The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-29

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mans business l dare say it will sup
port her very well.'
" Why, no. said Mr.. Collect, Briggs
died q bankrupt, and his widow and
children are destitute.'
That does not alter the question:
said Peter Finch. g Let Briggs family
do something for her"
$40 be sure!" said Mr. Collett,
" Briggs family are the people to do
something for her, She mustn't expect
anything from us-must she, John ?''
g Destitute, is she ?o said john
" With children, too. Why, that is an
other case, sir. You surely ought to
notice her-to assist her. Confound it,
Pm for letting her have the hundred
year,
SO, John! John! what. a break
down." said Mr.. Collett. & So you were
trying to follow Peter Finch through
Stony Arabia, and turned back at the
second step! John! John keep to
your Arabia Felix, and leave sterner
ways to very different men. Good bye,
both of YOU I've no voice to talk any
more. III think over all you have
said"
He pressed their hands, and they left
the room. The old man was too weak
to speak next day, and in three days
afterwards he calmly breathed his last.
AS soon as the funeral was over, the
will was read by the confidential man Of
business, who had always attended to
Mr.. Collects affairs. The group that sat
around him preserved ii decorious APP
pearance OF disinterestedness and the
usual preamble to the will having been
listened to with breathless attention, the
man of business read the following:
~ bequeath to my niece, Emma
Briggs, notwithstanding that she shock
ed her family by marrying an oil man,
the sum of four thousand pounds, being
fully persuaded that her lost dignity, If
she could ever find it again, would do
nothing to provide her with food, or
clothing, or shelter"
John Meade smiled and Peter Finch
ground his teeth-but in quiet, re-
spectacle manner.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
Having always held the opinion
that woman should be rendered ra-
tional and independent being-and
having duly considered the fact that
society practically denies her the right
of earning her own living-I hereby be-
queath to Mary Sutton, the sum of ten
thousand pounds, which will enable her
to marry, or to remain single, as she
may prefer
John Meade gave a prodigious start
upon hearing this, and Peter Finch
ground his teeth again-but in manner
hardly respectable. Both, however, by
a violent effort, kept silent.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
81 have paid some attention to the
character of my nephew, John Meade,
and have been much grieved to find
him much possessed with a feeling Of
philanthropy, and with an adherence
for whatever is base and false. AS these
tendencies are by no means such as ear
advance him in the world, | beqheatf
him the sum Of ten thousand pounds
hoping that he will keep out of the
workheuse, and be enabled to paint his
great historical picture, which, as yet
he has only talked about"
Gas for my nephew, Peter Finch, he
views all things in so sagacious and self.
ish way, and is so certain to get on in
life, that l should only insult him by
offering an aid which he does not re.
quire; yet from his affectionate uncle
/ anu cutITGly DIS d tcSUlIIOHy VI dOIIll'
ration for his mental acuteness, venture
to hope that he will accept bequest Of
five hundred pounds towards the com.
pletion of his extensive library of law
books"
How Peter Finch stormed, and called
names-how John Meade broke into q
delirium Of joy-how Mary Sutton cried
first and then laughed, and then cried
and laughed together. All these matter:
l shall not attempt to describe. Mary
Sutton is now Mrs. John Meade, and
her husband has actually begun tht
great historical picture. Peter Finch
has taken to discounting bills, and bring
ing in actions on them, and drivesabou1
in his brougham already.
"Sal," cried girl, looking out of the
upper story of a grocery, addessing an
other girl who was trying to enter a
the front door, "we've all been to camp
meeting and been converted; so wher
you want milk on Sunday, you'll have
to come round to the back-door."