The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-19
The two ERnharzrs

I The two Nephews.
AT the parlor window of pretty village
near Walton on Thames, sat one evening a
dusk, an old man and a young woman. Tie
age of the man might Be about seventy, willis
his companion had certainly not reached nine
teen. Her beautiful, blooming face, and active
Hight and upright figure, were in strong con
1 trast with theworn countenance and bent frame
of the old man, but in his eye, and in the cor
ners of his mouth, were indications of ga,
selfconfdence, which age and Suffering had
tdampcd, but not extInguishad. =. e,,
No use looking any more Mary said he
t*neither John Mead nor Peter Finch will be
here before dark. Very hard that, when. 4 sick
uncle asks his two nephews to come and see
him they can't come at once,zF The duty is
simple in the extreme-only to help me to die
and take what choose to leave, them in my
will! Pooh! when was young man, I'd have
done it for my uncle with the utmost CELEBRITY
But the worlds getting quite heartless" o,
2~"Oh sir!'' said Mary saas-- r. t..5 basal
trs And what does, 'sOh sir'' mean?'' s.D'ye
think sban't die? I know better. A little
more. and therell be an end of old Billy Collett
He'll have left this dirty world for a cleaner
to the great sorrow (and advantage of his af-
fectionate relatives! Ugh! Give me a glass of
the doctors stuff. - fs@1'i5~*@A
The girl poured some medicine into glass
and Collett, after having contemplated it for a
moment with Infinite disgust, managed to Get it
down. @2,.~-gIa.. ~sg9 r,-.H -., 4 -. - -.
4 tell you what Miss Mary Sutton, y said
he, "l don't by any means approve of your
ooh sirl' and Dear sir and the rest of it,
when I've told you how L hate to be called
t.sir,' at all. Why you couldn't be more res
peettul II you were charity girl and 1 a
beadle in god-laced hat None of your nom
sense, Mary Sutton, if you please. I've been
your lawful guardian now for six months, and
you ought to know my likings and diskings
MY poor father often told me how you dis
liked ceremony" said Mary. .zur s,y. 'r --~-
'Your poor father told you quite right ~
said Mr.. Collett Erred Sutton was a man
Of talent-a capital fellow His only fault was
a natural inability to keep a farthing in his
pocket. Poor Fred! he loved me-I'm sure
he did. He bequeathed me his only child
and it isn't every friend would do that!''
GA kind and generous protector you have
been!'' 4 g.. III. -.- L.. .as ..f .....~
"Well / don't know, I've tried not to be
brute, but | dare say have been Don't
[ speak roughly to you sometmes Hav'n
given you good, prudent, worldly advice about
John Mead, and made myself quite disagree
able, and like guardian? Come, confess you
love this pennyless nephew of mine.''
':Pennyless indeed!'' said Mary.
|'Ah, there it is!'' said Mr.. Co!lett,- "and
what business has poor devil of an artist to
fall in love with my ward? And what business
has my ward to fall in love with a poor devil
of an artist? But that's Fred Suttons daugh
ter all over! Haven't two nephews? Why
couldn't you fall in love with the discreet one
the thriving one? Peter Finch-considering
he's an attorney--is worthy man. He is
industrious in the extreme, and attends to
other peoples business, only when he's paid
for it. He despses sentiment, and always looks
10 the main chance. But John Mead, my dear
Mary, may spoil canvas forever, and not grow
rich. He's all for art, and truth, and social re-
form, and spiritual elevation, and the Lord
knows what. Peter Finch will ride in his
carriage, and splash poor John Mead as he
trudges on foo.''
The harangue was here Interrupted by
by a ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter Finch
was announced. He had scarcely taken his
seat when another pull at the bell was heard,
and Mr.. John Mead was announced.
Mr.. Collett eyed his two nephews with a queer
sort Of smile, whilst they made speeches ex-
presslve of sorrow at the nature of their visit.
AT last stopping them:
Enough, boys, enoughl'' said he "Let US
find something better to discuss than the state of
an old mans health. I want to know little
more about you both. I havn't seen much of
you up to the present time, and for anything l
know, you may be rouges or fool'
John Mead seemed rather to vince under
this address, but Peter Finch sat calm and con-
fdent r- -.-= -,.....r
''To put a case now," said Mr.. Collett, "this
morning poor wretch of gardner came beg
glng here He could get no work, it seems,
and said he was starving. Well, knew some /
thing about the fellow, and believe he only
told the truth, so gave him shilling, to get
rid of him. Now, I'm afraid did wrong
What reason had for giving him shilling?
What claim had he on me? What claim has
he on anybody? The value of his labor in
the market is all that a working man has
right to- andwhen his labor is of no value, why .
then he must 60 the devil or wherever else he
can" All, Peter! That's my philosophy
what do you thnk?'' .-,.. r+-. --.s
: 'lqHte agree with you, sir, said Mr. Finch
perfectly agree with you. The value of the
aborer in the market is all that laborers can
pretend to-all they should have. Nothing
tctsmore pernicously than the absurd extrane-
'us support called charity.
''Hear, hear!" said Mr.. Co1Iett s'You're
lever fellow, Peter. Go on my dear boy, go
,nI' D.8 .-..,sa --'..s a-7#'t.-0
"'What results from charitable aid?' contin
d be- The value oflabor is kept at an unnatu-
al level. State charity is state robbery, private
harity is public wrong y ''a.' -'5
''That's it, Peter!' said Mr. Collett. "What
Q you think of our philosophy, John?''
~ don't like i'll don't believe it!'' said John.
You were quite right to give the man shil !
ng, I'd have given him shilling myself"
..Oh, you woud-would you?' said Mr.. |
'ollett. You are very generous with your :.
lilings Would you fly in the face of all or J.
iodox political economy, you Vandale'' I
Yes said John, Gas the vandals few in 4
le face Of. Rome, and destroyed what had be- .
'me falsehood and a nuisance. =
"Poor john said Mr.. Collett eve shall u
ever make anytbinp of him. Peter. Really.