The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-03-28

said he, Ct don't by any means approve
OF your sOh, sir I and Dear sir, and
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 a 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
hkings and dislikings."
"My poor father often told me how
you dislikel ceremony" said Mary.
"Your poor father told you quite
right" said Mr.. Collett. "Fred SUIT
ton was man Of .talent-a capital fel.
low. His only fault was natural ina
bility to keep farthing in his pocket.
Poor Fred be 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, I don't know; I've tried not to
be brute, but dare say have been.
Don't I speak roughly to you sometimes?
Haven't l given you good, prudent,
worldly advice about John Meade, and
made myself quite disagreeable and IN
like a guardian? Come, confess you
love this penniless nephew of NINE"
Penniless, indeed"
"Ah, there it u.s." 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-co consider
ing he's an attorneys 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 he trudges on foot.
The harangue was here interrupted by
a 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
a 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 p said he.
"Let us find some better subject to dis
cuss than the state Of an old man health.
I want to know little more about you
both. I haven't seen much of you up
to the present time, and for anything I
know you may be rogues or FOOLS"
John Meade seemed rather to vince
under this address, but Peter Finch sat
calm and confident.
"To put o case, now," said Mr. Col
lett, "this morning poor wretch of a
gardener came begging here. He could
get no work, and said he was starving.
Well, I knew something about the fell
low, and I believe he only told the
truth; so I gave him a shilling to get rid
of him. Now I'm afraid I did wrong.
What reason had I for giving him 8
shilling? What claim had he on me
What claim had he on anybody? The
value of his labor on the market is all
that workingman has a right to; and,
when his labor is of no value, why. then
he must go to the devil, or whatever else
he can-eh, Peter? That's my philoso-
ply; what do you think2"
81 quite agree with you, sir, said
Mr.. Finch; ''pefectly agree with you.
The value of their labor in the market
is all that laborers can pretend to-all
that they should have. Nothing acts
more pernlciously than the absurd, ex-
traneous support called charity
"Hear, hearp p said Mr.. Collett.
"You're very clever fellow, Peter. &C
on, my dear boy, go on
"What results from charitable aid g.
continued Peter. s'The value of labor
is kept on an unnatural level. State
charity is State robbery, private charity
is public wrong"
"That's it, Peter p said Mr.. Collect
what do you think of our philosophy
John?"
st don't like it don't believe itl'
said John. You were quite right te
give the man shilling. I'd have giver
him a shilling myself"
ooh, you would, would you ?" sale
Mr.. Collect. "You're very generous
with your shillings. Would you fly il
the face of all orthodox political econo
my, you vandal ?"
EYES," said John; "as the yandall
flew in the face of Rome and destroyed
what had become falsehood and nui
sance."
"Poor John r. said Mr.. Collect, "wt
shall never make anything of him, Pc
ter. Really, we'd better talk Of some
thing else. John, tell us all about the
last new novel"
They conversed on various topics I'M
til the arrival of the invalid's early bed
time parted uncle and nephews for the
night.