Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-08


loved me-I'm sure he did He bequeath
ed me his only chid-and it isn't every
friend who would do that p
A kind and generous protector yot
have been =
Well, | don't know I've tried not to
be brute, but [ dare say l have BEEN
Don't | speak roughly to you sometimes
Haven't l given you good, prudent and
worldly advice about John Meade, and
made myself quite disagreeable, and like
guardian 2 Come confess you love this
/ penniless nephew of mine
Penniless indeed 2 said Mary.
All, there it is = said Mr.. Collett.-
And what business has poor devil of
an artist to fall in love with my ward p
And what business has my ward to fall
in love with poor devil of an artist p
But that's Fred Suttons daughter all
over2 Havn't | two nephews2 WHY
couldn't you fall in love with the discreet
one-the thriving one? Peter Finch
considering he's an attorney-is worthy
young man. He is Industrious in the ex-
treme, and attends to other peoples bus
mess only when he's paid for it He des-
plses sentiment, and always looks to the
main chance. But J ohm Meade, my dear,
may spoil canvass forever and not grow
rich. He's all for art, and truth, and So
cial reform, and spiritual elevation, and
the Lord knows what. Peter Finch will
ride in his carriage, and splash poor John
Meade as he goes on foot =
The harangue was here interrupted by
a ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter Finch
was announced He had scarcely ia
ken his seat when another pull at the
bell was heard, and Mr.. John Meade was
announced.
Mr.. Collett eyed his two ncpbews with
a queer sort of smile, while they made
speeches expressive of sorrow at tho ma
ture of their visit At last, stopping
them:
Enough, boys, enoughr said he sLct
US find better subject to discuss than
the state of an old mans health. [ want
to know little more about you both
havn't seen much of you up to the pres
ent time, and, for anything | know, you
may be rogues or FOOLS
John Meade seemed rather to vince
under his address; but Peter Finch sat
calm and confident
To put case now,' said Mr. Collctt
this morning poor wretch of a gardner
came begging here. He could get no
work, it seems, and said he was starving.
Well. | knew something about the fellow,
and | believed be told the truth so |
gave him shilling to get rid of him
Now I'm afraid did wrong. What rea-
son had | for giving him shilling p
What claim had he on me2 What claim
has be on anybody? The value of his
labor in the market is all that working
man has a right to and when his labor
is of no value, why then he must 60 to
the devil or wherever else he can. Eh,
Peter2 That's my philosophy-what do
you think 2
L quite agree with you, sir, perfectly
agree with you said MIR. Finch. The
value of their labor in the market is all
that laborers can pretend to-aI they
should have Nothing acts more pernl
ciouslv than the absurd extraneous sup
port called charity
Hear. hear = said Mr.. Collett. You
are clever fellow, Peter Go on, my
dear boy, 90 on y
what results from charitable aid 2
continued Peter. The value of labor is
kept at an unnatural level. State Char
ity is state robbery private charity is
public wrong
That's it, Peter = said Mr. Collett.-
sWhat do you think of our philosophy.
john
L don't like it [ don't believe it Z
said John. You were quite right to give
the man a shilling; I'd have given him
shilling myself
'Oh, you would-would you 2 said Mr..
Colett You're very generous with
your shillings Would you fly in the
face of all orthodox political economy,
you Vandal2
Yes said John; as the Eandals
few in the face of Rome and destroyed
what had become talsehood and nul
sance.'
Poor John 7 said Mr.. Collett, We
! shall never make anything of him, Peter
Really we better talk of something else
John, tell us about the last new novel;
They conversed on various topics until
| the arrival of the invalid's early bedtime
parted uncle and nephews for the night.
Mary Sutton seized an opportunity the
next morning after breakfast to speak
with John Meade alone.
John said she, do think moro of
your own interest-of our own interest.
| What occasion for you to be so violent,
last night, and contradict Mr.. Collett so
shockingly2 [ saw Peter Finch laugh
ing to himself John, you must be moro
careful or we shall never be married
well, Mary dear I'll do my best said
John. 1t was that confounded Peter,
with his chain of iron maxims, that made
me Av out. I'm not an iceberg, Mary
Thank heaven, you're not said Mary
but an iceberg foats-think of that
John. Remember every time you offend
Mr. -Collett, you please Mr., Finch
So l do = said John. Yes, I'll re
member that
If you would OILY try and be little
mean and hard hearted said Mary; 'jus'
little to begin with You would only
stoop to conquer, John-and you deserve
to conquer.
May I gain my just deserts. then
said John. Are you not to be my loving
;fo M,ry1 s 70 Won not To sit ct nee