Butte record., 1855-12-15


confess You love this penniless nephew
of mine"
"Penniless indeed!' said Mary.
''Ah there it Isl" 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 a poor devil Of
an artist! But that's Fred Sutton's
daughter all over! Haven't | two
nephews! Why couldn't you fall in
love with the discreet one-the thriv-
ing one! Peter Finch-considering
he's an attorneys a worthy yonng
man. He is industrious in the ex-
treme, and attends to other peoples
business only when he's paid for it
He desplses sentiment, and always
looks to the main chance. Bnt John
Meade, my dear Mary, may spoil can
vas 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 III his carriage, and splash poor
John Meade as he trudges on foot'
The harangue was interrupted 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 Meade was
announced.
NJ. Collett eyed his two nephews
with a queer sort of smile, whilst they
made speeches expressive 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 Il 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
undr this address; but Peter Finch
sat calm and confident.
'To put a case now" said Mr.. Col
lett; 'this morning poor wretch Of a
gardener, came begging 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 a
shilling to get rid Of him. Now I'm
afraid | did wrong. What reason had
| for giving 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 a right to; and when his labor is Of
no value, why, then he must 90 to the
devil, or wherever else he can. Eli,
Peter! That's my philosophy; what
do you thinkr'
81 quite agree with you, sir,' said
Mr.. Finch; perfectly agree with
you. The value of their labor in the
market is all that laborers can pretend
to-all that they should have. Moth
ing acts more perniciously than the
absurd eXtraneous support called char
ity."
Hear, hear!'' said Mr.. Collett.-
you're a clever fellow, Peter. Go
on, my dear boy, 90 onl'
"What results from charitable aid!"
continued Peter. "The value Of labor
is kept at an unnatural level. State
charity is state robbery: private chari-
ty is public wrong"
That's it, Peterl'' said Mr.. Collett.
"What do you think of our philosophy,
JohnP'
II don't like it, l don't believe it,"
said John. ''You were quite right to
give the man shilling. I'd have
given him a shilling myself"
"Oh, YOU would-would you!" said
Mr.. Collett. You are very generous
with your shillings. Would you fly in
the face of all orthodox political econ
omy, YOU Nandal!'
YES" said John, "as the Vandals
flew in the face of Rome and destroyed
what had become a falsehood and a
nuisance"
Poor John, said Mr.. Collett. "We
shall never make anything of him, Pc
ter. Really we'd better talk of some
thing else. John, tell Us about the last
new novel"
They conversed on various topics,
until the arrival of the invaid'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 more Of
your own interest-of our interest
What occasion for you to be so violent,
last night, and contradict Mr.. Collett
50 shockingly! | saw Peter Finch
laughing to himself. John, YOU must
be more careful, or we shall never be
married."
''Wcll, Mary, dear, III do my best,
SAID John. 1T was that confounded