Ivers had aged more within six months than he had done within six years before. Mrs. Ivers bore up much better, and became a great stay and comfort to her husband. Endura lent her mother every aid and became, as she well knew how, the servant of all work. She went so far as to solicit work from those who had it to be done, that she might earn a little money with which she could purchase little things for herself, so that her father could save every dollar to pay the interest upon the notes, which were held against him. The General planted his crops as usual, but Oh! with what different feelings! Every hill of corn appeared not to belong to him. Even his cattle, as they cropped the grass in the fields, seemed to say: "It is not for you." He imagined that his friends shunned him, or that they came not as of old. There were a few, however, who were true friends, whose friendship adversity did not chill. Among them were the Haywoods and some poor, but modest, good neighbors that the Ivers' never knew. They were too modest to intrude or press themselves upon the notice of the wealthy or the great. But now that misfortune had overtaken them, they were ready to give their friendship and a helping hand. Thus they gained as many real, true, worthy friends, as they lost false ones by their misfortunes. And they considered themselves the gainers in more ways than one. That was one of the first bright spots since their terrible trial, and it made them happy in their great need. Thus one star arose that shone along their gloomy path of life. Donald Kent had been absent about twelve months when the great |