The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
stephen Durham, or the Hard Landlord.


"No; what is it now %
Squire Durham is gone--was found in his
bed this mornng-was carried ohby stroke
OF apopexy."
"iIe was prominent citizen. He'll be
widely missed"
"I'm not certain about the last remark. In
my opinion therell be very few mourners at
Squire Dunlam's funeral. He was a hard
old customer from first TO last; and all he
thought OF, or cared for, was making money.
He was shrewd enough at bargain and al
ways got the best Of it; but | think you would
have TO 90 long way TO hnd man, woman,
or child, that's any worse off because Squire
Dunham's finished his days.
ats great pity he couldn't take any Of
his bank stock with him. | tell you my friend
one finds, after all, its a loosing operation to
have all ones property ia what goes for moth
ing on the other side. They want differ
ent kind of coin there"
That's fact. | reckon Squire Durham
has learned some new truths by this time.
The above conversation took place in city
car just as the night was falling, so that the
passengers could hardly discern one another
ia the dim twilight. The speakers were two
plain talking men, in the prime of their years
and the conversation was suddenly cut short,
for the car stopped at the street crossing, and
the friends hurried out together.
.Iu the seat behind them sat an old man OF
somewhat poftly figure and dignifled presence
He had, a cold hard sort OF face face which
no tender sympathies, no high and noble pur-
poses, no earnest, unseltsh strivings for right
and truth had softened or spiritualized and
looking into the keen, grey eyes, under the
shaggy eyebrows, a heart that had gone TO
them for pity, or mescy, would have turned
away. Beneath lay no warm, gushing spring
Of human love, only the cold hard rock, where
no flowers blossomed, and from whose bosom
gushed no stream gladening the waste desert
Of man.
But it was evident that the old man had
been an interested listener to the conversation
which had transpired in the seat before him.
At the first mention of Squire Dunhams name
he had drank in breathlessly every word which
followed; while quick flashes and STRANGE agi-
faiion went over the hard, thin face. BE lean
ed back, 50 that the men could not catch
glimpse of his features as they left the car, md
his reflections went on somewhat after this
fashion.
swell, its pleasant, that's fact, for a man
TO sit and have his life held up after he has
lain In his coffin. never have met her of
these men but it appears that one OF them az
least, is pretty well posted up about me and
the estimation in which ! am held in public
opinion, though he has mistaken my naua for
Silas Durham the old lawyer, who died last
night Complimentary wasn't it, SteDhen
Durham 'spose there was little spite and
envy at the bottom Of it all, just as poor folks
have toward those who have got more mon
ey than they, but thea"
At that moment -ear stopped in front of
the stately dwelling in which the old banker
resided. And that "but then" followed him
into the house, and sat down with him at his
solitary supper table, and after it was through,
these words were the text which the reused
conscience Of the rich man took up and
preached TO him after this WISE
But then, Stephen Durham, it whispered,
as the rich old miser walked up and down the
gorgeous parlors OF his lonely home, you know
what that man said about you was true
There is no use getting aside of it, for it hit
the nail straight on the head. You know, too
that your object and aim in life has been to
make money, and that there isn't human be-
ing above ground that would have reason 10
shed tear ifyou were laid tonight beneath
1t. You've got money as that man said You
generally get the best of q bargain, but after
all your half million that you delyed your
whole life to get together, wont pass for any
thing in that world which you are getting
pretty near now and as there's nobody TO
mourn you here, it isn't likely that you'll have
any welcome there.
And here Squire Durham sat down in his
velvet armchair, by his marble table, and his
thoughts went back through the long wind
pawn VI Aiie AtstiS VI HIS youth. Ills DftN-
hood. his glad, careless boyhood. came back
TO him. The gentle loving mother, and young
sweet face OF his sister, rose up before him,
aud he saw the little brown cottage where his.
life came up TO him. The old apple tree in
front was frosted with the blossoms of Nav:
and he stood there with Hetty, his little sister
and her laugh. sweet as the gurgling of a
mountain brook, was in his ears, her little
round, plump arms were about his neck
HskX laa tntTa inn. hat 49,
tie, over whose sweet face had grown the
grass OF many simmers-how proud She was
OF him, and he could see the little golden
head dancing out of the house every night TO
meet him when he came from his work
Stephen Dunham's mother was poor wild
ow, and he had his own way to work in the
world. lie had risen step by step in his ma
tive town, and he saw at last that greed of
money had taken possession of him until every
wish andpurpose of his life had been swallow
ed up in the pursuit OF riches
he was still young man when he came TO
The city, but he brought with him the title of
esquire" which he had borne for three years
lie took TO himself wife. the daughter Of
rich man, and she brought him hundred
thousand dollars for her dowry; but in q few
years death had summoned her away, and she
left him no children whose soft, sweet voices
calling him Father" should melt the cold
tANeaN kiis'N hANN bub bit love anu lllal Was
money.
All this Squire Durham thought of as he
sat alone by his table, with the bright light of
The chandeliers gliding the gray head that
rested on his hands and he thought, rich man
as he was, that his money didn't pay-that,
alter all, the great object Of his life had been,
as the man said, a losing operation, and he
lonsed to feel that in the wide world there
was one human being who would be sorry to
hear he was dead-one human being. man, wo-
man or child, who would say, & am happier
this night because you are on earth
And in the midst of want and warning.
sudden declaration flashed across the mind of
Squire Dnnham. "Il do it'll do il this very
night and he went into the halt aud took up
bis cane, and passed out into the street, con
trary TO his usual habit-for the night was
dark and cold
Did you see Mr.. Minor, Henry It was
faint, mournlul voice, which asked this ques-
lion, and the speaker was a sad pale-faced wo-
man, whose sunken. eyes and hollow cheeks
toid you al once she was an invalid. The
chamber where she sat was poorly furnished,
but everything was neat A small fire was
burning in the CRATE, and Il solitary candle on
the table. 'No, mother Mr. Minor won't be
at home for a week, answered the boy. slowly
and sadly, as though he hated TO communicate
the news He was slender dalioatn loa1.;..--