The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-05-13

ASeuleNork IN my SIuQlO, NnllSt paint N Y
great historical picture? How can this
come to pass if MIR. COllett will do nothing
for us?" +-.-...--.., =.
"Ah, how indeed?' said Mary Jayne
'.But here's our friend, Peter Finch, com
ing through the gate from his walk. leave
you together" And SO saying she with
draw.
''What, John Meade2' said Peter Finch,
as he entered. ''Skulking in doors on a
fine morning like thisl I've been all
through the village. Not an ugly place
but wants looking after sadly. Roads
shamefully muddyI Pigs allowed to walk
on the footpathi" --a
Dreadful" exclaimed John.
'I say-you came ont pretty strong last
night, said Peter. "Quite defied the old
mani But like your spirit. "
81 have no doubt You do thought Mr..
Meade. s-- --rs.ese -. -.
''Oh, when was a youth, I was little
that way myself, said Pet er. aBut the
world-the world. my dear sir-soon cures
us OF all romaTac notions. I regret, of
course, to see poor people miserable; but
what's tl,.e use of regrettiua? IT'S no part
OF tb,,, business of the superior classes to
ID .erfere with the laws of supply and de-
mand: poor people must be miserable
What can't be cured must be endured
seThat is to say" returned MIR. John
Meade, "what we can't cure, they musten-
dure?"
Mr.. CoIlett this day was too i'll to leave
his bed. About noon he requested TO see
his nephews in his bedroom. They found
him propped up by pillows. looking very
weak, but is good spirits as usual.
s'Well, boys" said he,r "here L am you
see; brought to an anchor at lastl The
doctor viii be here soon, suppose, to
shake his head and write recipes. Humbug,
nv boysl Patients can do as much for
themselves, believe, as doctors can
do for them: they're all in the dark togeth-
er-the only difference is, that the patti
ents grope in English, and the doctors
groupe in Latinp
''You are too skeptical. sir" said John
Meade -
s.Poohp' said Mr.. Billy Collett. 'Let US
change the subject. 1 want your advice,
Peter Finch and John Meade, on a matter
that concerns Your interests. Tn going to
make my-will to-day and l don't know
how to actabout Your cousin, Emma Briggs.
Emma disgraced us by marrying an oil
man." -
"An oilmanr' exclaimed John.
"a vulgar, shocking oilmanP said Mr..
Collett; "a wretch who not only sold oil,
but soap, candles, turpentine, black lead
and birch brooms. 1twas a dreadful blow
to the family. Her poor grandma ther new
er got over it, and a maiden aunt turned
Methodist In despair. Well, Briggs, the
GILMAN died last week, it seems, and his
widow has written to me, asking for assist
ance. Now, 1 have thought of leaving her
a hundred yearin my will What do you
think of it? Tn afraid she don't deserve
it. What right had~ she TO marry against
the advice of her friends? What have to
do with her misfortuneT -
s.My mind is quite made up" said Mr..
Peter Finch; mo notice ought to be taken
of her. She made an obstinate and unwor-
thy match-and let her abide the conse-
quences."
''Now for your opinion, John" said Mr..
Collett.
s'Upon nv word I think must say the
same" said John Meade, bracing himself
up boldly for the part of the worldly man.
''What right had she to marry-as yo1 OBJ
served with great justice, sir? Let her
abide the eonsequenic ice-as you very prop
erly remarked, Finch. Can't she carry on
the oilman's business? dare say 1t Will
support her very well"
sfWhy, no.. said Mr.. Collett; Briggs
died bankrupt, and hrs widow and chill
dren are destitute. -,-
''Th9t does not alter the question, said
Peter Finch. ''Let Briggs's family do some
thing for her." -
ssTo be sureT said Mr.. Collett. "Briggss
family are the people to do something for
her She mustn't expect anything from us
must she, JOhn2" 81. -,
Destitute, is she?' said John, "With
children, tool Why, this is another case,
sir. You surely ought to notice her--to as
sist her. Confound it. I'm for letting her
have the hundred Q year.
''Oh, John, Johni What breakdown!
said Mr. Collett. $50 you were trying to
follow Peter Finch through Stony Arabia,
and turned back at the second stepI Here's
a brave traveller for you, PeteTi John, John,
keen to your Arabia Felix and leave stern
er matters to very different men. Good
bye, both of you. I've no voice to talk
any more, I'll think over all you have
said"
He pressed their hands, and they left
the room. The old man was too weak to
speak the next day, and in three days after
that, he calmly breathed his Last.
As soon as the funeral was over, the Will
was read by the confidential man of busi-
ness, who had always attended to MIR. Col
Ietts affairs. The group that sat around
him preserved a decorous appearance OF
disinterestedness: and. the usual preamble
to the will having been list ened to with
breathless attention, the man OF business
read the following IN clear vei.ce:
81 bequeath to my niece, En- ma Briggs,
that she shockt I'D her lam
ily by marrying an Gilman, the snm of four
thousand pounds; being fully persuaded
that her lost dignity, if she could even find
it again, would do nothing to pr oYide her
with food, or clothing, or shelter.
Mr.. Meade smiled, and MIR. Fine b ground
his teeth-but in quiet respecta ble man
ner.
The man of business went on with his
reading. 80.
s.RaYing always held the opinion that
woman should be rendered a ratio nal and
independent being-and having duly con-
sidered the fact that society practical ly den
les her the right of earned her rown living
Il hereby beqaeath to Mary Jayne, the
only child of my old friend, Fred. Jayne,
the sum of ten Thousand pounds, which Tlll
enable her to marry or remain single, as
she may prefer"
John Meade gave prodigious start tupon
hearing this, and Peter Finch ground bis
teeth again, but in a manner hardly respect
able. Both, however, by a violent effort,
kept silent.
The man of business went on with his
reading.
81 have paid some attention to thechar-
acter of my nephew, John Meade, and have |
been grieyed to find him much possessed |
with a feeling of philanthropy, and with |
general preference for whatever is noble |
and true over whatever is bsse and false
As these tendencies are by no means such
as can advance him in the world, Ibequeath |
him the sum of ten thousand pounds, hop-i
ing that he viii thus be kept out of the |
and be enabled to paint his |
great historical picture, which, as yet, he /
has only talked about. rt
CAS- for my other nephew, Peter Finch, |
he views all things in so ssgaeious and self |
ssh way, and is so certain to get on IN |
life, that | should only insult him by offer
ing an aid which he does not require; yet, /
from his affectionate uncle, ana entirely |
as testimony for his mental acuteness, 1 |
ventured TO hope that he will accept a be-
r @ i