Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-02-03


should have. Nothing acts more PERM
ciously than the absurd extraneous sup
port called charity"
"Hear, hear" said Mr.. Collect. you're
clever fellow, Peter. Go on, my dear
6What results from charitable aid ?"
continued Peter "The value of labor is
kept at an unnatural level. State charity
is state robbery private charity is public
wrong
"TRat's it, Peter p said Mrs. Collect.
"What do you think of our philosophy,
John?"
az don't like it, don't believe it !" said
John. "You were quite right to give the
man a shilling. I'd have given him a
shilling myself"
ooh, you would-vould your" said Mr..
Collect. You're very generous with your
shillings. Would you fly in the face of
all orthodox political economy, you Van
dal?'
eyes" said John; Gas the Vandals
flew in the face of Rome, and destroyed
what had become falsehood and a
nuisance"
"Poor john" said Mr.. Collect. ave
shall never make anything of him, Peter.
Really we'd better talk of something else.
John, tell us all about the last new
novel"
They conversed on various topics, until
the arrival of the invalid's early bedtime
parted uncle and nephews for the night
Mary Jayne seized an opportunity, the
next morning, after breakfast, to speak
with John Meade alone
"John," said she, "do think more of your
own interest-of our interest What oc-
casion for you to be so violent, last night,
and contradict Mr.. Collctt so shockingly?
| saw Peter Finch laughing to himself
John, you must be more careful, or we
shall never be married"
"Well, Mary, dear, III do my best" said
John. ut was that COMPOUNDED Peter,
with his chain of iron maxims, that made
me fly out I'm not an iceberg, Mary"
THANK heaven you're not !! said Mary
"but an iceberg foats-think of that
John. Remember-every time you offend
Mr.. Collect, you please MI. Finch"
$50 dol" said John. eyes; I'll re-
member that"
of you would only try to be little
mean and hard hearted, /" said Mary; "just
little to begin with. You would only
stoop to conquer, John, and you deserve
to conquer"
"May l gain my deserts, then !" said
John. care you not to be my loving
wife, Mary9 And are you not to sit at
needle-work in my studio, whilst paint
my historical picture? How can this
come to pass if Mr. Collect will do moth
ing for us?"
aAh, how indeed?" said Mary. "But
here's our friend, Peter Finch, coming
through the gate from his walk. l leave
you together" And so saying, she with
drew.
"What Meades" said Peter Finch, as
he entered "Skulking in doors on fine
morning like this I've been all through
the village. Not an ugly place-but wants
looking after sadly. Roads shamefully
muddy! Pigs allowed to walk ON the
footpath p
Dreadful" exclaimed John.
al say-you came out pretty strong last
night" said Peter. "Quite defied the old
man But like your spirit"
81 have no doubt you do" thought
John.
"Oh, when I was youth, was 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 poor people miserable; but
what's the use of regrettingg It's no part
of the business of the superior classes to
interfere with the laws of supply and de.
mand; poor people must be miserable.
What can't be cured must be endured"
"That is to say" returned John, what
we can't cure they must endureg"
Exactly so !" said Peter.
Mr.. Collect 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 in good spirits as usual.
"Well, boys" said he, here | am you
see brought to an anchor at last The
doctor will be here soon, l suppose, to
shake his head and write recipes Hum
bug, my boys Patients can do as much
themselves, believe, as doctors can do
for them; they're all in the dark together
the only difference is, that the patients
grope in English, and the doctors grope
in Latin
"You are too skeptical, sir" said John
Mead.
"Pooh!" said Mr.. Collett. "Let us
change the subject. want your advice,
Peter and John, on matter that concerns
your interests. I'm going to make my
will today--and l don't know how to act
about your cousin, Emma Briggs. emma
disgraced us by marrying an GILMAN
IAN oilmanl" exclaimed John.
"a vulgar, shocking oilmanl" said NJ.
Collect, "a wretch who not only sold oil,
but soap, turpentine, black-lead, and birch
brooms. 1t was dreadful blow to the
family. Her poor grandmother never got
over it, and maiden aunt turned Method
list in despair Well Briggs, the GILMAN,
died last week, it seems, and his widow
has written to nue., asking for assistance.
Now, have thought of leaving her a
hundred year in my will. What do you
| think Of itY I'm afraid she don't deserve