The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-02-18

!, anu assure you Sir, should nave run TO the
, house and put on my Sunday coat-wbici
: | never wear except to meeting and on grea
occasions, and have had it now for six year.
: but Mr.. Peters said you was in hurry t.
see me-"
I "Well well! can excuse your dress; but
do you mean to say you have only two coats?'
, 81 had three, sir, but since my wife cut uI
my old black one to make a new brown one
Tor Billy, hav'nt but two and in fact, | dc
} very well without any more, for never wear
one In the summer, though in coolish weather
like this, when 60 TO a raising, or to town
sometimes feel as if this shiny and patched
old thing was hardly good enough to wear
while you know | couldn't afford to put on
my best one. So | sometimes say to Polly
that's my wife-'If only had kind Of
second best coat -
"And is there nothing you want more than
a coat!"
"Indced, sir, there are good many things
| sometimes think it would be convenient to
have"-
"Well, Jarvis" said Album, cycling the
cottager, "what are those things!"
"Oh, it's no use to speak of them, or think
of them, so I am contented without them,
but since you have done me the honor to ask
me, | may say should like very much to
have new axe to cut wood with, since Billy
has badly nicked the old one, by striking it
into the ground; would like to get little
Polly pair of new shoes for winter-to-be-
sure the weather is growing too cold now for
the poor child to 60 barefoot
"Pshaw! don't mention these little things
tell me, do you never desire carriage, fine
horses, splendid house!"
"Ha! hal" laughed the good natured man,
show would look in fine house! What
would do with fine carriage! No, no; |
was not brought up to these things; and though
| don't doubt but they would be very pleas
ant, don't desire them.'
| Alburn's brow contracted.
$50 you are contented with what you have,'
he muttered.
81 think should be wretch to complain,"
replied the cottager. "Thanks to your kind
ness in giving me those twenty acres rent
free, l and my family have enough to eat and
drink"
"My friend" said Album, bitterly, "my
friend, since you can be so happy with so lit
tie, you must do with less. | have called you
here to tell you that from this day can spare
you only ten acres.
A shadow crossed the poor mans brow,
but moment after he smiled, while a tear
glistened in his eye.
"Indeed, sir" he said, in atrembling voice,
81 can only thank you for having given me
the use of the land so long. and you are very
kind to leave me the other ten acres still.
True, Polly can't have the new gown she
was going to buy, and l shan't be able to
send Billy to school this winter, but am sure
it will be all for the best in the end. thank
you, sir, from my heart"
"Come! you have said enough!" growled
the Neutrality-suspicious.
The cottager bowed respectfully, and re-
tired.
Album enraged at seeing a poor man so
much happier than himself, and at having, for
a moment, felt glow of human sympathy in
his heart, struck the table savagely with his
fist, and called his steward, to whom he gave
orders to have the cottager's land divided.
Feeling fierce joy in the thought that this
act would certainly curtail the poor mans
happiness, Album rode by the cottage few
days after, to exult in the anticipated change.
Jarvis had that morning found tree, which
the autumnal gales had blown down on Al
burns land, and now, with the permission of
Mr.. Pete the steward, he was cutting it
into firewood for winter. Not observing the
heir as he rode by, the poor man stopped to
rest, and began to whistle in the most cheer
full and contented manner.
AT the sight of such happiness, the misan-
thrope was more enraged than ever, and he
Immediately gave orders that the cottage-
should be compelled to pay rent for the ten
acres which had been left him.
This was hard blow for the poor man; but
instead of complaining, he resolved to make
the best of it, look on the fairest side of the
picture, and frighten care away with singing.
Now the cottager had large family, and
the heir of Album knew that it must take
everything he had to supply their moro ur-
gent wants, and pay his rent; but, angered at
seeing the poor man SO much happier than
himself, he remorseessly allowed them to
suffer. In the depth Of winter Jarvis was
compelled to sell his COW; and the proprietor
of the estate was one day informed that the
poor mans neghbors had actually been OBJ
liged to come to the assistance of his family.
which was very much in need
"Peters," said Mr.. Album, on the follow
ing morning, ''send for Jarvis, and employ
him to shovel out the snow from the avenues
and paths"
The misanthrope rejoiced in the tho't that
now, if never before, he should have the pleas
ure-if such the feeling might be ca!led-of
seeing this poor man cast down with his mis-
fortunes. AS Jarvis approached, wading thro'
the snow drifts, with scoup on his should
er, Album watched him with dark scowl,
and lip curling with savage triumph.
"Are you mortal mani"
Jarvis opened wide his wondering eyes,
and returned Albums scowl with a look of a.
mazement.
"If you are," muttered the proprietor of the
estate, "you are an exception to the human
race!" ...... ....
81 beg your pardon, sir-but-if you will
be so good so to tell me--what is my fault"
"Tour farltl Why, you are always hap