[Debit and Credit by Gustav Freytag]@TWC D-Link book
Debit and Credit

CHAPTER XVIII
7/18

I am an orphan, and have now no home but this house and this firm.

If Mr.Schroeter will keep me, I will remain with him." Evidently touched by the words, the merchant replied: "Remember, however, that thus deciding you give up much.

In my counting-house you can neither become a rich man, nor have any experience of life on a large and exciting scale; our business is limited, and the day may come when you will find this irksome.

All that tends to your future independence, wealth, connections, and so forth, you will more readily secure in America than with me." "My good father often used to say to me, 'Dwell in the land; and verily thou shalt be fed.' I will live according to his wish," said Anton, in a voice low with emotion.
"He is, and always will be, a mere cit," cried Fink, in a sort of despair.
"I believe that this love of country is a very sound foundation for a man's fortune to rise upon," said the merchant, and there was an end of the matter.
Fink said nothing more about the proposal, and Anton tried, by countless small attentions, to show his friend how dear he was to him, and how much he regretted his departure.
That evening Fink said to Anton, "Hearken, my lad; I have a fancy to take a wife across with me." Anton looked at his friend in utter amazement, and, like one who has received a great shock and wishes to conceal it often does, he inquired, in forced merriment, "What! you will actually ask Fraeulein von Baldereck--" "That's not the quarter.

What should I do with a woman whose only thought would be how she could best amuse herself with her husband's money ?" "But who else can you be thinking of?
Not of the ancient cousin of the house ?" "No, my fine fellow, but of the young lady of the house." "For Heaven's sake, no!" cried Anton, springing up; "that would, indeed, be a pretty business." "Why so ?" was the cool reply.


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