He could not borrow, for there was no one to lend him money.

There was a time when he could have borrowed thousands on his word; but now he knew that it would be folly to ask for even hundreds.
In a state of deep discouragement, he left his store in the evening and went home.

After tea, while sitting alone, Jessie, who came to see him often, tapped at his door.
"Are you not well ?" she asked, with much concern, as soon as the smile with which he greeted her faded from his face, and she saw its drooping expression.
"Yes, dear," he replied, trying to arouse himself and appear cheerful; but the effort was in vain.
"Indeed, uncle, you are not well," remarked Jessie, breaking in upon a longer period of silent abstraction into which Mr.Hartman had fallen, after in vain trying to converse cheerfully with his niece.
"I am well enough in body, Jessie; but my mind is a little anxious just now," he replied.
"Isn't your business coming out as well as you expected ?" inquired the affectionate girl.
"I am sorry to say that it is not," returned Mr.Hartman.

"In fact, I see but little hope of succeeding.

I have no capital, and the little credit I possess is likely to be destroyed through my inability to sustain it.