Butte record., 1855-12-15

1OCDCi - 4fIdl y.
"Thank Heaven you're notH' said
Mary; 'but an iceberg foats-think
of that John. Remember-every time
you offend Mr.. Collett, you please Mr..
Finch"
$50 I do" said John. ''Yes; I'll
remember that"
"If you would only try to be little
mean and hard-hearted," said Mary;
''iust a little, to begin with. You
would only stoop to conquer, john
and you deserve to conquer"
"May | gam my deserts, thenn'
said John. Are you not to be my
loving wife, Mary? And are you not
to sit at needle work in my studio,
whilst paint my great historical pic
turc! How can this come to pass if
Mr.. Collett viii do nothing for us?'
"Ah, how indeed!" SAID Mary
'But here's our friend, Peter Finch,
coming through the gate from his walk.
| leave you together" And so saying
she withdrew.
"What, Meade!' said Peter Finch,
as he entered. "Skulking indoors on
a fine morning like this. I've been all
through the village. Not an ugly
place-but wants looking after sadly.
Roads shamefully muddy! Pigs al
lowed to walk Oh the footpathl
"Drcadful!" exclaimed John.
81 say-you come out pretty strong
last night" said Peter. Quite defed
the old man! But | like your spirit .
81 have no doubt you do,'' thought
John.
"Oh, when [ was a youth, | was a
little that way myself" said Peter
'But the world-the world, my dear
sir-soon cures us Of all romantic no
tions. | regret, Of course, to see poor
people miserable; but what's the use Of
regretting? 1t is no part Of the bust
ness Of the superior classes to interfere
with the laws Of supply and demand;
poor people must be miserable. What
can't be cured must be endured.
That is to say," returned John,
''what we can't cure they must en-
dmc!7
Exactly So" said Peter.
Mr.. ColIett this day was too i'll to
leave his bed. About noon he request
ed to see his nephews in his bedroom.
They found him propped up by pillows
looking very weak, but in good spirits
as usual.
"Well, boys" said he, "here I am
YOU see; brought to an anchor at last
The doctor will be here soon, suppose,
to shake his head and write his recipes.
Humbug, my boys! Patients can do
as much for themselves | believe, as
doctors Gun do for them; they're all in
the dark together-the only difference
is, that the patients grope in English,
and the doctors grope in LatinH'
"You are too skeptlcal, sir, said
John Meade.
''Poohr' said Mr.. Collett. Let us
change the subject. | want your ad
vice, Peter and John, on a matter that
concerns your interests. I'm going to
make my will to-day-and | don't
know how to act about your cousin
Emma Briggs. Emma disgraced us
by marrying an oilman."
''An oilman!" exclaimed John.
"a vulgar, shocking oiImanr' said
Mr.. Collett, "a wretch who not only
sold oil, but soap, candles, turpcntinc,
black-lead, and birch-brooms. 1t was
a dreadful blow to the family. Her
poor grandmother never got over it,
and a maiden aunt turned Methodist
in despair. Well, Briggs, the Gilman,
died last week, it seems; and his wild
ow has written to me asking for assist
ance. Now | have thought of leaving
her a hundred a year in my will
What have | to do with her misfor-
tunes!"
My mind is quite made up" said
Peter Finch, no notice ought to be
taken of her. She made an obstinate
and unworthy match, and let her abide
by the consequences"
snow for your opinion, john" said
Mr.. Collett.
upon my word | think l must say
the same," said John Meade, bracing
himself up boldly for the part of the
worldly man. ''What right had she to
marry-as YOU observed with great
justice, sir. Let her abide the conse-
quences-as You properly remarked,
Finch. Can't she carry on the OIL
mans business! | dare say 1t will sup
port her very we'll"
why. no." said Collett, briggs
died bankrupt, and his widow and
children are destitute
THAT does not alter the question, "
said Feter Finch. LET Briggs fam
lily do something for her."
TO be sure!!' said Mr.. Collett.-
Briggs family are the people to do
something for her. She mustn't ex-