Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. "| CHAPTER II. ELOISE AND ALFRED. Tr often happens in this world, that, when Fortune is wearied cf tor- menting us, she takes a sudden capricious turn, and lavishes her be efits upon our heads with the same profusion in which she lately poured forth the phials of her wrathful spite. At least such was the case with the family of the Claytons. In the year 1813 Eloise pre- sented her husband with a pledze of their mutual affection; and al- though the summit of his ambition was to become the father of a blooming boy, he nevertheless hailed the birth of a daughter with the most unfeigned delight. A trivial dispute arose as to the name of the innocent being; but it terminated ii favour of the mother, and the child was accordingly christened Eloise. But this was not the only circumstance which filled the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clayton with joy. William had collected the wrecks of his ruined fortunes, and, aided by a little additional pecu- niary assistance from his brother, had commenced business once more. For a moment his credit was hmited, and his operations necessarily circumscribed, on account of the impression his late failure had made upon the minds of commercial men; but the known integrity of his character, and the rapid successes he again experienced, speedily wiped away all disagreeable reminiscences, and insured him public esteem and confidence to as great an extent’as ever. But his mind had un- dergone a considerable change. His solitary hours were occasionally embittered with sad reflections; he remembered it was at his instiga- tion that his father had embarked in the miserable speculations which had deprived him of fortune, and lessened the remnant of his days, He could not banish from his imagination the death-bed of his affectionate mother, broken-hearted at the calamities that visited her husband when it was too late in life to repair the grievous harm. Such were the frequent reproaches he made himself; and although no sting harassed his conscience, still did he bitterly regret the moment in which, emboldened by his own successes, he induced his parents to hazard their fortunes in the same enterprises. To expel these gloomy ideas, he laboured at his desk with increasing ardour, and not only gained back the vast sums he had formerlv lost, but a considerable property in addition. Unlike the gambler, who becomes more daring as his fortune appears more prosperous, William was contented with the treasures he accumulated, and retired from business in a few years to enjoy the repose he well merited after his severe toils. Never having been tempted to change his bachelor’s freedom for the silken chains of matrimony, he took up his abode with his brother and sister- in-law. and devoted himself entirely to their society. He gratefully recouected the pecuniary assistance they had afforded him immediately after his father’s death, when he had first indulged in a hope of re- establishing his fallen fortunes; and now that prosperity had so.amply crowned his most sanguine wishes, he generously shared the wealth his labours had acquired with those whom he loved, and who felt a. sincere interest in his welfare. E@NAICLOOO KS .(€O) =