Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-05-12
Srlette0 Misfellanp.
TWO NEPHEWS.

seventy; while his companion had certain
ly not reached nineteen. Her beautiful
beaming face. and active, light and nj
night figure, were in strong contrast wit
the worn countenance and bent frame {
the old man; but IN his eve. and inihe COZ
ners of his mouth. were Indications of
gay self-confidence, which age and SufIel
ing had damped, but not extinguished.
mo use looking aGy more, Mary, sal
he; neither John Meade nor Peter Fine
will be he,e before dark. Very hard, that
when a sick uncle asks his two nephews I
come and see him, they can't come at once
The duty is simple in the extreme-onl
To help me to die, and take what choos
to leave hem in my will, Poohi When
was young man I'd have done it for m
uncle with the utmost CELEBRITY. But th
worlds getting most heartlessI''
''Oh, sirr said Mary,
s.And what does sOh. SIR mean?" sal,
he. ssD'ya think shant die? know bet
ter. A little more, and there1l be an enc
of old Billy Collett. He'll have left thi
dirty world for a cleaner-to the great sor
row (and advantage) of his affectlonate re
lahvesl Ughl Give me aglass of the doc
tors stuff
The girl poured some medicine into .
glass, and Collect, after having contemp
lated il for O. moment with infinite DISGUST
managed to get it own
II tell you what, Miss Mary Jayne, said
he, IL don't by any means means approve
of your oh. sirr and Dear SIR and the
rest of it, when I've told you how hate e
be called sir at all. Why. you could no
be more respectful if You were a charity
girl and L beadle in q gold laced hat. =
None of your nonsense. Mary jayne, If yo,
please. I've been your lawful guardian now
for six months, and you ought to know my
likings and dislikings."
ssAy poer father often told me how you
disli ed ceremony" said Mary.
"Your poor father told you quite right,
said Mr. Collett. Erred. Jayne was a man
of talent-a capital fellosl His only fault
was a natural inability to keep farthing in
his pocket Poor Fredl he loved me-rm
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"
swell, don't know; I've tried net to be
a brute. but dare say have been. Don't
/ speak roughly 10 you sometimes? Haven't
i given You good, prudent. worldly advice
about John Meade, and made myself quite
disagreeable, and like a guardian? Come.
confess you love this penniless nephew OF
mine"
"Penniless, indeedr' said Mary.
"Ah. there it is" said Mr.. Collett. 'And
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 two
uephews? Why couldn't you fall in love
with the discreet one-the thriving one? Pc
ter Finch-considering he's an attorney
Is a wol thy young man. He is industrious
in the extreme, and attends to other peo-
pies 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 footw
The harangue was here interrupted by a
announced. He had scarcely taken his
seat when another pull at the bell was
heard, and Mr. John Meade was announ-
ced.
Mr. Collett eyed his two nephews with
queer sort of smile, whilst they made
speeches of sorrow at the nature of their
visit. At last, stopping them
Enough boys, enough" said be, siet
us find ome better subject to discuss than
the state of an old mans health. / want
to know a little more about you both /
haven't seen much of You up to the present
time, and, for anything know, you may
be rogues or rfools"
John Meade seemed rather to vince un-
der this address; but MIR. Finch sat calm
and conn dent
ITO put a case" said Mr.. Collett; sthis
morning poor wretch of gardner came
here begging. He could get no work, ii
seems, and said he was starving. Well, |
knew something about the fellow, and
believed he only told the truth; so gave
him q shilling to, get rid of him. Now I'm
afraid / did wrong. What reason had for
giving him a shilling? What claim had he
on me? What claim has he on anybody
The value of his labor in the market is all
that workman has right to, and when
his labor is of no value. why, then he must
go to the devil, or wherever else he can.
Eh, Peter? That's my philosophy; what
do you think?"
II quite agree with you SIR" said Mr..
Finch; perfectly agree wi h you. The
value of their labor in 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, hearl- said Mr.. Collett. '.You
are clever fellow, Peter. Go or. my dear
boy. go on.
'What results from charitable aid?" con-
tinued Peter. ssrhe value of labor is kept
at an unnatural level State charity is
state robbery; private charity is public
wrong"
ssThat's it, Peter" said Mr.. Collett.- -
s.What doyou think of ourphilosophy, Mr..
Meade?"
IL dort like it; done believe itr' said
John. You were quiet right to give the
man q asailling. I'd have given him a shil,
ling my self.
sYor. would, would your" said Mr.. Col
lett. you're very generous with your shil
hngs. Would you hy II the face of ortho-
dox political economy, you Vandal2"
"Yes," said John; ''as the Vandals flew
in the face of Rome, and destroyed what
had become a falsehooi and a nuisance"
Poor John" said Mr.. Collett 1--WE
shall never make anything of him, Peter.
Really, we'd better talk of something else.
Mr.. Meade, tell us about the last new no.
vel"
They conversed ON various topics, until
the arrival of the invaiid's early bedtime
parted uncle aud nephews for the night
Mary Jayne seized an opportunity, thu
next morning, after breakfast. to speak viii
John Meade alone.
John" said she, ''do think more ofyoul
own interest of our interest. What occa
sion for you To be so violent last night. ane
contradict Mr.. Collett so shockingly? lsav
Mr. Finch Iausning 10 himself. john, yo,
must be more careful or We shall never b.
married."
"Wen, Mary dear, I'll do my best" sait
John Meade. ut was that confounded Mr.
Finch. with his chain of iron maxims, tha
made me fy out I'm not an iceberg
Mary" =. .
"Tbank Heaven, you're notl' said Mar.
JAYNE: ..bu. an iceberg floats think Q
that John Meade Remember, every tim
you offend 1lr, Collett You please Pete
Finch " - 49, - -
$50 dow said John. "Yss, III remem
Der that"
off you would only tryto be ahttle meal