Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-03-26
G. r. n
III
THE RETALIATION.

lil-DOudfe, anu dllCl d Oh 5hl HGslIdllOIl, gave
several brisk raps upon the knocker,
The summons was answered by the owner Of
the mansion in person, who very courteously
babe the stranger enter, and conducted him to
a comfortable paror, handsomely furnished,
throughout which grateful warmth was difIused
by bright coal fire burning in CRATE at the
further end.
table occupied the space Immediately be-
fore the fire, and over the mantle, against the
wall, was suspended painting which was not
so remarkable for its execution, as for the sim
guIar nature Of the subject which it was intend
ed to delneate. 1t represented dark street on
a stormy winters night the ground, roofs of
houses and whatever other objects were in sight
being covered with heavy robe of snow. Only
two figures were obseryable-a passenger rem
dering succor to a helpless being, who, from the
attitude in which he was depicted, had evidently
encountered fall. But what was stranger still
than ALL was the fact that the features Of the
passenger bore strong resemblance to those of
Richards, the artisan-while between the coun-
tenance of the other and that of the gentleman
who had given admittance to his visitor few
minutes previously existed a resemblance quite
as striking
The table was covered with books and pa
pers, giving evidence of the literary turn of the
proprietor, and from some writing implements,
which also lay thereon, it was equally apparent
that he had Just been engaged in writing.
The host babe his visitor be seated, and the
! / l. L.. l
come, he said to procure the extension Of a
note held by the person whom he was address
ing which had been some two years due, and
which the former holder, one Simon RichardS
(whose death had been the means of its trans
fer to other hands) had thus far had the forbear-
ance not to protest.
The applicant stated that he had once been
rich, but had allowed himself to be drawn int
several unfortunate specuatons, which haC
stripped him Of nearly everything, except the
house and furniture for which the note was
held.
Then you are Mr. Pryce BenodckF said thu
present holder of the note inqulringy.
Exactly replied the yistor-'though no
, the Pryce Benedick of former days. | Cal
scarce recognize myself HeighoP And h,
who had once looked upon the world as havin!
been made for his particular benefit, and though
not that there could be sorrow for him in life
heayed a profound sigh as he REQUIRED to tn
JOYS and pleasures that had apparently cscapet
him forever.
You were once wealthy, then, if I under
stand your
Il was sr--very wealthy; and like most fools
in the same situation, imagined that there coulc
be no end to my riches, How sadly have de
ceved myself, the object of my present visit her
. will best bear witness
Wel-Mr, Pryce Benedck, said the other
1 since that is your name-it seems by your owl
| account that this is our first meeting Yet We
hare met before, and under circumstances ia
different from those under which we now Sc
one another
Indeed! was not aware of the fact Pray
when
Do you remember, Mr.. Benedick? reonet
his companion with somewhat of sterness il
his voice and manner-'a certain Christina
Eve, some five years since, (the night, i'll mis-.
, take not, was just such one as the present.
you stopped to converse with houseess, fam
fishing wretch, to whom after hearing unmoyet
his heart-breaking story, you rendered a shilling
|. and advised him to 60 to the poor-housel'
Mr.. Benedck closed his eyes, and appeared
to be taking rummage among his mental fac
ultles within; but it was unsuccessful, for h,
opened his eyes again and declared he had NJ
such recollection. Upon being closely pressed
however, he finally owned that Something Of
the kind did occur to him. and mmediateI,
added
But that has nothing to do with yOu that
see
Indeed it has Mr. Benedick! Look at me
steadily, and you will perceive that | am tha
same haIf-starved wretch whom you LETT alone
in the Indictment street on winters night, witt
scarce strip to cover him, and worthless coir
in his hand,
'No-you are mistaken--t was genuine
on my honorp put in Mr.. Benedick hur
i, riedIy.
That is of trivial consequence, Wyie re-
torted. 1t was the meanness of the motive
which prompted the gift, rather than the gift it
, self, that caused the alIusion. You then had il
in your power to place me- destitute as | was
beyond the reach of want-but you refused
me F.! I am now rich, and you comparatively
poor-or only wait my word to make you So
: With this little instrument (akng from hi
j pocket-book strip of papcr) | could crust
, you in a moment, as a spider would crust
h ahy.
: For Gods sake, my dear sir;--you don
$ mean-you can't think of such thingl hav,
large family and am not accustomed to bust
If ness. If you were to fulfil your threats shout,
starvc.'
a Il did not threaten, my good man. reptile,
s Wye, with a smile, dry, yet full of meaning
il | limited that had you in my power, and so
!. have. You, when | craved your bounty, lel
e me to beggary and want. You are now a sup
e plant on my bounty would you learn how
would take revenge in such a case!