The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-03-29

OF your 'On, Blr ana Lear BIZ, anu
the rest of it, when I've told you how /
hate to be called sir at all. Why, you
couldn't be more respectful If you were
charity-girl and a beadle in gold
laced hat. None Of your nonsense,
Mary Sutton, if you please. I've been
your lawful guardian now for more than
six months, and You ought to know my
likings and dislikings."
"My poor father often told me how
you dislikeI ceremony" said Mary.
"Your poor father told You quite
right" said Mr.. Collett Erred SUIT
ton was a man of tlent-a capital fel.
low. His only fault was natural ina
bility to keep farthing in his pocket.
Poor Fred he loved me- I'm sure he
did. He bequeathed me his only child
and it isn't every friend that would do
that"
ga kind and generous protector you
have ever been
"Well, don't know; I've tried not to
be brute, but 1 dare say have been.
Don't 1 speak roughly to you sometimes9
Haven't l given you good, prudent,
worldly advice about John Meade, and
made myself quite disagreeable and I'M
like a guardian? Come, confess you
love this penniless nephew of mine."
Penniless, indeed"
"Ah, there it is," said Mr.. Collett.
"What business has poor devil OF an
artist to fall in love with my ward? And
what business has my ward to fall in
love with poor devil of an artist? But
that's Fred Sutton's daughter all over.
Haven't ! two nephews? Why couldn't
YOU fall in love with the discreet one
the thriving? Peter Finch-consider-
ing he's an attorney-is a worthy young
man He is industrious in the extreme,
and attends to other peoples business
only when he is 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 eleva-
ton, and the Lord knows what Peter
Finch will ride in his carriage and splash
John Meade as ne trudges on foot"
The harangue 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
was heard, and Mr.. John Meade was an
nounced.
Mr.. Collett eyed his two nephews with
queer sort of smile, while they made
speeches expressive of sorrow at the ma
ture of their visit. At last, stopping
them, he said:
Enough. boys, enough !" said he.
"Let us find some better subject to dis
cuss than the state of an old man S health.
| want to know 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 FOOLS.
John Meade seemed rather to vince
under this address, but Peter Finch sal
e calm and confident.
"To put O case, now" said MIR. Col
lett, this morning poor wretch of 6
gardener came begging here. He could
get no work, and said he was starving
Well, knew something about the fell
low, and / believe he only told the
truth; so / gave him shilling to get riG
of him. Now I'm afraid did wrong
What reason had / for giving him 6
shilling? What claim had he on me
What claim had he on anybody? The
value of his labor on the market is al
that workingman has a right to; and
when his labor is Of no value, why, ther
he must go to the devil, or whatever elst
he can-eh, Peter? That's my philoso
ply; what do you think2"
81 quite agree with you, sir" sale
Mr.. Finch; "pefectly agree with you
The value of their labor in the marke
is all that laborers can pretend to-al
that they should have. Nothing act
more perniciously than the absurd, ex
traneous support called charity"
"Hear, hear - said Mr.. Collett
you're a very clever fellow, Peter. CT
on, my dear boy, go on"
"What results from charitable aid ?
continued Peter. 1.-THE value of labo
is kept on an unnatural level. Stat,
charity is State robbery, private CHART.
is public wrong"
"That's it, Peter - said Mr.. Collett
"What do you think of our philosophy
John? ?"
"I don't like it, don't believe it I
said John. you were quite right t
give the man shilling. I'd have give
him shilling myself.
"Oh, you would, would you? sal
Mr.. Collect. "Youre very generou
with your shillings. Would you fly il
the face of all orthodox political econc
my, you vandal p
eyes," said John; "as the vandal
flew in the face of Rome and destroye
what had become falsehood and a nui
sance."
"Poor John y said Mr.. Collect, CIV
shall never make anything of him, Pc
ter. Really, we'd better talk of some
thing else. John, tell us all about til
last new novel"
/, They conversed on various topics III
|. til the arrival of the invalids early bee
l. time parted uncle and nephews for tn
@ night.
: Mary Sutton seized an opportunity til
|. next morning before breakfast to spea
y to John Meade alone.
b "John, said she, "do think more G
# your own interest-of our interest. Wins
Q occasion for you to be 80 violent las
# night and to contradict Mr.. Collett s
d shockingly? 1 saw Peter Finch laugh
l. ing to himself, John you must b
more careful or we shall never be mai
f" RED"
II "Well, Mary, dear, I'll do my best,
y said John. at was that confounde