The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-02-09

Peter and John on n matter that concerns
your interests. I'm going to mako my
will to day, and | don't know how to
act about your cousin, Emma Briggs.
Emma disgraccd us by marrying an oil
man.,
AN oil mani said John.
"A vulgar, shocking man. said Mr..
Collett; 81 wretch who not only sold oil,
but soap, candles, turpcntinc, black lead
and brooms. 1t was dreadful blow TO
the family. Her poor grandfather never
got over it. We'll, Briggs, the old man,
died last week, and his widow has writ
ten to me asking for assistance. Now l
have thought of leaving her hundred a
year in my will What do you think of
/ it I'm afraid she don't deserve it,
What right had she TO marry against the
advice of her friends What have to do
with her misfortunes ?
My mini is quite made up, said Pe~
ter Finch. NO notice ought to be taken
of her, She made an obstinate apd unS
worthy matcli-now let her bilc tho cons
sequences,
Now for your opinion John said Mr..
Collctt.
Upon my word, think | must say the
same, said John Meade, bracing himself
up boldly for the part of a, worldly man.
'What right had she 10 marry as you
observe with great justice, sir. Let her
abide the conscgucnces-as you very
properly remarked said Meade
Can't she carry on the oil mans busi-
ness dare say it will support her very
WE'LL,
why no. said Mr.. Collctt, Briggs
died y bankrupt, and his widow and
children are destitute.
'That does not alter the question: said
Peter Finch. let Briggs family do
something for her.
TO be sure, said Collclt. Briggs
family are the people to do something for
her, She mu5n'. expect anything from
us--must she, John ?
Destitute is she ? said John. With
children. too. Why that is another
case, sir You surely ought to notice
II,
| am for letting her have the hundred Il
year.
%, John, John! what break down
sald Mr. Cole I. so you were trying
to follow Iclor Finch through Stony
Arabia, and turned back at the second
step. John ! keep your Arabia Felix,
and leave stcrncr ways to very different
men. Good-by, both of yon. | have no
voice to talk any more III think over
all you have said
lie pressed their hands, and they left
the room. The old man was too weak to
speak next day, and in three days after
wards he calmly b-caihed his last.
As soon rs 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 pres crvcl dccorous ap-
pcarancc oi dl>intcrcatolness and the
usual preamble To the will having been
listened to with brcath'c,, attention lh
man of business read the following
4 h'qucath to M niece, Emmn
Briggs, notwithstanding that she shocked
her family hy 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 shelter, or
clothing
John Meade smiled, AMI Peter Finch
ground his teeth but in n quiet respccta
bic manner.
The man of business went on with his
reading:
Having always held the opinion that
woman should be rendered Il rational and
Independent being, and having duly cons
sidered the fact that society practically lie
nics her the right of earning her own liv-
ing, hereby bequcalh TO Mary Sutton the
sum of ten thousand pou 'ds, which will
en9hlc her TO marry, or remain single rs
she may prefer
John Meade gave Il prodigious start upon
bearing this, Peter Finch ground his teeth
again-but in a Numerically respectable.
Both, however, by violent effort, kept
silent.
Tho man Of business went on with his
! reading
q have paid some attention to the char
acter of my nephew, John Meade, and
have been grievcd to find him much pos
sessed with feeling of philanthropy, and
with an adherence for what is base and
false. AS these tendencies are by no
means such as can advance him in tho
world, | bcqucath him tho sum of ten
thousand pounds-hoping that he will
keep ont of the work-houses, and be
enabled to paint his great historical pic
ture, which, as yet, he has only talked
about
'As for my other nephew, Peter Finch,
he views all things in SO saGacious and sell
fish way, and is so certain TO get on il
life, that | should only insult him by Of
lcring aid which he does not require
yet from his ailect;onatc uncle and entire
ly as n testimony of admiration for hi
mental acutcncss, venture to hope that
he will accept a bcqucst of five hundrc,
pounds towards the completion of his OK
tcnsivo library of lawsbooks.'