The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-10


Mr.. Collett eyed his two nephews
with queer sort of smile, while they
made speeches expressive of sorrow
at the nature of their visit. At last,
stopping them =
Enough. boys, cnoigh!" said lie.
''Let me find some better subject to
DISCUSS than7tllestate of an old mans
health. II haven't seen much of YOU
upsto the prcsent time, and, for any
t. thing ;; | know, kn You Imay be rogues or
John Meade seemed rather to vince
under this address; but Peter Finch
sat calm and confident.
ITO PVT the case," saidhh Collctt.l
This mornip% IL POOR wretcl, of rs
gardener cnrhc begging here. He
could get no work, It seems, and said
he was starving. Well, I,lsnow some-
thing about the fellow. and I believe
he only told the truth; so gave him
q shilingIto 2get rid t1of him. Nov,
I'm afraid I did wrong. What reason
had 1 for giving him shilling?
What claim had she; on me? The
value of his Labor. IN tile market lis
oil working man,is=entitled to; and
when his labor is of no value, why,
then, he must go to the devil, or
wherever else he Scans Yah, Peter!
That That's 81, my philosophy hy.1 What do yop
II quite agree with you. The value
Of their labor in the market is all that
laborers Gan, pretend-an, that they
should have. Nothing acts more per-
niciously than the absurd support
called charity
"Hcar, heari' said Collett. ..You re
a clever fellow, Peter. Go on, my
dear boy, go on"
"What results from charitable
aid?" continued Peter. 1.-THE value
of labor is kept ut an unnatural level
State charity is State robbery; private
charity is public wrong"
That's it, Peter" said Mr. Collett
81 don't believe it." said john
''You we're quite right to give the
man shilling; I'd have given him q
shilling myself"
ooh, you would, would you?" said
MIR: Couett. "You're very generous
with your shillings. Would YOU fiy
in the face of oil tho orthodox politi
cal economy. you Vandal?"
eyes," said John, "as tho Vandals
flew in the face of Rome, and de-
stroyed what had become falsehood
and nuisance"
Poor John!' said Mr.. Collett.
eve shall never make ANYTHING of
him, Peter. Really, we'd better talk
about something else. John, tell us
all about the last new novel"
They conversed on various topics.
until the arrival of the invalid's early
bedtime parted the uncle and ne.
phews for the night.
Mary Sutton seized an opportunity,
the next morning, after breakfast.
to speak with John Meade alone.
"John," said she. ''do you think
no more of your own interest-of our
interest. What occasion for you to
be so violent last night, and contra.
dict Mr.. Collett so shockingly? I saw
Peter Finch laughing to himself.
John, you must be more careful, or
we shall never be married"
"Well, Mary, I'll do my best
sald John. ''It was that confounded
Peter, with his chain of iron maxims.
that made me fly out; I'm not on ice
berg, Mary.
"Thank Heaven, you're not!" said
Mary; "but an iceberg fioats-think
OF that, John. Remember, every
time you offend Mr.. Collett, YOU
please Mr.. Finch"
$50 1 do, said John. YES. I'll
remember that"
elf you would only try to be a lit
tie mean and hard-heartcd," said
Mary; lust q little, to begin with.
You would only stoop to conquer"
MAY gain my deserts, thcn?"
said John: '.Are you not to be my
loving wife, Mary? Are you not to
sit at needle-work in my studio, whilst
l paint my great historical picture?
How can this come to pass, if Mr..
Collett will do nothing for us?"
"Ah! how. indeedl'' said Mary.
"But here's our friend, Peter Finch.
coming In the gate from his work. /
leave you together" And so saving.
she withdrew.
what! Meade!' said Peter. as he
entered. "Skulking indoors of a
tino morning like this; I've been
through all the village. Not an ugly
place, but wants looking after sadly.
Roads shamofully mudd y; pigs allowed
to walk on the foot-pathr'
Dreadful" exclaimed John.
II say; YOU came ont Drattv etrono,