Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-06-18
THE GODFATHER.
BY PAUL PLUME.

: THE GODFATHER.
BY PAUL PLUME.
;. There is period in the lives of a
men when they are desirious of fam
'' Of one kind or another. A few may b
famous for their virtue; and many
heaven knows, render themselves in
famous by their vices. One man de
sires to be noted for his horses; anoth
er, disdaining to trust himself to fou
logs, and depending upon two only, be
comes pedestrian and enulates Yves
ton. Another endeavors to have hi
name recorded as horseman, and con
siders himself better than any locke,
that ever buckled girth; another GOV
cts the reputation of being a "deat
shot," and Carries q look in his eye.
f that bids all men beware of crossing
his path or his purpose when his TEN.
per is not serene. l have seen this par.
ticular kind of notoriety exhibited very
frequently at the South; but that wa;
in the days when the command of that
region was the law of the land. There
has been change recently. Some men
desire fame as dog-fanciers, and there
are some who seek fame at the expense
OF their tailor's genius. They wear the
best-made and best-fitting coats and the
most approved neckties. There is moth
ing so trifing but a man may make it a
passport to fame. 1t is true, that he
may never arrive at the end Of his jour-
ney, but it is enough if it be known that
he is. travelling that way.
But of all the desires that come with
out wooing to the human heart, the
wish to be considered wise and wealthy,
is the most frequently met. There are
numbers who contrive to have fame of
being learned without deserving it;
and more still, perhaps, who manage to
rank as rich who have no pretensions to
anything beyond competency.
L once knew an old gentleman who
was widower, and without heirs. He
was character exactly in point. He
was considered to be worth three hun
dred thousand dollars. He was spoken
of as man of excellent sense and ex-
tensive information. He lived very
comfortably on eighteen hundred dol
lars per annum, and died, disappoint-
ing at least two generations out of for
tunes which he had taught them to ex-
pect from their cradles. The most that
Could be said for his talents was, that
they consisted of mixture of caution
and cunning. 1 can fancy that see
him this moment. He was ashort, stout
ruddy-faced man; gray-eyed and thin
Tipped, and very precise and somewhat
pedantic in his manner Of speech. He
was dressed in an expensive way for an |
old sinner. He always had perfume
of some boquet on his cambria monchoir
and his head was as white and odorif-
erous as the "1ilies of the field" He
was fond of displaying a splendid dia-
mond ring, which he wore upon the
third finger of his right hand.
The habitation OF Mr.. Deoro was a |
paradise in miniature. Everything was
required to be in the most perfect Or
der. Woe to the servant who should
leave a particle of dust visible to strong
powered spectaclcs. When his friends
him on the beauty of his
house, he would reply in the most care
less style:
eyes, it is pretty convenient, eonsid-
ering it is so small. 1 sometimes think
of purchasing a larger place, but when
reflect that have no one in the world
but myself to provide for, dismiss the
thought. I've got accustomed to my
box, and at my advanced age had bet
ter remain quiet.''
He kept but one horse, but he was a
and marvel of beauty.
His carriage was of the most approved
mark, and trimmed with rose-colored
silk. Two servants was all he had in
the house. He used to say that many
would occasion him more
trouble than all his wealth. Mr. Deoro
was continually limiting that the unob-
trusHe style in which he lived was
agreeable to his tastes, though not at
all consistent with his fortune. He sue
ceeded in making the world believe this
fib.
When a man once establishes his
fame for wealth, he is uo longer at a
loss for friends. They swarm about
lim like gnats in 4 sunbeam. Mr.. De-
,ro had his full share. If he eyer be-
;ame weary of his own company, there
we're dozens of houses where he could
line, and be sure of 4 hearty wecome.
Blu: visits of this kind were seldom in
lulged in by Mr.. Deoro, and were con-
'idered by those whom he honored with
lis company, as marks especial favor;
Indicating that the party "stood high in
lis WILL" an expression which Mr..
0eoro now and then incautiously drop
bed before his chamber-maid, Susan
Stark. Susan never failed to report l
hese speeches to the parties concerned,
md many handsome bonnet and neat t
hawl she received in return for these t
,aluable hints. s
10 entertain Mr.. Deoro in becoming t
lyle, many a good lady has disorgan- i
zed the economy of her house for |
nenth. His favorite dishes were known q
or circuit of twenty miles, and were G
ure to be found atany table he thought /
proper to honor with his presence. Mr..
0eoro was godfather to half the chill ,
lren in the county. They had strange S
way of asking him to stand for their S
ons and daughters. About every other t
10Y or girl you met bore his name in l
ONE form or other.
"Sarah Deoro," called out Mrs. Hope f
o her eldest daughter, "your god-fa- S
her dimes with us tomorrow. Now, 1 b
ely on you to see that the cook boils t
he rockfsh to bubble, and that the
are not scorched. Remem-
yer, if such thing should occur, away
,oes the promised legacy, and you know G
What Susan Stark said" n