The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-10-02

may teach thee to be more modest
and sensible"
Richard watched the sturdy figure
IN its green coat, white corduroys,
and buff top boots across the lawn,
and then, with very angry feeling
In his heart, left the Hall. He disap.
peared soon afterwards, and after a
few desultory inquiries from various
acquaintance, he seemed to be for
gotten. The Breadbent mills went
on as usual, Josiah, and Stephen, and
Mark passed to and from them as
If their life was ordered by machin-
cry; and once a week the rector
went up to their house, smoked apipe
with Josiah, and generally said, as he
left:
"All is well with Richard, Josiah
very well indeed !" -
In the fourth year Of his absence
there was much trouble between the
mill owners and the operatives. The
masters were everywhere threatened,
and many mills were set Oh fire, and
the excitement and terror was hardly
allayed even when the prominent
offenders had been imprisoned. Their
trial was one that affected the inter-
ests of all manufacturing districts,
and the spacious court house was
crowded. Josiah, of course, was
present; 50 were Mark and Stephen.
Now, if there was anything these
men had an almost idolatrous res
pect for, it was the paraphernalia of
the law. Those advocates in their
black gowns, those grave men in
their imposing wigs, those wise look
ing calf bound volumes, the pomp
and ceremony of the sheriffs, con-
stables, and criers, were to them the
most obvious representative Of the
majesty OF English law and power.
Conceive, then, their amazement,
when prominent among those gowned
advocates, giving directions to other
lawyers, and demeaning himself as
one having authority, was Richard
Old Josiah flushed and
trembled, and touched Stephen and
Mark, who were also too much af-
tected to do anything but gravely
nod their heads. But when the argu
ments were over, and Richard Broad.
bent rose as special pleader in the
matter, curiosity changed to amaze
ment and amazement to enthusiasm.
Such speech had never been heard
t oh. Msf' and sf even ft SxFf
shiremen's longs were weary
The good rector had his reward
when he stood beside his forOtege, and
saw the squire and the city magnates
crowd around the brilliant young law
yer with their congratulations. But
far greater was his joy when old Jo-
siah and Stephen and Mark pressed
forward with radiant faces and full
hearts. They were not men given to
speech, and the happy father could
say nothing but" God bless thee lad !"
while Stephens and Marks pride and
love found its full expression in,"Well
Dick, Dick!" But no words could
be more satisfactory.
The good-tor-nothing had found
his vocation. Two years after his de-
parture from leeds he had been called
to the bar AZ Gray's Inn, and since
then, by his TAFT and eloquence had
made himself one of the acknowledged
leaders of the Oxford circuit.
There was nothing now that his
father and bird theirs would not have
done for him, but he asked just the
one thing Josh h was 10th to move
in. He wishd q him to speak to the
squire about his daughter. Josiah
promised, buthe was thinking of de-
putting the bIsiness to the rector
when the wa opened unexpectedly.
Coming out If Leeds bank he met
the squire, W 70 had a troubled and
preoccupied y ok. He passed Josiah
with nod, tn n suddenly turning and
touching him said Josiah Broad
bent, your he Use and mine have been
long friends, h ?"
"Say that Squire. Broadbents
served Saurhdn s when King Stephen
was fighting tr the crown O Eng
land; they arljust as ready to serve
them now"
81 believe !, Josiah 1 want four
thousand ponds. My boy Roger
has got into tpuble. would rather
owe it to vol than mortgage Saur-
ham,"
WTb L n.,. d - Al o,,....l |