The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-08-30
NOT SO FAST.
b Y J. b. s Y NJ E.

BY. b. sYME.
sThere is nothing so detest in man. Ar
thur, as want of punctuality," said old I'M
Gle Ben TO his SISTERS son, as he gave several
rapid whifs from his pipe and looked sourly
over his shoulder at the young man, who was
seemingly reading attentively.
Il have often heard you say so, dear uncle"
replied his nephew with a smile; but am
glad that this feeling of detestaton towards
mems failIngs does not extend to men; you
are not misanthropc for ALL"
"Come come. jackanapes, you want to ca
jole the old man, do you 2" replied uncle Ben,
with something more than an affection Of an
ger. "You want to have me all smiles to
this James Jones, when he pleases to wait
upon his humble servant, because he's
friend of thine, iorsooth 2"
Il am sorry that he has disappointed you,
uncle" said Arthur, seriously, not so much
for your sake as his. Your recommendation
can be of advantage to him this disappoint-
ment cannot affect you. You have cause to
be angry, do confess; and perhaps the idea
that he is TO be favored and is in dependent
circumstances, may have infused little more
of the acrimony of offended pride into your
temper just now than would have otherwise
been the case; but could bet good round
sum that there is some suficien. cause for his
detention"
sNone of your college education here. sir!"
said old uncle Ben, rather testify, rs he rapid
ly drew several mathematical diagrams on
the floor with his feet, caused his chair to
perform sundry military evolutions, and emit
ted a platoon of tobacco puifs before he set
tied down into rest again. III detest betting;
it is vulgar practice, and in discussion it is
the only argument of the greatest fools You
speak plainly, too, young man." continued the
burly old merchant, in tone of some feeling;
';when did | ever despisc poverty or treat it
with disrespectW
'Never, my own uncle" said Arthur apol-
ogetically; "But an certain that you Judge
hastily oil poor jones'"
"Punctuality is part of veracity, sir; We
racity Is the very soul of business; and this
James JONES' though he were as deep2 in the
mathematics as Sir Isaac Newton, and as
great a foreseer Of events as Moore's Alma
nae, will never make clerk worthy OF bread
and butter"
"Ah, his is a sad story. uncle"-
But uncle Ben laid his hand on Arthur's
mouth and interrupted him ere he had pro-
ceeded with the sentence. III know what you
would say, sir because you have already said
it-young man Of talent-high principle
widowed mother and orphan brothers and sis
ters- his father old acquaintance Of my own
he an old schoofellow Of yours-met him
by accident-heard his tale-recommende
him to your old uncle Ben, who recommend
ed him to Jackson's Brothers as a clerk, up
on whom, forsooth, he has never called. All,
all, Arthur, you shan't find me SO good natur-
ed againp'
"Perhaps some accident prevented him !;
some fortutous circumstance over which he
had no more control than over the elements"
said Arthur, warmly.
circumstances, pooh! what merchant ever
pleaded fortuitous circumstances for non-fulfil-
ment ofengagements, oradmitted them either
on cash days. have received lesson never
to try to push along loadstone."
sand is it thus that our charities are chill
ed ?'' said Arthur, feelingIy; perhaps causes
which demand surcharge Of our benevolence
are those which for want Of knowledge exiin-
guish it. We should be cautious, even in the
most glaringly apparent circumstances, when
they are only circumstances and not estab-
lished facts"
al never disappointed any man in my life, /"
said old Ben, with look of pride, "and have
right to demand that the world shall do by
me as l have done by it. 1t is but fair no.
body will deny it; the Iore you shall be full
ly squared per contra. 1t is a safe maxim in
trade, and it is as safely applicable to the
common transactions Of life"
81 deny that you have a right to demand
your pound of flesh from the world, uncle"
said Arthur, mildly, ''for the ducats it owes
you. Because you have been punciual, pre-
else, aud prosperous, that is not sufficient rea-
son why all men should be so. They are not
so, dear uncle, and have never been so, there
fore you have only reason for giving thanks
to Providence and exercising more common
charity towards your less fortunate fellow
men. But poor Jonas, /" he continued, recur-
ring to the cause Of this discussion, I'll wish
knew what has prevented him from wait
| ing on Jacksons."
| The room in which the uncle and nephew
sat was comfortably and even elegantly fur
nished. The wall was papered with a warm
and elegant Partisan design of flowers done
in the brightest colors, tipped with gold leaf.
and enlivened with twigs bearing birds OF
Paradise. A rich red moreen hanging laid
gracefully over two large brass-knobbed sup
porters. fell with fine sweep OIL the floor
The carpets and sofas were beautiful; the fire
bright and inspiring, and the wind was whist
ling with a wild savage sound without, which
gave additional cheerlulness to the crackle o.
the Goals and the light of the gas Within
Benjamin Bell had been merchant, and a
highly respectable and reputable one he had
made fortune, and retired from business
when, as he said himself his constitution was
as sound as that Of the father OF all the bells
Great Tom of Lincoln. He still retained the
punctious habits which he had acquired from
al early and careful discharge of all the max
inns laid down in Poor Richards" code oil
moral and social economy got up at seven
breakfasted at nine. read the Lloyds and ex-
change columns in newspapers TO eleven
maintained all his old friendships and return
ed to dinner at four, supped at eight, and