The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-09-05
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 5. 1877.

it requires an artist Of the highest standard TO
portray truthFully the one or the other. DIR.
Holland, though not genius, has some skill IN
character painting. This he has shown in Tine
Story OF the Seven Oaks and it is apparent in
his Nicholas Minturn.' now appearing in
Scribner's Monthly. At present we notice only
one Of his characters. that of Mr.. Benson. Mr..
Benson was a church member, regular in his al
tendance at public worship, ready to take part
in the services Of the prayer meeting, and lIee-
raj contributor TO benevolent objects. He had
acquired a reputation for good judgment as
business man, and for upright and honorable
dealings. In consequence of this reputation he
became president of the Poor Mans Savings
Bank Many of the poor had confded to him
their little all, because they had unbounded faith
in him. and he was proud Of his distinction. At
length the country entered upon a period of
financial depression, and savings banks began to
fail, ard people lost their confidence in those in
situations, and the poor who had little money
on hand preferred to entrust it with Mr.. Benson
rather than TO the bank over which he presided.
Many would walk past the Poor Mans Savings
Bank and go directly to his Office or house, and
place their little fortunes in his hands as contd.
ingly as if we were the incarnation of all 6nan-
cal wisdom and all the diviuer virtues. He
would give security except his note. Thus
was he furnished with fund of ready cash, aud
this he used for any purpose that his necessity
or convenience might require. His conscience
was losing its power and he did not consider
that be ought to invest this money, so that he
| himself might become secure on behalf of his
| depusitors.
But the weeks went on, and values shrank.
! Now he saw, with keen distress, that the fabric
he had reared was tumbling about his ears The
investments he had made in real estate could
| not help him out of his embarrassment. Some
| of the poor, who had confded to him their
money, came TO him for it and were turned
away. When his affairs seemed Fastening TO n
crisis, he very Unexpectedly, by intimidation
ard by presenting pistol, obtained from rob
Der twenty-five bonds of thor and dollars EACH
These had been taken from Nicholas Mnturn.
and Mr.. Benson had every reason to believe that
they belonged to Minturn, yet he tried to per-
ssuade himself that he did not know. :" He had
been gong through process Of generalization
for weeks. The reception Of money from widows
aud orphans at q time when ne was threatened
with bankruptcy. the taking of money from
helpless and confdiug people, and using it for
the maintenance of his position and the payment
of his rapidly Accomplishing liabilities had dead
|
ing had been going on for years. Like Luther
and Bunyan's Pilgrim he had many struggles
with the power of evil; but with him the slrug
giles ended IN defeat. When he sel6shly and
cowardly deserted Misc Larkin. whose guard
anshp he had undertaken, and left the sinking
ship in the first boat, he was fully aware that he
was perpetrating mean and despicable act
and he did not help the matter by charging tC
her account-for she was rich-the losses he haC
sustained by the sbipwreck.
A scene between Benson and Nicholas we
should like TO reproduce were it not too long. A
poor man. known as Taking Tim, had confideC
money with Mr.. Benson. When he needed
money because there had been sickness in biz
family he applied to Ne. Benson, but he wouId
not help him. because, as he said, the money wa
Invested for term of years. Then Talking tin
applied to Nicholas, who brought his not,
against Mr.. Benson. When Nicholas presented
the note Benson became angry and insulted him
After some alteration aud finding that Ncho
las was determined to get the money for thu
note forthwith, Mr.. Benson said Give me you
note" The note was handed to him. He look
ed ITS amount and then coolly tore il in pieces
and tossed it upon the floor. saying = Now
what will you do, sir ?" Nicholas arose place,
his feet upon the principal portion of the scat
tered note, then reached out quickly and touche,
the knob of the Geographic instrument. M!
God what have you done 2" exclaimed MI
Benson. f" You told me had no witnesses.
thought | would summon one while the frag
ments of the note lie on the floor and my fee
cover them"
But didn't intend to -"
] know it; now write the cheque-you kno,
the sum, with interest from last July. III sto
the policeman at the door"
de wrote the cbeque, and Nicholas bad il /
bn ha . he, hall
After Nicholas and the policeman had retired
Mr.. Benson telt some remorseiul pangs. IN
God my God what have | done p he Q,
claimed. Who am | what am becoming
where is all this to end Am | so weak, g
base that can be handled and controlled an
spit upon by boy ?" Then he talked to Go
aud to his conscience alternately. He promise
to restore the bonds in good time. Selishne,
whispered, He has no proof that they are bis
i cannot give them to him now but il they at
his be shall have them" lie had little doul
that they belonged to Nicholas aud he promise
God that he would restore them; but when Il
temptation became stronger and the pressul
> heavier he made use Of them, or some of the
to satisfy an mperious creditor.
But hls progress was etill downward. VIII
could he dot His affairs seemed desperate, an
s as last resort he went to Miss LArkin. 81
was rich, aud he determined to got the contr
oil her fortune, u possible. He said 20 her, I"
Y must have the money must have It soon at
you compel me TO put the responsibility OF N
future upon yourself. You can save mo or "
can ruin me-"
= You must give me timo to think about il
said Miss Larkin.
Unhappily." responded Mr.. Benson, with
firm and logged voice, can do no such thinp
my needs are desperate-this day. this hou
this moment r
She begged for two hours, for one hour,
think Of it, He allowed her ten minutes al
then returned with pen and ink III one hand al
S, written documents in the other. These doc
ments we're power OF attorney for selling pr
perty, aud pledge to lend HIM the proceed
Then moving tablo TO her side aud placing Il
papers upon il, be tried TO put the pen 10 h
band, but she became nervous and tainted r
covering her consciousness no made anotb
- effort for her to sign the document but at d
moment Nicholas arrived, and the game was u
As the story progresses we shall watch its d
~ veIopment with interest. 10 some works of &
ton there is no apparent moral. In others it
only found at the close. In Dr. HOLLAND
novels the moral keeps pace with the story, a,
the dulest can understand it, The selfish n,
r, may everiastingly be talking about duty, and
10 this way may deceive himself aud Others; b
90 there is higher motive The selfish man mi