Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-17
THE STORY TELLER.
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal
MR.. WHITEHEAD'S WILL.

"AuO" A1dIuloy, WHO ndu Oho CIlllu Vi HeI
first marriage living, little boy of three years
old, folks, as usual, expressed various opinions
on the subject while Of course the happy cou-
pie, knowing nothing and caring less Of what
was said about them, in process of time shared
the common fate, and when gossiping had ex-
lIausted-itself, were allowed to glide down the
stream of time unheeded. Mrs. Scrope pre-
sented her second husband likewise with a
son, the nurse declaring that the child and his
! father were as like as two peas. This, per-
haps, was hot fattering to the baby, though
the declaration might be based on trnth-Mr
Scrope being fat, white, flabby-looking per-
sonage, with halfclosed eyes and clean shaw
en- face, whereon stray hair was never permitted
TO rest, presenting in short, the semblance of
huge overgrown 'fabby dabby babby.'
The likeness between father and son contin-
ued to increase as the latter grew up, and
long after Mrs. Scrope was left widow for
the second time, continued to be pointed out
by those who had known the deceased And
this likeness was not confined to outward ap-
pearance for in disposition and character
young Samuel greatly resembled his father
in excessive timidity approaching to nervous
ness; IN shy and embarrassed manner; in
all sorts of oId-womanish propensites-such
as putting his feet in hot water, and taking ba-
sins of scalding Cruel to cure colds, which
somehow, he was always catching in fdgety
neatness, and detestation of firearms and all
offensive or defensive weapons-in these par
ticulars, he was indeed, as his friends remarked
his fathers own son. From his mother he
inherited love Of money, of parsimonious
saving and boarding, tolerable share of sus-
piciousness, and large amount of prudence;
acold and perfectly unimpassioned tempera-
mert, calculating even in his indulgencies, and
rather obtuse brain, were singularly com
bined and what he wanted in sense, he made
up in deliberation and WEAKNESS. Such was
Samuel Scrope the younger, the heir to his
fathers large fortune, the idol of his doting
mother, and the pampered, spoiled boy of the
household. She never could part with him
for the purposes Of education he was too DEL
icate for any school-t would kill Sam 10 be
buffeted and rGdely treated So Sam had
tutor at home, whose situation was a real sine
cure, so far teaching weni-the young gen
tleman having it much his own way when and
how his lessons were to be acquired and re-
peated. Mrs. Scrope, like many weak moth
ers, cared not much for her sons requirements,
Il.
port through society in general. What did it
matter, she sad for Samuel 10 toll and moil
over books, when he had large fortune ready
made 10 enjoyi 1t was all right and proper
that her eldest born, Francis Eardlev, should
strive 10 win prizes and be a great scholar, be-
cause he had only his own exertion 10 depend
upon; besides Frank was high-spirited and
boisterous, had fine health and energies, and
was altogether of different nature from Sam.
Of different nature, indeed brave, gener-
Gus, selfdenying, afectionate, and warm-hearl-
ed Francis, as little resembled his younger
brother in disposition as in person, for that was
pre-eminently graceful and agreeable. Sans
eowardice and sluggish intellect presented such
a contrast TO the bold, daring and splendid abi-
tiles of Frank, that even Mrs. Scrope could
not fail to see it, despite her partiality for the
former; though why that partiality existed, it
was hard TO fathom, unless it arose from Sans
more closely resembling herself
Frank was sent TO public school, and was
a favorite with every one, making friends
wherever he went but at home, the home
where his younger brother reigned paramount,
there grave faces always met him, there he
was chided and rebuked by his mother, and
avoided by the fat pampered Sam, who looked
askance on the fine youth, whose noble and
manly bearing reused feelings of envy and dis
like. What right had Frank TO laugh and
joke, and ride and sing, aud conduct himself in
so of-hand way, when he never had farlh-
ing in his pocket for Mrs. Scrope kept poor
Frank very low in pocket money, though she
had a moderate lifejointure and Sam, whose
hands were always in his pockets turning over
his gold, which he seldom changed, skulking
about, with nothing to do and nothing to say,
and feeling quite i'll at ease before his gay,
handsome brother.
Among the visitors at Scrope Hall was Mr..
Whitehead, an elderly bachelor of grave and
taclturn demeanOr, reputed TO be enormously
wealthy, and of privileged eccentricity. A
mlser IN the literal sense Of the term, sly, OBJ
servant, and prying noiselessly into the concern
OF everybody and everything, Mr.. Whitehead
visited about from one house to another. living
in clover at them all. 1t was rumored that he
was not quite sound in his mind, and that an
early love-disapPontment had turned his brain :;
however, those who now contemplated his dir
ty faxen wig, and tall lank form, arrayed mi
formly in threadbare black, found it difficult to
realize the idea of romantic passage in such
a life and in such being Mammon was the
god of his worship now, at all events. Mr..
Whitehead had been a acrony Of the deceased
Mr.. ScrOpe, and it was apparent that he
transferred to the younger Samuel much Of the
approval and liking he had bestowed on the
elder. At Scrope Hall Mr.. Whitehead was
always welcome and favored guest; his ways
were IN unison with their ways; and Samuel
was so great favorite with the sour-visaged
old man, that Mrs. Scrope INDUCED pleasant
dreams Of an accession to her darling's for