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

right figure, were in strong contrast with
the worn c0untenance and bent frame oi
the old man; but in his eye, and inthe cor.
ners of his mouth, were indications of a
gay self-confdence, which age and suffer
ing had damped, but not extinguished.
No use looking any more, Mary, said
he; ssnsither John Meade nor Peter Finch
viii be here before DARK. Very hard, that,
when a sick uncle asks his two nephews tC
come and see him, they can't come at once.
The duty is simple in the extreme-only
to help me to die,yand take what choose
to leave them in my Will Poohi When !
was young man I'd have done it for NV
uncle with the utmost celebrity. But n,
worlds getting most heartlessp
'tOh, sirI" said Mary,
"And what does Oh, sirP n' ean2n saif
he. "D'ye think I shant die2 Inow hat
ter. A little more, and the, an ba o,, CO.
of cid Billy Goilett. II" Il have left fbi,
dirty world for cleanr ito the great sor
row (snd advantage of his affectionate re-
lativesi Ugh! g. we me a glass of tbe5oc
tors stuff. w
The girl r,oured some medicine into s
glass, ano Collett, after having contemp
lated II Ior moment with infinite disgust
maos .ged to get it ..own.
81 tell you what, Miss Mary Jayne, said
he, 81 don't by any means means approve
of your oh, sir? and Dear sir, and the
rest of it, when I've told you how l hate tc
be called sir at all. Why, you could not
be more respectful if you were a charity
girl and I beadle in a gold laced hat
None of your nonsense, Mary Jayne, if YOU
please I've been your lawful guardian nov
for six months, and you ought to know nv
hkings and dislikings."
''My poer father often told me how you
dislix ed ceremony" said Mary.
''Your poor father told you quite right, II
said Mr.. Collett. ssFred. Jayne was man
of talent a capital felloWI His only fault
was natural inability to keep farthing in
his pocket. Poor Fredl he loved me-Tm
sure he did. He bequeathed me his only
child-and it isn't every friend would do
thatr'
"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
speak roughly to you sometimes? Haven't
l given you good, prudent, worldly advice
about John Meade, and made myself quite
disagreeable, and like guardian? Come,
confess you love this penniless nephew of
mine y ~
'PenniIess, indeedI" said Mary.
"Ah, there It Isl" said Mr.. Collett. stAnd
what business has poor devil of an artist
to fall In love with my ward2 And what
business has my ward to fall In love with a
poor devil of an artist? But that's Fred.
Jayne's daughter all over! Haven't I two
nephews? Why couldn't you fall in love
with the discreet one-the thriving one? Pc
ter Misunderstanding he's an attorney
is worthy young man. He is industrious
In the extreme, and attends TO other peo-
Piles bu mess, only when he's paid for it.
He despises sentiment, and always looks
to the main chance But John Meade, my
dear Mary, may spoil canvas forever, and
not grow rich. He's all for art, and truth,
and social reform, and spiritual elevation,
and the Lord knows what Peter Finch
will ride In his carriage. and splash poor
John Meade as he trudges on footi'
The harangae was here interrupted by
ring at the gate, and Mr.. Peter Finch was
announced. He had scarcely taken his
seat when another pull at the bell vas
heard, and Mr.. John Meade was anyIoun-
ced - ~ ssner
Mr.. Collett eyed his two nephews with
queer sort of q smile, whilst they made
speeches of sorrow at the nature of their
visit. At last, stopping them
Enough, boys, enough" said he, ''Iet
us find some better subject to discuss than
the state of an old mans health. 1 want
to know little more about you both.
haven't seen much of you up to the present
time, and, for anything I know, you may
be rogues orfools."
John Meade seemed rather to vince un-
der this address; but Mr.. Finch sat calm
and conf dent.
''To pat a case, said Mr.. Collett; ssthis
morning poor wretch of gardner came
here begging. He could get no work, it
seems, and said he was starving. Well.
knew something about the fellow, and l
believed he only told the truth; so gave
him shilling to get rid of him. Now I'm
afraid did wrong. What reason had 1 for
giving him a shilling? What claim had he
on me? What claim has he on anybody2
The value of his labor in the market is all
that sworknlan has a right to, and when
his labor is Of no value, why, then hemust
60 to the devil, or wherever else he can.
Eh, Peter? That's my philosophy; what
do you think?" srsr
"1quite agree with you SIR" said Mr.
Finch; perfectly agree wi b you. The
value of their laborin the market is all that
laborers can pretend to; all that they
should have. Nothing acts more pernic-
iously than the absurd extraneous support
called charity"
'.Hear, hearI' said MIR. Collett. '.You
are clever fellow, Peter. Go on, my dear
boy, go on" - .-a
'sWhat results from charitable aid?" con-
tinued Peter. ''The value of labor is kept
at an unnatural level State charity is
state robbery; private charity is public
wrong"
'sThats it, Peter?" said Mr. Collect
''What doyou think of ourphilosophy, Mr..
Meade?"
Il don't like it; I done believe itT' said
John. "You were quiet right to-eive the
man 8 shilling. I'd have given him shil-
ling myself.
sYo1 would, would your" said MIR. Col
lett. you're very generous with your shiI-
lings. Would you fly IN the face of ortho-
dox political economy, you Vandal?"
ssYes," said John; ''as the Vandals few
in the face of Rome, and destroyed what
had become q falsehood and nuisance"
''Poor john" said Mr.. Collett 'tWe
shall never make anything of him, Peter.
Really, we'd better talk of something else.
MIR. Meade, tell us about the last new no
vel" -i-.l.f ..
They conversed on various topics, until
the arrival of the inyaid's early bedtime
parted uncle aud nephews for the night.
Mary Jayne seized an opportunity, the
next morning, after breakfast, to speal1wit
John Meade alone ~. .--,lazs
John" said she, edo think more ofyour
own interest-of onr interest. What occa-
sion for you to be so violent last night, and
contradict Mr.. Collett so shockingly? Isaw
Mr. Finch laughing to himself John, you
must be more careful or we shall never be
married"
s'well, Mary dear, I'll do my best" said
John Meade at was that eonfounded Mr..
Finch, with his chain of iron maxims, that
made me fly out I'm not an iceberg,
Mary f .s -lT- 49,.
s1Thank Heaven, you're notT said Mary
JAYNE; 'sbut an iceberg hoats-think of
that John Meade Remember, every time
YOU offend Mr., Collett You please Peter
Finch
$50 dor said John. eyes, I'll remem-
Der that"
'Gf you would only try to be ahttle mean