The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-04-11


superior classes to interfere with the
laws of supply and demand poor peo-
pie must be miserable. What cans be
cured must be endured
"That is to say" returned John,
"what we can't cure they must endure"
Exactly 80" said Peter.
Mr.. Collett this day was too i'll to leave
his bed. About noon he requested to
see his nepnews in his bedroom. They
found him propped up by pillows, look
ing very weak, but in good spirits as
usl,cI
"Well, boys said he, "here I am,
you see brought to anchor at last ! The
doctor will be here soon, I suppose, to
shake his head and write reoipes. Hum
bug, my boysl Patients can do as
much for themselves, believe, as doc
tors 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 IL Latin"
"You are too skeptical, SIR" said
John Meade.
"Pooh p said Mr.. Oollett. "Let us
change the subject. want your advice,
Peter and John, on matters that concern
your interests [ Gm going to make
my will to-day, and don't know how to
act about your cousin, Emma Briggs.
Emma disgraced us by marrying an oil
man."
"An Gilman p exclaimed John
A vulgar, shocking GILMAN y said
Mr.. Collett; &C a wretch who not only
sold oil, bat soap, candles, turpentine,
black leaI and birch brooms. It was
dreadful blow to the family. Her poor
grandmother never got over it, and
maiden aunt turned Methodist in de-
spair. Well, Briggs, the Gilman. died
last week, 1t seems, and his widow has
written to me, asking for assistance.
Now, I have thought of leaving her
hundred q year in my will. What do
you think of it? I'm afraid she don't
deserve it. What right had she to
marry against the advice of her friends2
What have I to do with her misfort-
unes 2"
my mind is quite made up said
Peter Finch; ono notice ought to be
taken OF her. She made an obstinate
and unworthy match; let her abide the
consequences.
CHOW 1 would like your opinion,
John" said Mr.. Collett.
"Upon my word, I think I must say
the same" said John Meade, bracipg
himself up boldly for the part of the
worldly man. "What right had she to
marry-as you observed with great JUS
! tice, sir? Let her abide the conse-
quences- s-as you very properly remarked,
Finch. Can't she carry on the oilman's
business9 dare say it will support her
very WE'LL"
"Why, no." said Mr.. Collett; i" Briggs
died a bankrupt, and his widow and
children are very destitute.
"That does not alter the question" :"
said Peter Finch. ssLet Briggs fam
lily do something for her themselves"
"To be sure" said Mr.. Collett,
Briggs family are the people to do
something for her. She mustn't ex-
pect anything from tts-mtst she,
John ?"
Destitute, is she 81 said John.
"With children, too2 Why, this is an
other case, sir. You surely ought to
notice her-to assist her Confound it,
I'm in for letting her have the hundred
a year"
"Oh, John, John! what break
down !'' said Mr.. Collett. $50 you
we're trying to follow Peter Finch
through stony Arabia, and turned back
at the second stepl Here's q brave
traveller for you, Peter John, keep
your Arabia Felix, and leave sterner
ways to very different men. qood-by,
| both of YOU. I've no voice to talk at1y
more. I'll think over all you have
said"
/ He pressed their hands end they left
the room. The old tiaan was tot weak
to speak the fext day, and In three days
after that he calmly breathed his last.
AS soon as the funeral was over the
will was read by the confidential man of
business, who had always attended to
Mr.. Collects affairs. The group that
sat around him preserved decorous ap-
pesrance of disinterestedness, and, the
usual preamble to the will having been
listened to with breathless attention, the
man of business read the following, in
q clear voice
ct bequeath to my niece, Emma
Briggs, Notwithstanding that she shocked
her family by marrying an GILMAN, the
sum of ga, 900, being fully persuaded
that her lost dignity, if she could ever
find it again, would do nothing to pro-
vide her with food, or clothing, Or shell
ter"
John Meade smiled and Peter Finch
ground his teeth. but in quite respect
able manner. The man of business
went on with his reading.
"Having always had the opinion that
woman should be rendered a rational
and Independent being-and having du-
lv considered the fact that society prac-
tically denies her the right to earn her
own lving-I hereby bequeath to Mary
Sutton, the only child of my old friend,
Frederick Sutton, the sum of $40, 600,
which will enable her to marry or to re-
main single as she may prefer"
John Meade gave a prodigious start
upon hearing this, and Peter Finch
ground his teeth again, but in a manner
hardly perceptible. Both, however, by
violent effort, kept silent. The man
business went on with his reading,
"I have paid some attention to the
character of my nephew, John Meade,
and have been grieved to find HIM much
possessed with feeling of philanthropy
and with general preference for what
ever is noble aud true over what is base
and false As these tendencies are by
no means such as can advance him in the
world, bequeath him the sum of g10,-
600, hoping that he Will thus be kept
out of the workhouse, and be enabled
| to paint his great historical picture,
which, as yet, he has only talked about.
AS for my other nephew, Peter
Finch, he views all things in so saga
cious and selfish way, and is so certain
to get on in life, that I should only insnlt
him by offering an aid which he does no
require; yet, from his afectionate uncle,
and entirely as testimony of admira-
ton for bis mental acuteness, venture
to hope that he will accept bequest of
e500 toward the completion of his ex-
tensive library of law books
How Peter Finch stormed and called
names, how John Meade broke into a