The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-30

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their appearance; though certainly
the former limped, sqninted, and had
carroty hair. while the latter stood
five feet and an inch in his boots,
possessed the family ruddy hair, and
had also cast in his left eye. But,
as Annie would often say, "'Tis the
mind that makes the body rich, and
her brothers had minds. George was
q poet, and intended to publish q
mighty epic, when tho Thomsons
died, and money was at his disposal.
James was painter; his style was
the heavy mixed Ch;ra AID Dutch
style.
Can we be surprised that the venc-
rable Beatson sire was proud of his
progeny? Over his frugal glass in
the ''public, he often whispered to
his cronies, that ''his BARNS were by
ordnar' clever; there's that laddie
Geordie kens a about stromany, and
writes far better poetry than Tam O.
Shanter, an Jamie can MAX picturs
mt wad max ye trimmle wi DELIGHT,
and Grizel sings like IL lintie only
better, an Annie spaiks five lam
gishes."
The old man (thus familiarly do 1
speak of Beatson) was partial Ito put
it as mildly as possible) to ale and
whiskey, and his inward promptings,
'unerring instinct" very frequently
induced him to visit the ale house
A love for the fellowship of his kind,
(let us say,) kept him many hours
there, and the gravity of the subjects
discussed, slightly affected his gait as
he went homcwards. On these occa-
sions, Miss Beatson would open the
door to her parent with severely
virtuous look, which said, if looks
can speak, go, father, how can you
lower the Inherent dignity of Beat
son!' Annie, from her corner by the
fire, where she studied Romeo and
Juliet, would cry, Father, thou
grievcst us much; consider your duty
to your children, and remember
Burbank will one day be yours. At
this moment, George, who lived in
the clouds, but who knew tho charm
in Burbank, would say, "Annie,
love, 1 shall publish my Epaminon-
das then" only to be interrupted by
his father hiccuping, "Your health
an sang, laddie; gle S screed O.
yere Paumionidays."
Laird Thomson was very good
tempered gentleman, and although
rumors of the sayings and doings of
his heirs-and they did say great
deal about their intentions as to the
Burbank estate-did reach him oc-
casionally, he was very little troubled
thereby. AS he said, "They wunna
get Burbank in my day, and it does
not matter to me what comes O. t
efter 1 am saird." A contented phi
losophy, this, with which his sister
could never sympathize. She wo aid
often remark, in her fine old Doric,
"She couldna bide the thocht that
the bonnie farm whilk had ave been
tentit sac weel cud fa' to thae ne'er-
do-weel Beatsons.
Thus there was great difference
of opinion between Mistress Marjory
and her ncphews and nieces. "Pain-
ter Jamie" $50 the neighbors named
James Beatson) once put the differ
ence this way: "Of course, it is not
to be expected that aunt should love
us. We are Of different dispositions;
she is grovelling and earthly, while
our tastes are ethereal. She never
reads books, and knows nothing
about Raphael and Rembrandt. She
has spent her days knitting stockings
and milking COWS; our leisure hours
are devoted to studying the works of
the great men who have gone before
AS for my uncle! well, he is decent
farmer-low in his tastes, of course.
We shall change Burbank when it
becomes ours, remodel it entirely,
and be power in the district. My
father? All well! his fine mind has
driven him to excess, but he cannot
last forever" Rather mild way,
this, of referring to n parent.
Little things often have momen-
tous consequences. The truth of
this was to be shown in the story of
James speech. The individual to
whom it was delivered had occasion
to visit Burbank that same day.
Naturally enough he repeated the
eloquent sentences TO the good lady
Marjory. with what additions and
emendations he could think of. That
| dame immediotely went into n mas.