The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-07
Disputed Property, OF Smith VS.. Smith

never lOtSetS Ill MS own person 10 sustain Tue
character OF a gentleman.
Disputed Property, OF Smith VS.. Smith
John George Smith, Esq, senior, is "A man
about iorty-fve years of age, very red faced
very corpulent, very cautious, and very
good-natured.
John George Smith, ESQ, junior, is man
who has seen about half the number Of sum.
mcrs, which have. e.contribut ed TO ripen hi.
highly respectable father he is handsome
slender hot-blooded, and Independent.
John George Smith, Esq, senior, and
JOHN George Smith. junior, are the only re-
naming members of a particular family Of
Smiths. The old man is widower the
young man is bachelor The former is
rich, and the latter is fortunate enough 10
have the good will Of his worthy progenitor
Old Smith is proud of his son, and young
Smith is proud Of his father's-purse. Ii
old John took pleasure in accumula,ing a
handsome property, it can be said, without
lear of contradiction, that young John, at
the time Of our story, took no less pleasure
in spending what his father had acquired
BoIh these personages were great favor
ties of the ladies. The fair creature.
liked the father for his quiet humor and un.
rivalled gallantry, and the son for his spark
ling wit, pleasing address and handsome
person. Thus, strange as it may appear,
John George, senior, and John George, jun.
ior, had cause frequently to be jealous Of
each other, in consequence of which they
at length began TO move in different circles
Of society, in order to lave separate and un
disputed iields of operation.
Thus the inJuIgent father and affection
a,e son seldom saw each cher except a
home, and then few words passed betweer
them except on matters OF business
One morning, however, as John George
the elder, was on The point ol entering III,
apartment OF John George, the younger, t(
speak with him on Il matter of vital import
ance, he met the latter coming into his owl
room to converse with hun on an equally
important subject.
All, john" said the old beau, taking hi
sons hand with unusual anabilily, how ar,
YOU this morn;ng?"
Tolerable," replied the young beau
happ, at finding his father in good humor
- and | am glad TO see you looking so wei
to-day. What's the news?"
81 want to talk with you, john" said tn,
elder Smith.
And | have no less desire to have {
quiet, serious conversation with you, beloved
father" returned young Smith, entering ih'
old mans apartment.
"On what subject?"
Marriage"
"Marriaee !" echoed old John 9Th
very thing wanted to talk with you about
mol"
"Fact !"
"But you've no notion of taking wife
father?"
Il have, by Jupiter "
"By Juno so have | :"
am glad OF it," exclaimed old Johr
warmly. " You are Wild my boy, and
wife will tend to tame YOU
And you are rather gay, father, and
companion will serve to sober you," re
turned young John, with a sly vein of saiir
in his tone.
Pshaw, John, But tell me about that
your marriage"
And will you tell me about yoursy"
" Certainly"
Old John stroked his beard in a thought
iul manner, then looked up with business
like mir, and said
In the first place, must tell you Tia
my intended is rather young for me-"
There we are even," said the Other
with II smile"
"But my lady is the prettiest in th
town"
+" | am sure mine is an exception"
=" Very beautiful, is she p
Enchanting -
" So is mine "
But mine has one defect"
"Whal is it?"
"She is hear-sighted."
"Strangc coincidence | have notice
the same defect in my intended"
"And mine is perhaps a little too dark
" So is mine"
"And little loo tall"
"Mine is tall-but / am vastly fond of ia
women"
There was pause in the conversation
when old John remarked TO young Joh
with sad smile and something like sigh
"Tve rival"
"Nol"
q have, 'pon my word"
Sand so have l."
"Mine is young buck, who, although
have never seen him, is said TO be qui
captivating"
"And mine is an Old rake, good-lookiI
enough, am told, very rich, who has Il
impudehce to dispute my claim to the har
of my fair lady"
But don't tear my rival"
"Nor mine.'
| my intended laughs at the young buck