Smyrna times., 1869-01-27


member every time you offend Mr.. Collett, you
please Mr.. Finch
SO do, said John. Yes Tllremember
that
If you would only try and be little mean
and hard hearted said Mary; just little to
begin with. You wouldon stOop to conquer.
May gam my deserts, then, said John.
Are you not to be my loving wife, then, 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 it MIR. Colett will do
nothing for us?'
'Ah, how indeed?' said Mary. But here's
our friend, Peter Finch, coming in the gate
from his walk. leave you together And
so saying she withdrew.
What Meade said Peter as he entered
skulking indoors of fine morning like this
I've been through the village. Not an ugly
place, but wants looking after sadly. Roads
shamefGlly muddy; pigs allowed to walk on the
foot path
Dreadful exclaimed John.
say, you came out pretty strong last
But like your spirit
l have no doubt you do, thought John.
oh, when | was youth, thought little
that way myself, said Peter. But the world
the world, my dear sir, soon cures us of all
romantic notions. l regret Of course, to see
people miserable; but what's the use regret
ing? Its no part of the business of the supe-
riOr class to interfere with the law of supply
and demand: Poor people must be miserable.
What can't be cured, must be endured.
Exactly so,' said John.
Mr.. COllett this day was too i'll to leave his
bed. At noon he requested to see them in his
bedroom. They found him propped up on
the pillows very weak, but in good spirits as
usual
We'll, boys, said he, here am, you see,
brought to order, at last. The doctor will be
here, soon, [ suppose, to shake his head and
write receipts All humbug, my boys. Pa
tients can do as we'll for themselves, l believe,
as doctors can do for them; they re all in the
dark together-the cnly difference is the pa
tients grope in English and doctors in Latin
You are to skeptical, said John Meade.
Pooh 7 said Mr.. Collett let us change the
subject. l want your services, Peter and John,
on matter that concerns your interests. I'm
going to make my will to-day, and | don't
know how to act with your cousin, Emma
Briggs, who has disgraced us by marrying an oil
man.
AN oil mani exclaimed John.
"A vulgur, shocking oil mani! said Mr.. Col
lett; "a wretch who not only sold oil, but soap.
candles, turpentine, black lead and brOoms Il
was dreadful blow to the family. Her grand
father never got over it. Well, Briggs the
oil man died last week, and his widow has writ
ten TO me asking for assistance. Now L have
thought of leaving her hundred year in my
will. What do you think of it? I'm afraiC
she don't deserve it. What right had she t(
marry against the advice of her friends? Wha
have to do with her misfortuneY
! My mind is quite made up, said Peter
Finch No notice ought to be taken of her
She made an obstinate and unworthy match
now let her abide tie consequences
Now for your opinion, John, said Mr.. Col
lett
Upon my word, | think l must say thC
same said John Meade, bracing himself VI
boldly for the part of the worldly man. Wha
right had she to marry? as you observed will
great justice, sir Let her abide the conse
quences-as you very properly remarked, SAT-
Meade. Cant she carry on the old man
business? | dare say it will support her well.
Why, no, said Mr.. Collett. Briggs die
bankrupt, and his widow and children ar
destitute.
THAT does not alter the question, said Pete
Finch. Let Briggs family do something 70
her.
TO be surel said Mr.. Collett. Briggs
family are the people to do something for her
She mus Mt expect anything from us-must she
JohnY
Destitute, is she? said John. with chill
dren, too. Why that is another case, sir. Yo
surely ought to notice her-to assist her. Cor
found it, 1 m fol letting her have the hundre
year.
tOh, John! John! what breakingp sal,
Mr.. Collett. So you were trying to folloV
Peter Finch through Stony Arabia, and turne
, back at the second step. John John! keep t
t your Arabia Felix, and leave sterner ways
: very different men. Good bye, both of yor
? l have no voice to talk any more. III thin
S over all you have said
5 He pressed their hands, and they left tn
room. The old man was too weak to spea
next day, and in three days afterwards b
: calmly breathed his last.
AS soon as the funeral was over, the will wi
r read by the confidential man OF business wh
J. had always attended to MIR. Co!lett affairs.
IS The group that sat around him preserved
/ decorous appearance of disinterestedness, an
the usual preamble to the will having bee
r listened to with breathless attention, the ma
of business read the following:
/ Il bequeath to my niece, Emma Briggs, no
n withstanding that she shocked her family
J. marrying an old man, the sum of four thou
and pounds, being fully persuaded that her 10
dignity, if she should ever find 1t again, wou
@ do nothing to provide her with food, or clot
d ing, or shelter.
r, his teeth-but in quiet, respectable manne
l. Having always held the opinion that wom'
D. should be rendered rational being, and ha
ing duly considered the fact that society pra
,e tically denies her the right of earning her ov
le living, hereby bequeath to Mary Sutton t
sum of ten thousand pounds, which will en-
III bic her to marry or to remain single as she m
ly prefer" -.
IN John Meade made prodigious start up
hearing this. Peter Finch ground his tee
til again-but in manner hardly respectable.
n. Both, however, by violent effort, kept slleI
The man Of letters went on with his rea
hn r have paid some attention to the chara
er Of my nephew, John Meade, and have 6e
ur grieved to find him much possessed With te
let for what is base and false. AS those tend
ch cies are by no means such as can advance b
ore in the world, bequeath him the sum Of
thousand pounds-hoping that he will k'
IN. out Of the work house, and be enabled to pa