The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-11-05
Not so Fas t.
BY J. D. sYAE.

Uuncle Ben, to his sisters son, as he gave sew
eral rapid whiffs from his pipe, and looked
sourly over his shoulder at the young man.
who was seemingly reading very attentively
Il have often heard you say so, dear I'M
cle,'' observed the nephew, with smile; 'but
| am glad that this feeling of detestation to
wards men, failings does not extend to men
you are not misanthropic for ALL"
'Come, come, jackanapes, you want to Ca
jole the old man, do your" replied uncle Ben,
with something more than an atfectation o.
anger. ''You want to have me all smiles tC
this Jarnes Jones, when he pleases to wait OF
his humble servant, because he's friend o.
thine, forsooth p"
II am sorry that he has disappointed you
uncle, said Arthur, seriously, mot so much
for your sake as his. Your recommendation
can be of advantage to him; this disappoint-
ment cannot affect you, You have cause tc
be angry, do confess and perhaps the idea
that he is to be favored, and is i'll dependent
may have infused little more
of the acrimony of offended pride into your
temper Just now than would otherwise have
been the case; but | could bet good round
sum there is sufficient cause for his detention. "
'.None of your college education here, Sir ).
said old uncle Ben, rather testify, as he rapid
ly drew several mathematical diagrams Oh
the floor with his feet, caused his feet to per
form several military evolutions, and emitted
a platoon of tobacco putfs before he settled
down into rest again IL detest betting; II
is vulgar practice, and in discussion it is the
only argument of the greatest OF fools. You
speak plainly too, young man, continued the
burly old merchant, i'll a sense Of some feeling;
when did ever despise poverty or treat itwith
disrespect ?"
''Never my own uncle" said Arthur, APP
''yet, | am certain you judge
hastily of poor Jones'"
''PunctuaIity is part of veracity, sir; We
racity is the very soul of business; and this
James JONES' though he were as deep IL
the mathematics as Sir Isaac Newton, and as
great foreseer Of events as Moore's Almanac,
will never make clerk worthy OF bread and
butter"
"Ah, his is a sad story, Uncle
But uncle Ben laid his hand on Arthur's
mouth and interrupted him ere he had pro-
ceede1 with the sentence. 81 know what
you would say, sir, because you have already
said it-young man Of talent-high principle
widowed mother, and orphan brothers and
sisters-his father an old acquaintance of my
own-he an old schoolfellow of yours-met
him by accident-heardh his tale-recomnend-
ed him to your uncle Ben, who recommended
him to jackson Brothers for clerk, upon
whom, forsooth, he has never called All, ah,
Arthur you shan't find me SO good natured
again."
Perhaps some accident prevented him :
some fortuitous circumstance over which he
had no more control than over the elements, "
said Arthur, warmly.
circumstances, pooh what merchant ev-
er pleaded fortuitous circumstances for the
Of engagements, or admitted
them, either, on cash days. | have received
a lesson never to try to push along a load
stone"
''And is it thus our charities are chilled ?''
said Arthur feelingly; perhaps causes which
demand a surcharge OF our benevolence are
those which, for want of knowledge eXtinguish
it. We should be cautious, even in the most
gIaring apparent circumstances when they
are 0Rty circumstances, and not established
facts
81 never disappointed any man in my life,
said old Ben, with look of pride, and |
nave right to demand that the world shall
10 by me as Ihave done by it. 1t is but fair,
nobody will deny it; the ore yo~ shall be
fully squared per contra. 1t is safe maxim
in trade, and it is as safely applicable to the
common transactions OF life"
81 deny that you have the right to demand
your pound of flesh from the world, Uncle
said Arthur Emildly, "for the ducats it owes
you. Because you have been punctuaL pre-
else and prosperous, that is not sufficient rea-
son why all men should be so. They're not
so, dear uncle, and have never been SO, there
fore you have only reason to be thankful, and
exercise more common charity to your less for
tunate fellow men. But poor Jones'" he
continued, recurring to the cause of this dis
cussion, Il wish | knew what has prevented
him from waiting on the Jacllsons."
The room in which the uncle and nephew
sat was comfortable and even elegantly fur
nished The wall was papered with warm
and elegant Partisan design of flowers done in
the brightest Of colors, tipped with gold leaf
and enlivened with twigs bearing birds OF
paradise. A rich red moreen hanging laid
over two large brass knobbed sup
porters, fell with a fine sweep on the tioor.-
The carpets and sofas wer beautiful; the fire
bright and inspiring and the wind was rust
ling with a wild, savage sound without, which
gave additional cheerfuIness to the cracking
Of the coals and the light Of the gas within.
Benjamin Bell had been merchant, and
highly respected and reputable one; he had
made fortune, and retired from business,
when, as he said himself his constitution was
as sound as that of the father OF all the Bells,
Great Tom of Lincoln. He still retained the
habits which he had acquired
from an early and very careful discharge OF
all the maxims laid down in Poor Richards
code of moral and social economy" got up
at seven. breakfasted at nine, read the Lloyds
and exchange columns in newspapers until
eleven. maintained all his old friendships and
returned to dinner at four, supped at eight,
and went to bed at the last stroke OF eleven,
His nephew Arthur, was a physician, pro
fession which is more fruitful Of heroes than
any other in the world. They face the most
infectious of death breathing diseases, and IN
wade with modest valor the vilest haunts OF
poyertv, that even cholera lords it over. They
tall. and no monumental marble tells how OIL
where vet they are followed to the bench by
noble. devoted men, whose years have beer
spent in SGuuy uIu IlO ebO4 i~iAO Va 49,
edge: and SO they go in their silent yet glo
rio1s crusade, against the ills to which mar
is heir, without dreaming of the need o
fame. In one of his visits to the house OF
poor widow. he had discovered in the only
support of this decayed gentlewoman and he
family an old aud esteemed school compan
ion of his own. James Jones was a promls
ing scholar, and youth OF generous feelings
but necessity is too captious regarding tn
primal prerequisites Of bread and butter t.
paw much attention to mental capacity anC
the aspirations of genius, SO than when b
Quilted the university at the death OF al
father, he wore his last surtout out as hgh
porter in large paper warehouse: 1t was t
this Young man, that, at his nephew's solic
itation, uncle Ben had given letter OF rec
concentration, and this letter not havln|
been presented when the punctilious cid CIT
izen had called to personally support its pray
er, had procured the foregoing disqulsltlon o
punctuality.
Letter, sir. said Mary. as she presented
sealed mssive to Arthur, with curtesy, an
then left the room.