Smyrna times., 1869-01-27
.MiSceIIU ID e o IL S.
PRIDE AND RICHES.
HOW AN OLD MAN AsroN1sHED HIS HEIRS.

OF the man might be some seventy, while his
companion had certainly not reached nineteen.
Her beautiful, blooming face, and active light
and upright figure were in contrast with the
worn countenance and bent frame of the old
man; but in his eyes, and in the corners of his
mouth, were indications of self confidence,
which age and suffering had damped, but not
extinguished.
No use looking any more, Mary, said he;
neither John Meade nor Peter Finch will be
here before dark. Very hard that, when a
sick uncle asks his two nephews to come and
see him, they don't come at once. The duty
is simple in the extreme-only to hell me to
die, and take what | choose to leave them in
my will Pooh! when | was a young man I'd
have done it for my uncle with the utmost ce-
erity. But the worlds getting quite heart
less.
oh, sir, said Mary.
And what does Oh, sir, mean p said he
Do you think l shant die? | know better
A little more and there'll be an end of Billy
Collett. He'll have left this dirty world for
cleaner, to the great sorrow land advantage) of
his afectlOnate relatives. Ugh Give me a
glass of the doctors's stuff
The girl poured some medicine in glass,
and Collett, after having contemplated it for
moment with infinite disgust, managed to get
it down.
Il tell you what, Miss Mary Sutton said
~
sir, and Dear sir, and the rest of it, when
I've told you hate to be called sir at ALL
Why, you couldn't be more respectful if you
were charity girl, and | beadle in gold-laced
hat None of your nonsense, Mary Sutton. if
you please. I've been your lawful guardian
now for six months, and you ought to know
my likings and diskings.'
My poor father often told me how you dis
liked ceremony, said she
| YOur moor father told Won unite ri Ohf cold
MIR. COllett. Fred. Sutton was man of tai
ent-a capital fellow. His only fault was
natural inability to keep farthing in his
pocket. Poor Fred he loved me-I'm sure
he did He bequeathed me his only child,
and it isn't every friend would do that.
"A kind and generous protector you have
BEEN
Well, don't know; I've tried not to be
brute, but l dare say have been. Don't l
speak roughly to you sometimes? Haven't l
given you good, prudent, worldly advice
about John Meade, and made myself quite
E disagreeable, and like a guardian? Come, con-
/ fess you love this penniless nephew of mine
'Penailess, indeed said Mary.
'Ah, there it is, said Mr.. Collett. And
what business has poor devil of an artist to
. fall in love with my ward? But that's Fred.
a Sutton's daughter all over? Havn't 1 two
nephews? Why couldn't you fall in love with
the discreet one-the thriving one-Peter
( Finch-considering he is an attorney-is a
young man. He is industrious in the extreme,
and attends to other peoples business only
when he is paid for it. He despises sentiment,
/, and only looks to the main chance. But John
: Meade, my dear Mary, may spoil canvas for
ever, and not grow rich. He's all for art, and
a truth, and social reform and spiritual eleva-
= tiOn, and goodness knows what. Peter Finch
r will ride in the carriage, and splash poor John
I Meade as he trudges on foot
q The hsrrangue was here interrupted by a
II ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter Finch was an
If nounced. He had scarcely taken his seat wher
;, another ring was heard and Mr.. John Meade
3 was announced.
Mr.. Collett eyed his nephews with queer
. sort of smile, while they made speeches ex
n pressive of sorrow at the nature of their visit
r At last stopping them
e Enough, boys, enoughY said he. Lei
y me find some better subject to discuss than the
state of an old mans health. haven't seer
10 much of you up to the present time, and fol
anything know, you may be rogues or fools
e. John Meade seemed rather to vince unde
S. this address; but Peter remained calm ant
confident.
70 ,e To put the case, said Mr.. Colett. 'Thi
d, morning poor wretch of gardener came beg
st ging here. He could get no work, it seems
and said he was starving. Well, know some
thing about the fellow, and believe he on
told the truth; so gave him shilling, to ge
rid of him. Now I'm afraid l did wrong
What reason had l for giving him a shilling
Cd What claim had he on me? The value of hi
ms ms labor in the market is all workingman ha
Nv right to, and when his labor is of no value
. why, then, he must go to the devil, or where
ever else he can. All, Peter, that's my phi
osophy-what do you think2''
LIE II quite agree with you. The value of the
,p. labor in the market is all that laborers can poi
sess-all that they should have. Nothing act
more perniciOusy " than the absurd support CO
led charity"
3. Hear, hearr said Colett, You're clevt
DIS fellow, Peter. Go on my dear boy, go on
ng What results from charitable aid?' continl
ed Peter The value of labor is kept ct o
. unnatural level. State charity is State ro
berry; private charity is public wrong
of That it Peter said MIR. COllett.
,se / don't believe it, said John. You WEI
all quite right to give the man shilling; wou
ON have given him shilling myself.
"Oh! You would-would your said NJ
" Collett. You re very generous with your sh
rye lings. Would you fly in the face of all orth
,dI, snc dox political economy, you Nandalp
A0S Yes said John, as the Vandals flew in Il
an face of Rome, and destroyed what had becon
AZ falsehood and nuisance
tIe. Poor john? said Mr.. COllett. We sh
never make anything of him, Peter. Rea
he we d better talk about something else. Jol
MA tell us about the last new novel
They conversed on different topics, un
u the arrival of the invalid's early bedtime pi
ted the uncle and nephews for the night.
| 90 Mary Sutton seized an opportunity the nc
90 morning after breakfast, to speak with 10
'ie'' Meade alone.
Won John said she, do you not think Of W
own interest-our interest. What occasion
Won to be so violent last night, and contrad
Mr. ColIett 40 shockingly2 / saw Peter Fir
launching to himself. John you must be IN
careful, or we shall never be married.
well, Mary I'll do my best, said Jol