The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-17

time, ne always spoke with respect both
of high farming and early risings Indeed,
he spoke with respect of everything ex-
cept of poachers and Dissenters, who
happened to be the two classes that Mr..
Smart held in highest reprobation; and
it was whispered that it was the young
fellows artless sympathy that won the
land steward over to let him
have the little farm. He paid his
rent very punctually for several
years, and by no means mis-
managed the place, but he could scarcely
be said to have improved it; and it was
understood that the Duke would have
none but improving men upon his land.
Therefore the surprise of the neighhor-
hood was considerable when another
farm, much larger and more valuable,
was intrusted to him. 1t was well
known that there was limit to the dis
tance that mere agreement with his opin-
ions could carry Mr.. Smart; and, more
over, on the occasion when he and Mr..
Foracre, now middle-aged man, but of
course much his junior, met in one
another's society, there was not any
undue Difference observable on the lat
ters part. Indeed, judging from what
myself saw of them, the Difference was
rather on the other side, which was GER
tainly remarkable. For next to the
Duke of Grampian, his land steward,
though he was but a country attorney,
was, as his Grace's representative, per
haps the most powerful man in the coun-
ty, and was looked up to, by those whom
he could favor, accordingly.
remember the man well, for he was
my uncle, the rector's lawyer, and more
than once have / ridden over on my pony
to Barton, our post-town, where he lived,
with documents for him from my rela.
tive. He had good house looking on
the street, with a large garden in its rear,
and quite independent of the "office es-
tablishment, with which, however, it
communicated; and recollect, boy as
was, how it surprised me once to see Far
mer Foracre come out of the former part
of the edifce one day like guest and an
equal.
My uncle raised his eyebrows when !
told him of it, as though he could not
make it out either, for Mr.. Smart had no
daughter to marry (even supposing her
union with farmer would not have been
mesalliance), but only one little boy,
who, it was said, would one day be i'm
mehsely rich. However rich he was grow
ing, that did not prevent Mr.. Smart from
money-getting, at which he was very
sharp hand; and ] think my uncle had
his suspicious that honest Foracre would
have to pay pretty handsomely for the
consideration with which had seen him
treated. Tenants of the Duke had more
than once been sold up rather suddenly,
and the principal creditor, who had sup
piled them with money (for due CON
sideration) during their embarrassments,
had proved to be Mr.. Smart himself.
Everyone would have been sorry had
this fate happened to honest Foracre, and
indignant also; for it was plain that his
wits, though serviceable enough in their
way, were not to be matched against the
attorneys. Nobody could doubt it who
saw the latter's hard grey eyes and keen
hatchet face-which seldom broke into a
smile except in the presence of his Grace
the Duke-and contrasted them with the
physiognomy of the good farmer.
However, so far from being sold up,
Foracre became very prosperous, and, as
it happened, was "gazetted," if I may 50
call it, to a larger farm than the one he
then held, on the very next market-day
to that on which ] had seen him leave
Mr.. Smart's house, wiping his mouth
with the back of his hand-which is the
way with Wiltshire folks after good
meal. Thus far | have written from my
personal knowledge of the man, but
heard much of him from others. AL
though none knew whence he had sprung
he seemed to have good many friends
who came to visit him from time tt
time, and who were all apparently respect
able persons. 1t was noticed, too, by
those who spoke with them, that they
were much above the common run in tht
way of intelligence, and superior to theil
host in that way, if not in social position
This, again, was set down in the good
mans favor for bachelor farmers
even of middle age, are some.
times coarsely convivial. and viii
surround themselves, when they can af
ford it, with boon companions who dc
them no good As Mr.. Foracre advanced
in years these guests grew more numer-
ous, which might be easily accounted fol
by his increased means of entertainment
At the time l have in my mind hi
was in the occupation of the Manor
Farm, and so to speak, at the top of thu
tenant tree; but what was observed al
curious was, first, hat his friends only
came one at time; and secondly, tha
no friend ever visited Mr.. Foracre'
twice. They came, and apparently en-
joyed themselves; they shot and fshec
(for Mr.. Smart gave Foracre create
sporting rights than were enjoyed by
most tenants), and ate and drank of th'
best, and parted, as it seemed, with theil
entertainer upon the best OF terms; bu
they never turned up again in Sefton
Another popularity of the honest farm
er's visitors was that they were always
giving him presents. The Manor Farm
Ioroa as IL was was almost antiral,