“I was sorry to learn a little while ago, that you will lose by this
failure in Rio.”
“Heavily. It has ruined me!” replied Mr. Winslow.
“Not so bad as that I hope!” said Mr. Davis.
“Yes. It has removed the last prop that I leaned on, Mr. Davis. The very
last one, and now the worst must come to the worst. It is impossible for
me to take up fifteen thousand dollars worth of returned drafts.”
“Fifteen thousand is the amount?”
“Yes.”
Mr. Davis smiled encouragingly.
“If that is all,” said he, “there is no difficulty in the way. I can
easily get you the money.”
Mr. Winslow started, and a warm flush went over his face.
“Why didn’t you come to me,” asked Mr. Davis, “the moment you found
yourself in such a difficulty? Surely!” and his voice slightly trembled,
“surely you did not think it possible for me to forget the past! Do not
I owe you every thing?—and would I not be one of the basest of men, if
I forgot my obligation? If your need were twice fifteen thousand, and it
required the division of my last dollar with you, not a hair of your
head should be injured. I did not know that it was possible for you to
get into an extremity like this, until I heard it whispered a little
while ago.”
So unexpected a turn in his affairs completely unmanned Mr. Winslow. He
covered his face and wept for some time, with the uncontrollable passion
of a child.
“Ah! sir,” he said at last, in a broken voice, “I did not expect this,
Mr. Davis.”
“You had a right to expect it,” replied the young man. “Were I to do
less than sustain you in any extremity not too great for my ability, I
would be unworthy the name of a man. And now, Mr. Winslow, let your
heart be at rest. You need not fall under this blow. Your drafts will
probably come back to you to-morrow?”
“Yes. To-morrow at the latest.”
“Very well. I will see that you are provided with the means to lift
them. In the meantime, if you are in want of any sums toward your
payments of to-day, just let me know.”
“I can probably get through to-day by my own efforts,” said Mr. Winslow.
“Probably? How much do you want?” asked Mr. Davis.
“In the neighborhood of three thousand dollars.”
“I will send you round a check for that sum immediately,” promptly
returned the young man, rising as he spoke and drawing forth his watch.
“It is nearly two o’clock now,” he added, “so I will bid you good day.
In fifteen minutes you will find a check at your store.”
And with this Davis retired.
All this, which passed in a brief space of time, seemed like a dream to
Mr. Winslow. He could hardly realize its truth. But it was a reality,
and he comprehended it more fully, when on reaching his store, he found
there the promised check for three thousand dollars.
On the next day the protested drafts came in; but, thanks to the
grateful kindness of Mr. Davis, now a merchant with the command of large
money facilities, he was able to take them up. The friend, before
introduced was less fortunate. There was no one to step forward and save
him from ruin, and he sunk under the sudden pressure that came upon him.
A few days after his failure he met Mr. Winslow.
“How is this?” said he. “How did you weather the storm that drove me
under? I thought your condition as hopeless as mine!”
“So did I,” answered Mr. Winslow. “But, I had forgotten a small
investment made years ago. I have spoken of it to you before.”
The other looked slightly puzzled.
“Have you forgotten that investment in the charity fund? which you
thought money thrown away.”
“Oh!” Light broke in upon his mind. “You educated Davis. I remember
now!”
“And Davis, hearing of my extremity, stepped forward and saved me. That
was the best investment I ever made!”
The friend dropped his eyes to the pavement, stood for a moment or two
without speaking, sighed and then moved on. How many opportunities for
making similar investments had he not neglected!
* * * * *