New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-10
The "Poor Relation

relations generally carry as pure and generous
| hearts under their jackets and thin shawls as
the richest who are hypocritieally respected by
those who are wishing them to die.
| In 1927 | was apprenticed 10 Mr.. Joel Scott,
a stone mason Re was then 81 years of age,
| and was quite wealthy. He was penurious, and
continued bis business for further worldly gains,
though his constitution was much shattered by
| previous toll He required unreasonable days
work of his laborers. He was not satisfied with
| . fair service of ten hours at steady labor He
| demanded twelve hours, and usually contrived
| to get thirteen He was schemer and skin
| flint. He once passed SO bank note to me
| that was Is per cent below par, but he wonld
not pay me the 45 cents which lost on it, be-
cause could not bring proof that had received
| the note of him. l afterwards learned that he
received it Of an honest old farmer for 81 80,
or nearly II per cent. discount. Still, he was
| scrupu,ously pious. a
1 believe be never missed a Conference meet
ing or an evening lecture, and he was the first
| to enter church upon the Sabbath at evening
meetings he usually prayed, and never occupied
/ less than half an hour He denounced all un-
charitableness" in severe though rather coarse
terms lie was quite rich, partly owing to the
sudden rise Of tract Of real estate which he
/ purchased several years before at q low price,
and contrived to slip out of his obligation to pay
for good portion of it, on the death of the man
| who sold it to him. The widow and children
suffered for want of their just dues; hut Scott
had a peculiar faculty of getting rid of debts
without paying them. / hardly know how be
did it, but am satisfied that he accomplished the
| feat on more than one occasion. He was go
| pious, however, that few persons in the village
dared lisp word of insinuation that he was
dishonest
/ But rich as he was, he never gave away a
| penny, unless it was to some far off Missionary
| Society, that has great many officers and hired
| assistants, who publish to the world the names
of those who give their money to them. l saw
him, however. kick poor, little, ragged and
sickly boy, of about eight years of age, SO that
| he fell down flight of six steps in the rear OF
] the house. 1t was Sabbath morning; the boy
had a little basket on Ills arm, and meekly beg
/ ged for some yietuals. This was his offence.
His mother was wretchedly poor, and intem-
4 perate; but was the child to blame for that
That evening | heard him pray against the
Is sin of uncharitableness ~
Scott had niece She was thirteen years o
age, the daughter of his sister. Her fatherjdied
the year that | was apprenticed. He was ar
Italian; by trade musical instrument maker
rather impetuous, but generous and high
minded. He was intelligent, and, in persona
i appearance, splendid pattern of man
Minnie was his only child and when her father
died, she was truly an orphan, for her mothe
was an invalid and pennyless. The poor wo
man did not survive long But she persuade,
her brother, Scott, to take little Minnie into hi
family, She was rather small of her age, or
rather, she appeared to be; as she was SO per
fectly formed that she appeared smaller thai
she really was; and | have motto ed the sam
popularity in Powers Greek Slave. Perhap
it is so with all beautifully formed men an
women, and animals. Minnie was beautiful
Her hair was of raven blackness. Her skin wa
not the very whitest, but it was remarkabl,
c,,,n a1n ~,
red. The most intelligent, innocent, lovely ey
that ever glistened under females brow wa
Minnle's. Her teeth, so regular and so white
were ornamental, if such features could
ornamented. She had a broad, inteIleetua
forehead, and her face ever wore a sweet smile
have never seen so pretty girl, nor one S
lovely in every respect
But her uncle made slave of her She neve
complained but was ever attentive from fou
o'clock in the morning, the time that she dali
rose to make the fire and prepare breakfast. ii
, ten al night, when she had liberty to retr
! What a surprising amount of work that littl
girl did 1t was enough to bring down stor
: woman But she always did it we'll She W.
SO neat, SO quick land always so cheerful.
could never be sad when Minnie was near; ht
j, good conduct and happy influence seemed
i spread to all around her, and penetrate ever
j" soul, except her coarse old uncle's nevt
:, missed an opportunity to bring a bucket
water for her, and an armfnl of wood, and to
many little things to tighten the heavy burde
j, of her task. Her mild, sweet little ssThar
nj you, Charlie; you are SO kind!" always mo
" than paid me for my trouble. z,
q How often have wondered that her uncle
Is not provide her with better clothing--why d
not he permit her to attend some parties in Il
n, village, and afford her more comforts But s.
}, received no such kindness from him. On o.
!? occasion heard him say, in her presence, tn
tshe was poor relation,'' and he wondered Z.
!, every body who had earned a little some thi,
:, by hard work, had to support poor cousins al
i. nieees." Minnie looked sad enough, and quick
i left the room. l soon followed her, and saw h
r wiping away tear that was stealing down h
% cheek She did not think / noticed it, al
hee summoning resolution, she turned and smil
sweetly as she made some pleasant remarks
turn the unhappy thought of her uncle's hars
ness from her mind. That evening | thoug
" her more of an angel than ever. She triumph,
over i'll usage, and preserved her happy tempe
- She rose above the severe trial, and the unfor
harmony Of her mind was still apparent.
| yentured word of encouragement. 81
replied: sit is all for th e lest have contiden
" in the future Her uncle never tried to gi
her an education; but he could not keepit fro
: her. She not only kept up with, but surpasse
the best scholars Of the village in all the depar
=, ments Of their studies. Her superior intelle
did more tor her than careful instruction.
: had been with Mr.. Scott three years Iw
eighteen years of age and little over; Minn
: was sixteen. We had always been good friend
we were both poor, and sympathized with ea
: other. She would sit up till midnight, in spi
y of my remonstranees, to hem a handkerchief
me, or to mend my clothing. At this time
= met with severe accident. A heavy windt
cnp fell upon my arm, crushing it from t
: elbow to the wrist. was carried home, a,
;, remained there for six months Isuffered muc
4. but | did not lose my arm. At one time t
n, surgeons were about to cut it off. and were co
sulting about it for few days, when they ss
= signs of improvement. | never saw Il happi
:" expression than that which lighted up Minnie
face, when told her my arm would probab
n be saved, and, for the second time since my a
quaintance with her, saw little tear strea
. down her cheek. Indeed, believe that it W
Minnie's kindness and constant attention th
saved my arm. No one could bandage it
= carefully as she; no one could hit so many lit
contrivances to make it comfortable. The 81
geons said she made good poultiees, and appli
or them in the best manner. Twenty times d
} she would run to my room with little CRU
: something NICE as a relish, a poultice, oil
wash. | can never forget how many little kin
~ nesses soothed my racking pains, and gave
~ hope. must confess that began to think Il
poor relation" would be very rich and hap
relation TO me, could | always have her by I
al EElv - I,o1,, &oo Oh q alr