The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-21
4 ROMANCE OF LABOR.


Flood ng bsEe and waiting meadows
$50 With liz light. 1900 *
Ele;rs Goodals 3I!iasea years old. IN 50.
A ROMANCE OF LABOR.
The following true incident was
brought to my remembrance while list
ening to the rebellious words Of a
young man, who could not see his faith
er's wisdom in desiring him to learn a
trade.
1t viii make common man OF me,
father" he said ENORMOUSLY; :. shall
be as dirty as a blacksmith, and have
hands like a coal-heaver."
..And if you think, Fred, that wear
ing fine clothes and having white hands
makes you gentleman, let me tell you,
sir, you are now a very common man
to begin with. A good trade might
help you to truer notions of gentleman
hood
Then I looked at the handsome fell
low-for he was handsome-and /
thought just now of Steve Gaskill.
Steve has made his mark now, but
many years ago l heard just such a
talk between him and old Josiah Cas-
kill, relative to the young man, learn
ing his fathers trade of wool-stapler.
at is dirty business, father" said
the splendid Steve, in full evening dress.
"and hate the smell of oil and the
sight of those men in blue linen blouses.
/ hope l shall do something better for
myself than that
Every well, lad; what is it thou'd
fain to be?''
"A lawyer, father
'sThey're naught but lazy, quarrel
some set, but thou sha' not say ever
stood i thy gate. Be lawyer, lad, rll
speak to Denham tomorrow about
thee
So young Steve was articled to Dem
ham & Downess, to study law, and
especially !" conveyancing." He was an
only son, but he had three sisters, and
over them and his mother he exercised
supreme influence.
Whatever Steve did was right; what
ever he said was beyond dispute. Even
old Josiah, with all his sound sense,
was, IN spite of himself, swayed by the
undisputed acknowledgment of Steve S
superiority. He would not have add
vised his son to be lawyer. but seeing
that Steve was not afraid of being one,
he was rather proud of the lads pluck
and ambition.
1t cost him good deal. Steve's
tastes were expensive, and he fell nat
urally among class of men who led
him into many extravagances. There
were occasional awkward scenes, but
Steve, supported by his mother and
sisters, always cleared every scrape,
and finally satisfied the family pride
in being regularly admitted upon the
roll of Her Majesty's attorneys.
In the meantime his father had been
daily falling in health, and soon after
this he died. Most of his savings had
been secured for the benefit Of the
helpless women of the GaskiIl fami-
"; and Steve now found himself with
a profession and thousand pounds
to give him fair start in it. People
said old Gaskill had acted very WISE
ly, and Steve had sense enough to ac-
quiesce in public opinion. He knew,
too, that as long as his mother or SIS
tiers had shilling they would share it
with him. as
So he hopefully opened an Office in
his native town Of Leeds, and waited
for clients. But Yorkshire men are
proverbially cautious; young, good
natured, acknowledgement lawyer
was not their ideal. Steve could not
look crafty and wise under any circum-
stances, and that first year he did not
make enough to pay his rent.
Nevertheless he did not in any way
curtail his expenses; and when the sum-
mer holidays arrived he went as usual
to a fashionable watering place. It
happened that year saw the debut of
Miss Elizabeth Braithwaite, . great
heiress, and very handsome girl
Steve was attracted by her beauty, and
her great wealth was no drawback in his
eye. In short time he perceived that
Miss Braithwaite favored him above all
other pretenders to her hand, and he
began to consider the advantages of a
rich wife.
His profession hitherto had been q
failure; his FL. 900 were nearly spent;
his three sisters were all on the point of
marriage, condition which might
seriously modify their sisterly instincts;
and his mothers annual income would
. not support him q month-wouldi it not
be the best plan to accept the good for
tune 80 evidently within his reach?
Elizabeth was handsome and inclined
to favor him, and though she had the
reputation of being both authoritative
in temper and economical in money
matters, he did not doubt that she
would finally acknowledge his power
as completely as his mother and sisters.
So he set himself to win Miss Braith-
waite, and before Christmas they were
married.
True, he had been compelled to give
pa great deal more than he liked; but
he promised himself plenty of post
marital compensations. Elizabeth in
sisted on retaining her own house, and
as Steve had really no house to offer
her, be must needs 60 to, Braithwaite
Hall. as the husband Of its proprietress.
She insisted upon his removing his of
fee to Braithwaite, q small village Of
fering none of the advantages for kill
ing time which large city like Leeds
did; and she had all her money scrupu-
lously settled upon herself for her own
use and under her own control.
= Steve felt very much as though his
wife had bought him; but for : little
time, the eclat of having married q
great heiress. the bridal festivities, and
foreign travel, compensated for the loss
Of his freedom. But when they re-
turned 10 Braithwaite, life showed him
afar more prosaic side. Mrs. Gaskill's
economical disposition soon became
parfiou1ulv Offensive 10 steve. ehe