Retiring from Business CHAPTER 4.
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A TRIP TO SARATOGA.
The education of Florence Franklin was complete, at least in respect to rudimentals. The last establishment to which she had been sent proved a finishing shop, so far as she was concerned. With her removal from that hot-bed for young ladies, died the last state of the youthful mind, in which the love of knowing predominates; and she now felt herself a woman, ready to apply in real life, what she had learned as a child. And Florence was not yet seventeen years old! So much for a change of associations. So much for introducing a young girl at her critical age, into the atmosphere of a fashionable school for young ladies. Forever gone from her cheek was the delicate rose-bud tint of girlish modesty; forever gone from her eyes the maidenly repose, so pure and passionless. She was a woman — without the woman's weight of character.
And this sad change was the first result of Mr. Franklin's retirement from business, which left his mind unoccupied. All was going on well, and he was performing an essential service to the community; but, he must needs retire from his useful position, in order to seek his own ease. But his mind could not rest. Inactivity was a state utterly repugnant to its nature. There being no business to call forth its energies, it turned aside for something to do, as naturally as the flower turns itself to the sun. And the first irregular work presented was an interference in the education of his children, about which he had no previously well-formed views; about which he had no well-digested plans. A mere notion that all was not right came into his idle brain, and there magnified itself into importance.
The habit of his whole life had been action. He could not think without acting. It, therefore, followed, as a natural consequence, that, as soon as he got a notion into his head that all was not right in the matter of his children's education, he would promptly act in the matter. And, as it has been seen, he did act, and that not from any distinct views, but from a conceit that he saw the whole subject of education in clear light. The consequences were deplorable. His daughter received, when her character was in a state of formation, and just as it was beginning to harden, impressions that no after-culture could entirely efface.
But this was not the only case where the effect of Mr. Franklin's retirement from business was felt injuriously at home. There is, about every man, a tranquilizing or disturbing sphere, according to his state of mind. Before his retirement from business, Mr. Franklin came home to his family, with his mind prepared for repose or the quiet social pleasures of home. He met his children with delight; the close of every day being a kind of domestic reunion. They, too, had laid aside the graver duties of the day. The season of study was over — and the time for enjoyment had come. But there was a change now. With nothing of importance to occupy his thoughts, and nothing of importance to do, Mr. Franklin soon found the hours hanging heavily upon his hands; and evening, instead of coming as before, a calm and pleasant time, generally found him so fatigued with doing nothing, orthinking about nothing, as to be in no mood to meet his family as of old. Disturbed in his own feelings, he threw a disturbing sphere around him. The children were no longer mirthful, as before, in his presence, and he no longer entered, as of old, into their innocent pleasures. The effect of this was bad. Home was far from being to any member of the family, as happy a place as before.
Moreover, Mr. Franklin grew impatient. Little irregularities that were once unnoticed, fretted him, and faults in the children were reproved with a harshness unknown in former times. He meddled, too, in domestic affairs, seriously hindering the orderly progression of his wife's duties, and producing household difficulties that never would have occurred but for his interference. The reaction of these increased his fretful temper, and at times, rendered his wife, for whom there was no retirement from business, really unhappy.
Unfortunately for the family of Mr. Franklin, these effects did not lessen, but increased daily. For a short period after giving up his establishment, the retired gentleman felt his chest expanding with pleasure, as he inhaled the new atmosphere of freedom from care and business. But this state was of but short duration. Not a week passed before many hours in each day dragged heavily on, and brought the night more slowly than it had ever come before. From that time, his restless, dissatisfied state went on gradually increasing, and soon began to expend itself in correcting abuses in his family. How successful he was in his first important attempt, has been seen. In nearly every other instance, his success was of a like character, though, fortunately, not in all cases so disastrous in the final result.
At the end of a year, Mr. Franklin was decidedly unhappy. Nothing had turned out precisely according to his anticipations. The men to whom he had sold his business failed to conduct it with the success which had attended his efforts, and, in consequence, failed to meet all their notes given for the purchase. At least one-half of them had to be renewed; and although Mr. Franklin considered himself amply secured, he permitted the fact to worry him. Edwin finished his collegiate course during the period and came home; not, however, to enter upon the study of a profession according to his father's wishes. The young man did not bear off the highest honors — very far from it. Study was no pleasure to him; and the idea of continuing a student in one of the learned professions all his life, was anything but an attractive one. He, therefore, rebelled against the proposed disposition to be made of him, and this was another source of trouble to Mr. Franklin, who fretted under the disappointment, and made the whole family uncomfortable. Besides, there were other causes of trouble, as will be seen.
During this year, Mr. Franklin had to resort to various expedients in order to make the time pass more quickly. Reading, at first tried, was soon abandoned. He could not get interested in books, except occasionally in a narrative of some kind or other, and even then his interest flagged before a hundred pages were mastered. The difficulty, even in books of this character, was the restless state of his mind. He could not fix his attention, except with difficulty, upon anything. His thoughts had lapsed along in one channel for so many years, that it was next to impossible to turn them into a new course. The daily newspaper only gave a mouthful of interest before breakfast, and left the whole day unprovided with mental nourishment. He soon tried walking the streets with no object but to kill time; and as for riding into the country, it gave him no pleasure after he had driven out daily for a few weeks.
Mrs. Franklin was a woman of domestic habits. She loved her children, and her highest pleasure was in ministering to their comfort. She had no desire for fashionable life, and had mingled but little in society. Home was the place she liked best, and a few tried friends made up the circle of her associations. While devoted entirely to business, Mr. Franklin was as domestic and home-loving as his wife; but when he became a retired gentleman — home lost its attraction, and his thoughts wandered away in search of pleasure. As well to do in the world as they were, up to the period of withdrawal from business, not a single day had been passed at any fashionable watering or bathing place during the summer. While other men were seeking recreation, Mr. Franklin was in his manufactory, taking more delight in business than it was possible for him to take in any other way.
But the very first summer that followed his emancipation, Mr. Franklin proposed a tour of pleasure and a visit to the springs. The children received the proposition with exclamations of delight. Florence, especially, was in ecstasies on the subject. Mrs. Franklin made no opposition, but she anticipated but little pleasure from the change.
For weeks the busy note of preparation was heard, and then the whole family took a flight to Saratoga. But not a day passed while they were there, that something annoying to Mr. Franklin, did not occur. Either he was jostled or crowded out of his place by someone, whom he felt like strangling; or he was neglected by the waiters at the table, and thus deprived of all appetite for dinner. One day he would seat himself and family in reserved chairs, and have to endure the mortification of a removal when the party for whom they had been reserved, appeared in the dining room; and another day he would run, in his ignorance, against some other established usage of the hotel where he was staying, and have his blood raised almost to boiling point, when he felt the re-action that was produced.
The only members of the family who really enjoyed themselves, were Edwin, just from college, and Florence, who had received from the young ladies of the fashionable school to which she had been sent for a few months, as many ideas on the subject of "the Springs," as enabled her to take her share in the passing gaieties. Edwin met, as usual, half-a-dozen young men from the city, and two or three from college, with whom he was on terms of intimacy, and they introduced him to the lions of the place; while Florence found herself again restored to the companionship of several well-bred Misses, whose sayings and doings had greatly instructed her in the brief, but pleasant season, that she passed in the high-society school.
"I don't like things here," said Mr. Franklin, gravely, as he sat alone with his wife, on the fourth or fifth day after their arrival.
"Nor do I," replied Mrs. Franklin. "As far as I am concerned, I would much rather be at home; and I am sure Edwin, Florence, and the rest, would be much better there. The company here is doing them no good."
"Not a particle. Edwin has got in with a parcel of young fellows, dear knows who they are; and they're off somewhere out of sight, more than half the time. I gave him thirty dollars, the day before we left home; and he came to me this morning asking for as much more."
"Edwin!" said Mrs. Franklin, in surprise.
"Yes, Edwin!"
"Did you give it to him?"
"Why, yes. I did not like to refuse. But I have since wished that I had done so. He's no business to spend money after this rate."
"What does he do with it?" inquired the mother.
"I'm sure I don't know. I've seen him riding out every day with three or four others. As likely as not, he pays for the horses, and treats the company into the bargain. It's just like him."
Mrs. Franklin looked serious.
"It's not the right place for him, that is clear," said Mr. Franklin.
"No, nor for Florence either," remarked Mrs. Franklin. "I have not been satisfied at all with the company into which she has been introduced. At least three or four of her late schoolmates are here, and they are too much like Anna Redding, now Mrs. Elmer, to be of any service to her. Is not that her now?"
And Mrs. Franklin directed her husband's attention to a number of young people, of both sexes, who were walking at a little distance.
Mr. Franklin looked attentively, for a few moments, and then said, "Yes, that is Florence. But who is the young fellow on whose arm she is leaning, and who is talking to her with such earnest familiarity."
"I don't know. But I have seen him with her two or three times. Last night he danced with her; I asked her his name, and she said it was Le-Le-Le — something — LeGrand . Yes, that's it — LeGrand ."
"LeGrand — LeGrand . I must know who he is," said Mr. Franklin, rising and going to the bar.
"Is there a person here by the name of LeGrand?" he asked of a bar-keeper.
"There is," was replied.
"Where is he from?"
"The south, I believe."
"What part?"
The register was consulted.
"From Charleston. He's the son of a wealthy cotton-grower, I understand."
"Ah! Who says so?"
"I don't know anything about that. So it is understood here."
Mr. Franklin turned away and passing from the hotel into the open air, put himself in a position that enabled him to observe the young man attentively. He was talking earnestly to Florence, who seemed exceedingly well-pleased with either him or the subject of his conversation. The result was by no means satisfactory to Mr. Franklin. LeGrand might or might not be the son of a rich southern planter. But, whether he were or not, it was all the same to him; he wanted nothing to do with him; and cared still less to have him an associate of his daughter's! That he was not a true and good man, was plain to him from a single glance at his face. And a more attentive observation but confirmed the first impression.
"It is high time for us to leave here," said Mr. Franklin, on returning to his wife. "I don't like that fellow who is so familiar with Florence. They say he is the son of a wealthy cotton-grower at the South. But it is far more probable that he is some penniless adventurer. Depend upon it, this is a bad place for a thoughtless girl like our daughter, who, I am sorry to say, is sadly disappointing all my best hopes in regard to her."
"And it is just as bad for a young man like Edwin!"
"Yes; equally so. His associates are doing him no good. We must leave at once."
"And return home directly?"
"No. We can make our proposed tour to Niagara."
"I care little about going."
"I have never been there, and I wish very much to go. You ought also to see the Falls. And you know we have promised the children a visit there this summer."
"True. Let us go, then, immediately."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes. I would not remain a day longer here. Every hour increases, I am well satisfied, the danger to our children."
"We will leave here in the morning," said Mrs. Franklin to her oldest daughter, as soon as she found an opportunity to speak to her.
"Tomorrow!" exclaimed Florence, with a look and tone of disappointment.
"Yes. Your father and I have concluded to start for Niagara tomorrow."
"I thought you were going to spend two weeks here?"
"We have changed our minds; not finding things as agreeable as we had expected."
"I am sure, mother, that I find it very pleasant. And so does Edwin, and the rest of us. We will all be dreadfully disappointed."
"I am sorry. But your father has decided to leave in the morning, and you will all have to be ready."
Florence was sadly put out by the unexpected decision of her parents. Her countenance became serious, and her gaiety of manner left her.
"We will all stay at home, another season," remarked Mr. Franklin to his wife, when he observed the effect of their intended departure upon his daughter.
"I think it will be much wiser to do so. Ah me! This is a bad school for young misses."
"Or young masters either. I saw Edwin just now, and asked him to be in readiness to go in the morning. He flared up in an instant, and said he couldn't go so soon as that."
"He did!"
"Yes. He imagined, I suppose, that he was his own master. But I soon convinced him of his error. Then he wanted me to let him remain here until our return from the Falls. But I said 'No' so emphatically, that he didn't repeat the request again. And now he looks as sulky as a bear. And this is all the thanks we get for our trouble in bringing him here. I think I will know better next time."
There was still further resistance on the part of the younger members of the family, but Mr. and Mrs. Franklin had such good reasons for going, that all was of no avail.
It was the mother's intention to prevent Florence from meeting again with the young man who has been referred to. But the daughter managed to elude her vigilance, and get into his company during the evening, when they had a long walk and talk all to themselves. No more reluctance about going was expressed after this. The clouds all retired from the young lady's face, and she was as eager to set out for the Falls as she had been before leaving home, to start for Saratoga. The parents marked the change, and wondered as to the cause.
On their way from the supper table, Edwin drew his father aside, and with some hesitation of manner, requested the sum of fifty dollars.
"What!" returned Mr. Franklin in surprise. "I would like to have fifty dollars." "You have already had sixty, and yet I pay all the bills."
"I know, but — "
"But what?"
"I must have fifty dollars before I can leave."
"You must, indeed!"
"Yes Sir. I — I — In fact, father, I owe that much."
"You owe it?"
"Yes Sir. I — I — I borrowed as much from a young man here."
"For what purpose?"
"I needed it."
"You couldn't have needed it for any good, Edwin; I am certain of that."
"You judge me too severely, father."
"When a young man of your age spends a hundred dollars in less than a week, and then tries to conceal from his father the disposition made thereof, it is clear that the money has not been used for a good purpose. I can come to no other conclusion."
"Will you not let me have the sum I need?" asked Edwin, after standing silent for some time.
"Not now, my son. I wish to think about the matter. But I will say, that unless I am informed as to the true disposition you have been making of your money, I shall hardly feel willing to supply the sum now desired."
Edwin turned off slowly, with a disappointed and troubled air; and the father, as he walked out into the large portico, and there paced thoughtfully back and forth for a long time, had a no less troubled aspect. In about an hour he was again joined by Edwin, who once more urged his former request. But Mr. Franklin was no better prepared than at first to gratify his wishes. The more he reflected on the subject, the more concerned did he feel.
"Indeed, father," said the young man, "I cannot leave here, honorably, unless this debt is paid."
"Let me know for what purpose it was contracted," replied Mr. Franklin. "Then, and not before then, will I pay it. To this my mind is fully made up."
Edwin's countenance fell. He again turned from his father, and did not show himself during the evening. In the morning he joined the family at the breakfast table; but his appearance was that of a person who had been up a greater part of the night. He said no more about the fifty dollars, and Mr. Franklin, for reasons of sufficient weight to himself, thought proper not to allude to the subject.
In due time Mr. and Mrs. Franklin, in company with their children, left the fashionable watering place; all, except Florence and the younger children, looking as serious as if going to a funeral.
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