Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-09-12
MISC ELAN Y.
From TIE Household Words,
Two Nephews.


| At the parlor window Of pretty villa neal
| Walton-r Thames, sat one evening at dusk, an ole
man and Young woman. The age of the mar
might be some seventy, whilst his companion haC
certainly not reached nineteen. Her beautiful
booming face, and active, light and upright figure
were in strong contrast with the worn counienanct
and bent frame Of the old man but in his eyes anc
in the corners OF his mouth were indications of q
gay selEcon1dence which age and suffering had
| damped, but not extinguished.
| ''No use looking any more, Mary" said he;
"neither John Meade nor Peter Finch will be
here before dark Very hard that, when sick
uncle asks mis- two nephews to come and see him,
they can't come at once. The duty is simple in
the ex,reme-only to help me to die. and take
what [ choose to leave him 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."
s'Oh, sr!" said Mary.
.sAnd what does 'Oh, sir!' mean 2" said he.-
"D'ye think I shant die2 know better A little
more. and there'l! be an end to old Billy Collett
He'll have left this dirty world for a cleaner-ic
the great sorrow (and advantage) of his affection
ate relatives Ugh! Give me glass of the doc
tors stuff"
The GIRL poured some medicine into glass
and Colett. after having contemplated il for a
moment with infinite disgust, managed to get II
down.
81 tell you what, Miss Mary Sutton" said he
al don't by any means approve of your oh, sir !!
and Dear SIR and the rest fit, when pve told
YOU how hate 10 be called sir at all. Why
you couldn't be more respectful, if you were q
charity girl and beadle in gold-laced hat!--
None of your nonsense, Mary Sutton, If you please
I've been your lawful guardian now for six months
and you ought to known my likings and dslik,
ings."
sMy poor father often told me how you dIsliked
ceremony" said Mary.
..Your father and you are quite right" said
Mr.. Colett. Fred Sutton was man oftalent--
capital fellow His only fault was natural in
ability to keep arlhing in his pocket. Poor red
he loved me--I'm sure he did. He bequeathe d
me his only chld--and 1t isn't every TREND would
DO thatr'
.A kind and generous protector you have been !"
DWELL. don't know pve tried not to be a
brute. but dare say have been. Don't speak
roughly to YOU sometimes? Hav'n't given you
rood. prudent, worldly advice about John Meade,
and made myself quite disagreeable, and like a
guardian? Come, confess you love this penniless
nephew of mine."
:sPenniless indeedi' said Mary.
.sAh, there it is!'' said Mr. Collett. "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 poor devil of an
artist? But that's Fred Sutton's daughter all
over! Hay'n't two nephews2 Why couldn't
YOU fall in love with the discreet one-the thriv-
ing one Peter Finch considering he's an attor
ney-is worthy young man. He is industrious
in the extreme, and attends to other peoples busi
ness only when he's paid for it. He despises
sentiment, and always looks to the main chance.
But John Meade, my dear Mary, may spoil can
vas forever, and not grow rich. He's all for art,
and truth, aud social reform, and spiritual eleva-
tion, and the Lord knows what. Peter Finch
will ride in his carriage, and splash poor John
Meade as ne trudges on foot !"
The harangue was here interrupted by 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 Meade was
announced.
Mr.. Collelt eyed his two nephews with queer
sort Of smile, whilst they made speeches express
sive of sorrow at the nature of their visit At last,
stopping them.
'Enough, boys, enough!" said he. "Let US
find some better subject to discuss than the state
of an old mans health. | want to know little
more about you both | haven't seen much of you
Up to the present time, and, for anything know,
you may be rogues or FOOLS"
John Meade seemed rather to vince under this
address but Peter Finch sat calm and confident,
'To put case, now" said Mr. Collett; "this
morning poor wretch of gardener came begging
here. He could get no work, it seems, and said
he was starving. Well, knew something about
the fellow, and believe he only told the truth:
80 gave him shilling. to get rid of him. Now,
Pm afraid did wrong. What reason had for
giving him shilling2 What claim had he on
ne?
"What claim has he on anybody The value
lf his labor in the market is all that a working
nan has right TO; and, when his labor is of no
value, why, then, he must go to the Devil, or
wherever else he can. Eh, Peter2 That's my
philosophy what do you think ?"