Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-06-24
the Novelist.

Soon after his marriage, Fielding set
tied in Dorsetshire, and commenced a
new course of life. The experiment
was attended with some difficulties, and
unluckily he stumbled at the very onset.
Though neither qualified by nature or
education for a hermit, a life of compare
tive privacy and seclusion was that best
adapted to his limited means and intel
~lectual tastes. Instead of this, he pre-
posterously resolved to become a squire
Laathn-frst magnitude. His ambition
was to be tatkcd about. -Heaeternia-
ed to show the rude squirearchy of Dor
set how superior to their order was the
London-brcd gentleman. Family pride
also whispered to him the expediency
ofkeeping up an appearance correspond
ing to the dignity of the distinguished
race from which he sprang. According
ly, Squire Fielding soon began to create
sion was the scene of profuse hospitali-
.ty and riotous enjoyment. His horses
and hounds weae numbered amongst
the glories of the nc~ighborhood. His
cquirage outyied in splendor and Gle
gance the carriages of his richer neigh
bors, and the yellow l~iverics of his serv-
ing men were long held in remembrance.
The selection of such a color was char
acteristic of Ficlding's thoushtless OK
travagance. Yellow plush, however
splendid, proved by no means an econ
omical article Of attire for the %careles
lackey. Directly the glories of a suit
were dimmed or soiled, it was thrown
aside; for the rustic funkeys considered
it their duty to keep up the squire's
character by the lustre of their person
al appearance. Such was feelings
household! Itmay be asked how it was
that Mrs. Fielding-the Salisbury beau
ty-did not, with a woman's quick sense
of propricty, interfere to check this rid
~iculous extravaganza. Alasl it is to be
feared that, from vanity or weakness,
she allotted him in his %tollies, or, at the
most, confined herself to a timid remon-
STRANGE. without %venturing on Il firm eX-
postulation. Poor girl! her fortune was
soon dissipated to the winds; run away
with by horses and HOUNDS; lavished on
yellow plush inexprcssibies for idle
hunkeys; banqueted on by foolish
squires or consumed by other senseless
ex~travnganccs. Not being a strong
minded woman-that is pretty clear
but rather, it would seem. a fond and
foolish one, she was dazzled by this
brief dream of pride and pleasure; and
though the future might have worn to
her eye a lowering aspect, she was too
much gratifed by her husbands popu-
larity, and too proud of his wit and
agreeable qualities, to check him in his
mad career. The day of reckoning
came. In a very short time Fielding
found that all was spent and gone-all
was swallowed up in the abyss of ruin
it seemed like a dream-a wild, incohe-
rent vision. The roar of mirth, the
deafening cheer, the splendid liveries,
prancing horses, staring ~rusties, full
mouthed dogs, faded before him like
some 'insubstantial pageant" He had
been generous, hosp table, protuse; and
what was his reward? Those who had
sat at meat with him, now ridiculed his
extravaganza. Even the gaping Doors
of the neighborhood cracked their
heavy jokes at his expense. The pru-
dent gentlemen and ladies who had not
scrupled to sit at his jovial board, and
partake of his cheer, now shook their
heads, and gravely condemned his pro-
digality. Those of his more ambitious
neighbors, whom he had outshone in
splendor, rejoiced in his downfall, with
out attempting to conceal their satisfac-
ton. In the midst Of all these unto
ward circumstances, he had to escape
from his creditors as best he might, and
to seek for happiness and a livelihood
in some other sphere.