Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-08
Talfs and Sketehes.
PATIENT KITTY.

such in the good old times. We were in
The house Of Haland Brothers, general
warehousemen, Gravel street, CITY, and
very respectable house it was. There was
nothing flashy about it, 1t was not what is
nowadays genteelly called "enterprising, :"
a city term which covers some strange do
ings. but 1t did good business in a safe,
old-fashioned way. Its customs were so
old-world that the younger of the two
partners always slept on the premises, in
stead OF leaving at four or five O'Clock at
latest, as others in his position do, for their
villas in the country or by the sea. They
made their money slowly. but surely, as
all folks must do who have a tolerablv
large connection, and are always getting
discount for their ready money.
Our principals were, believe, as kindly
as they were honest; but in my humble
sphere | was not at that time brought into
much personal connection with them. The
link between them and their employees was
Mr.. Ravnor, my friends father and their
head clerk. He was as much respected by
his interiors as by the members of the
firm; am not so sure that he was liked
so well, at least by the junior clerks. He
never said in words. of course, that be-
cause he was virtuous it behooved us to
have no cakes and ale, but his virtue was
so very patent, and also, let me allow, at
once so perfectly genuine, that it not only
reproved all dissipation. bnt even sup
pressed the harmless ebulition OF our
youthful spirits. He had also the unpopu-
lar habit OF applying for subscriptions un-
der the name OF 'our mites" in aid OF
enterprise both abroad and at
home OF the discouragment of Sunday
trading of the abolition of the liquor
traffic, and even the prrging of Great
Britain from the crying sin and shame of
tobacco smoking.
We did not mind giving our fourpennv
pieces, though that was sometimes incon-
venien', half 80 much as having to writ.
our names down, as was always insisted
upon, in these charitable lists. He would
thank us for our donations in the most ear
nest manner; but at the same time would
reflect upon our handwriting. in which
''he was surprised to find so little improve
meat, considering the experience OF which
we had had the advantage during our en-
gagement with Halland Brothers" At
Clapham, where he lived, if not in the
odor of sanctity, in an atmosphere OF good
report, he was President OF its Teetotal
Society, Vice-Chairman of its Band of
Hope, Honorary Secretary of its Anti
Climbing Boy Association. and, in short,
the working member OF all its benev-
olent institutions. He often assisted
them very literally, considering his linn
tied income, with his purse; but his
gift of oratoiy was always at their SER
vice, and he poured il out in the lecture
hal .nhAn1 IN, Ia 81.
proiusion. In those days free pass to
the pit OF a theatre was great boon to
us; but we did not so highly estimate even
n platform ticket to meeting in lions
Chapel, or in the Young Mems Improve
ment Hall. TO hear old Raynor lecture.
He was most generous in the distribution
of these tavors, and not to make use of
the privileges thus offered to us was to
give him great otfense. Poor Fred led
sad life with some OF US on this account.
"Confound you, Raynor. here's your
governor sent me another ticket to hear
him spout" or, 81 say, Fred, will you
guarantee me a rise IN salary at Christ
mas il | sacrifice myself this time 1t
was very hard upon the poor young fel-
low, for, as he justly said. "Well, can t
help it, you know. It's precious sight
worse tor me than for you. | have to go
to all these things. | sometimes wonder
whether any one was ever preached to
death"
He certainly suffered considerably; for
whereas during the delivery of the old
gentleman's addresses his eye only occa-
us, it always made the wretched Fred its
ha a,ly
again after any peculiarly powerful" ap-
peal to our "nobler natures as much AS
TO say, What do you think of that you
young reprobate Did not that search
Your very marrow P" Not that poor Fred
was rtprobate, but that he had a
natural tasle Tor pleasure of all kinds
and did not by any means count
the listening to these improv-
ing dscourses as "A pleasure. But at the
same time he reverenced his father most
profoundly. and thought hun not only one
OF the best men alive, but gifted with ex-
traordinaIy talents. 1T is ms own fault" :"
he used to say. "that | don't like his lee
lures. Everybody whose opinion is worth
having tells me they are first-rate. 1t is
sheer stupidity, know, that makes me
tail to SEE their merits; but, thank heaven,
do understand how good the old COVER
nor is. down to his very boots"
In this artless manner Fred Raynor used
to confess to me his faith in his parent
but the world at large was doubtless
scarcely aware of the feelings that did
such honor to the lads nature. The rea-
son of this confidence in my case was that
Fred was what we in those days used TO
call "sweet upon" my sister Kitty. OF
course, the thing ought never to have
been dreamed Of (only young people
have no command over their dreams Tor
Fred had but ninety pounds year. paid
monthly, and poor Kitty next to nothing z
at all; bot they made fools paradise OF
their own and lived in it. Fred's beha-
vior under these circumstances WAS wor.
thy of a better cause, or, at all events, ol
more feasible one. The frugalites he
pra, ticed, with the idea of eventually buy
ing II furnished residence, and setting uE
housekeeping on II microscopic scale, were
tremendous, and reminded me OF the as
ceticisms OF the closter. He drank gin
ger pop with his dinner instead OF halt
and-halt: started an hour earlier from hi:
home at Clapham every morning, on foot
that he might save his bus fare to the
Office, and always kept bis gloves in his
pocket, save when in the company OF his