Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-04-14
From HoHssAoid Words.
ESTELLA EVERETT.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

VIC IlOAcl man Ol luo bcIAhpobhpNd.
There was not charity he did not sub
scribe to, not deputation that did not
entertain-and they were hungry fellows
generally, who knew the comforting yir
tues Of his choice Madeirs-he founded
Sunday-schools and Chapelsof Ease, as
other men would build barns, and he
was the public purse of all the ten par
ishes round. The poor called him a real
gentleman, and the ungodly fine fell
low; while the elect looked solemn, and
spoke of that pious man, Jacob Everett
through their noses, for the most part.
No one had an i'll word for him; excep-
ting the landlord of the Grapes, who de-
clared with mighty oath that he was
the pest of the place, aud would ruin oil
Green Grove if he was left to do as he
liked Notwithstanding this Bacchic
! judgement, Jacob Everett was good
man; weak, perhaps, but lovable in his
very weakness sincere, gentle, generous,
merclful; puritanical in principle, but
as his younger brother the archdeacon,
once said in full vestry, when Jacob OPP
posed him about thepenance of Hannah
Brown-'sadly latitudinarian in practice.
Jacob, however, who loved mercy and
hated condemnation, went on his own
way, opening a wide door Of forgiveness
to all sinners; closing to a narrow chink
the yawning gates of destruction which
his brother swung back wide enough for
all mankind, saving the small band of
the elect to which he and his belonged.
The family was proud of Jacob. He
was an old bachelor and rich; and the
Everetts-albeit of the rigidest-liked
wealth and honored pedigrees. They
were grand people, who practised humil-
ity in coaches, and establishment in vel
vet; who denounced the lusts of the flesh
at state dinner parties, over champagne
and pineapples; but who believed that
eternal punishment was the doom Of all
who entered theatre or ballroom.
They went to morning concerts of seri-
Gus music, and patronised oratorios.
They thought it sinful to be in love, and
called it making idols-so they married
their children comfortably among godly
families with money, and told them that
esteem was better than roma CO. Miss
Tabitha Everett was once suspected Of
a tender partiality for young Mr.. Aid.
ridge of Aldridgc Park; but the family
hushed it up as a scandal, for uncover
ted Mr.. Aldridge kept pack of hounds
Afterwards, they married her to the Rec
tor Of Green Grove, the Honorable and
Reverend Humdrummle HILBERT, eldest
son of the Dean, and heir TO an un -apos-
tolic fortune. The Everetts were exceed
ingly undemonstrative. Miss Tabitha
accepted her husband, and conceaing
her feelings, made very good wife
For marriage was not their foite. No:
an Everett was ever known to stoop
down to kiss husbands forehead as he
sat before the fire reading; not an Ever
EFT was ever known to talk nonsense in
the nursery-nether to ride cock horse,
nor to bewail the fate of Humpty Dump
ty, neither to rock baby on a tree
top, nor to perform monody IN A min
or, all about "kiddlie, Coosie, Coosie,
Coca song once heard from dear
young mother and which thought the
most beautiful of songs. The Eyeretts
were not given to airy such follies; ex-
cepting Jacob, who loved children as
they would be loved, and who used to
| play at bo-peep with the cottagers' ba
bies.
| Some years ago-Ju8t at the time
when pretty Anna Fay, the Sunday
school mistress, so suddenly left Green
Grove-a strange alteration took place
in Jacob Everett. His cheerfulness,
which had been his strongest character
istic was exchanged for the most painful
depression. He talked frequently Of his
sins, and gave more literally than ever
to missions and charities. His friends
could not understand this depression;
which, at last, became habitual. He
gave them no clue to it; but, with scarce
ly days warning, he left home to trav
Ell in the south of Europe. He had been
looking i'll and more than ever harasscd
of late; and every one said, it was the
best thing he could do, great as would
be everybody's loss. His sister Tabitha
alone objected, on the score ofthe Jesuits.
However, Jacob went; discharging all
his servants and shutting up the beauti-
full old Hall. To the infinite surprise of
everybody, he openly and unbluslingly
took from the ncighboring village a Ger
tain Betty Thorne fine, handsome, Ro-
man looking woman, farmers sister,
aged about forty. And Betty Thorne
travelled with him in his own carriage.
Five years passed away, and Jacobs
letters became rarer and more rare. He
wrote ever in the same depressed condi
ton of mind; spoke often Of "Good Bet
ty Thorne, who had been such blessed
comfort to him." and limited vaguely at
some unforgiven sin. Then for two
years more no letters came, even in an
swer to business inquiries; and all trace
of the traveller was lost. Hisvery bank
ers did not know his address, and "Sar-
dina left wide margins.
Mrs. Hilbert one day grew quite
warm when she spoke Of his neglect
with Paul and Jessie, her two children
almost agreeing that Paul, poor child
who, by the way, was three-and-twenty,
destined for the church but preferring
the army, and so making compromise
by studying for the bsr-that Paul sho'd
20 to Italy in search of his Uncle Jacob.