The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-03-31

W 14OA tcOAL LS4 III EA
ened circumstances but Reuben, though not
brought up greatly to respect a professional
clergy, considered all widows and orphans as
belonging to the one church universal of christian
brotherhood. So he bought the widows farm
for "a handsome price, but insisted ON her still
occupying it at a moderate rent, which was never
asked for and never paid.
Thus Reuben Mitchell became the proprietor OF
q great many farms, a circumstance which,
as most of them must have been Improbable,
began to excite a good deal of attention among
friends and neigbors, and finally led to no little
wonderment and remark. "Dost thee know
why friend Reuben purchased Jonah Littlefeld's
farm?' ssWhat can be friend Reuben's reason
for investing 50 much property In real estate,
which brings him no return 2" These were
questions which were a good deal mooted they
were often raised by Friends on change: they
were started in private circles, at the Yearly
Meeting. But Reuben was habitually silent as
to his>own affairs. He never invited conversa-
ton on these topics, and as he avoided the sub
ject himself, no one undertook 70 interrogate
him. In fact it is one of the traditions OF Friends
to devote yourself principally to your own bust
ness. Some pretty fortunes have been made IN
New Bedford and Nantucket in this way. The
credit of Friends who mind their own business IS
generally A No. / whereas Benaiah Buslbody,
who was always attending to the business of
others, never could get his long paper done at the
Rock-bottom bank, without heavy collateral.
w nGn. Ill HI dlllC DClLili B0a w d6o GIL Avn
sion, it was found, on examination of his affairs,
that his liabilities amounted to fifty thousand
dollars, and that his assets consisted oil the furnl-
ture of his counting-room, which however was
not paid for. Benaiah laid the principal blame
to the Rock-bottOm bank, which he declared was
in the hands of a parcel of old fogies, who con-
fined themselves to using their capital, for the
purpose of discounting good business paper,
whereas the real province of a bank, in Benaiah's
opinion, was, to employ the deposits and circula-
ton (no capital being necessary in loans to the
directors, to enable them TO speculate in Rail
Road bonds, fancy stocks, $50 called because no
man Of sense fancies thep,) and moonshine
generally. 1t may be proper TO stats-here, that
the Editor and Proprietor of the New York
Ledger keeps his account ut the Rock-bottom
bank.
But human nature is human nature; though
clothed in drab broadcloth or yelled in starched
muslin. Notwithstanding the general habit to
which | have alluded, which prevents Friends
from prying too closely into their neighbors' con-
Germs, some leading questions about the number
of his farms were occasionally put to Reuben by
hIs brethren and more than once an adventu-
rous sister, Disgusting a burning curiosity under
an air of quiet sympathizing pleasantly, would
hint rs Hannah with a smile, that she did not be-
lieve even she could tell the number of Reuben's
farms. Hannah, if she knew, never did tell.
Meantime the number went on steadily in
creasing. Reuben kept up his business estab-
lISllnlenC, WnICn became more ana HhpTc lucrd-
tive but he firmly resisted all inducements to
extend it on borrowed capital, and as resolutely
set his face against speculations of every other
kind. lie would have nothing to do with the
Bubbleyille factory or the grand trunk Railroad,
which was intended to run round the skirts of
Blue Hill, and connect the Old Colony, Provi-
dcnce, and Worcester lines. In II word he did
nothing but buy more farms.
This course of conduct at last became the sub
iect of serious concernment, and Friends began to
speak rather plainly about it. Most doubted the
wisdom Of these acquisitions some thought 1T
downright folly to purchase Improbable farms.
Some of the worlds people suspected sinister de-
signs. Why should a man like Reuben Mitchell
wish to monopolize all the land in the country?
1t was certainly an unusual thing for Il Quaker.
1t was foreign to the genius of our political insti-
tutions, and contrary to the first principles OF
republican government. 1t was a first and a
dangerous step towards a landed aristocracy.
The Columbian Seni-,ceekly Mosquito q Hemis-
phere came out with a singing Leader, in which,
under IA feigned name, Reuben was evidently
aimed at.
At length. as Reuben all the while went on
busing more farms, this subject began to be
pretty loudly talked about at Quarterly meeting
and Yearly meeting; and a proposition was seri-
ously made in IA private circle ut which the pub
lie business was arranged, 'to deal with Reuben
on the subject" This was overruled by the
older brethren, who admitted, however. that
they felt some concern on the subject. One Of
them at length, who had for years been a bust
ness friend and "a near ~neighbor of Reuben. sug-
gested as Il wise course, that some ludiciOus friend
should 90 to Reuben, and in a discreet and pru-
dent manner, converse with him, and in fact in
terrogate him on the subject. This counsel found
great favor with the brethren, and the Friend
who proposed it,-Nahum by name,-was unan-
imously requested to assume the Office.
Friend Nahum accordingly contrived as soon
as possible, to fall in with Reuben. lie felt,
however. even in exchanging salutation, that he
had undertaken a somewhat difficult task. He
dwelt rather longer on the topic of the weather,
than is customary among Friends, and prolonged
his remarks on the prospects OF the whaling sea-
son and the price of oil To Il tedious extent At
length, clearing his throat, he approached the
difficult topic: Friends were conversing,-
Friends had often wondered, several Friends
from a distance had enquired of him, how it
was that friend Reuben spent so much money in
buying farms; and the question was often raised
how many farms friend Reuben really owned =
and Thee is aware. friend Reuben continued
Nahum, in the softest tone, that ! have no
knowledge on the subject, and [ have thought L
would just enquire of thee, what l shall say to
Friends, who ask me how many farms friend
Reuben Mitchell really OWNS"
Reuben listened to these remarks with calm
ness. Though it was the first time he had been
directly questioned on the subject, he was aware
that the number of his farms had been n matter
of some curiosity, and had even been mooted at
the formal gatherings of Friends. Considering
it a business of his own, which concerned nobody
else, he did not feel much disposed to crafty this
curiosity. 1t was one of his maxims, that Che
hest way to have your secret kept is not to tell it.
Accordingly when Friend Nahum ceased, Reuben
remained silent for a short time, rejecting on the
proper reply. He was not at all embarrassed,
but hesitated a little what to say. As men a lit
tie at a loss are apt to do. he looked up to the
ceiling for a moment; looked out of the window
for a moment twirled bis fingers moved his lips
silently without any definite object and counted
the fingers of his left hand with the forefnger of
his right. These movements were almost uncon-
sciously made but Friend Nahrfm's imagination
was excited and he attached a great significance
to Reuben 8 manner and motions. He thought
that, by way of preparing an accurate answer,
Rcuhan countin1 I'M tho nuInhor &C his faExas