The Portland daily press., 1879-05-05
THE PRESS.
From Casselrs Magazine.l
What Became of ''Sam."

family, they were sure of it: at all events,
they treated him as if he was so. Not that
they were unkind to him; on the contrary,
they were all very fond OF ''poor old SAM"
but II seemed to be taken for granted that
whatever he said was not worth noticing, and
almost everything he did was to be made fun
of more or less. He was, in fact, the family
butt, though shafts were, as a rule, tipped
with good nature so as not to hurt his feel
ings. Hardly ever did he attempt to say or
do anything in serious earnest, since almost
everything he did or said was treated as
sort of joke.
There was one exception to this. Mothers
always know best how to deal with the weak
In the flock, and Sans mother never laughed
at him, and never despaired of him. "What
is to become of Sam ?" his father would say;
shell II never earn his own living" and bis
mother would quietly answer: "Wait
bit, my dear, there is more in him, perhaps,
than we think, but 1t wants to be drawn out,
and doubt if we are acting wisely in laugh
ing at him as we do" She said "we," poor
sonl, but that was only her discreet way of
putting it.
Now, Sam had sister, Mary, of whom he
was especially fond. Perhaps it was because
she was nearest to his age, but 1t was more
likely because she placed little more conf.
dence in him than the others did; it wasn't
much, but 1t was more than hesgot from any
of the rest.
He would do anything for Mary, and when
certain Mr.. st. Leger in the neighborhood
took fancy to her, it was amusing to see
how Sam resented the engagement. This
Mr.. st. Leger had lately come in the neigh
borhood no one knew where from; but he
had plenty of money and very agreeable
manners, and was general favorite in the
Frere family. Sam, however, never liked
him FROM the first, and when at length he be-
1Tou +oI
aversion to him became intense.
The day was fixed for the wedding, and the
Sunday had arrived when, in difference to
Mary's particular wish. though very much
against Mr.. st. Leger's inclination, the banns
were to be published in church. The Freres
were in their pace-a great square pew in
front of the pulpit. The names we're read
ont in due course. Mary was recovering
from the electric shock of bearing them; the
villagers were interchapging glances. some
even cautiously rising little to peep into the
square pew, when a voice was heard all over
the church, saying in most emphatic way,
81 forbid the banns."
Surprise was on every face, but it quickly
gave way to the udicrous as Sam was seen
standing up in the middle of the pew, looking
the clergyman steadily 10 the face, as much
as TO say, There now; get over that if you
camp The clergyman was so amused that
he had TO rush on with the service to prevent
any unseemly display, while Sans kindred
in the square pew were in every attitude of
painfully restrained amusement.
Aud there he stood unabashed and defiant
until his father plncked him by the arm and
made him sit down. But no one for a mo-
ment thought it was anything more than a
very unaccountable freak Of "poor old
Sam's." Ii IS
No sooner was the service over than he
was assailed on all sides for an explanation.
Two only were serious about it, his father
and Mary.
sWhat is the meaning of this, sir ?" said
his father, sternly. "Wbat could have pos
sessed you to make yourself SO ridiculous ?"
"He has got wife already" said Sam,
doggedy;, J., o., ,,,,. a.. ...,, 49,, .,..,...,.
"St. Leger.''
.'Who told you 500
"Tom Tyler"
TEN Tyler was the village letter carrier.
There was a shout of laughter at this piece
Of information.
"When did Tom Tyler tell you this ?''
YESTERDAY. He brought me letter for
Mrs. st. Leger."
Another shout of laughter greeted this; but
Mary looked very grave, while her father said
that of course the letter was for St. Leger's
mother, of whom he had more than once
spoken. So Sam was sharply rebuked for lis
tening to Tom Tyler's idle tales, and told to
hold bis tongue. "You'll have st. Leger try
his horsewhip across your shoulders if you
don't mind" cried his eldest brother, and
they all laughed again; but Sam was very un-
like himself and did Lot join in the laugh, but
maintained grave composure they had nev-
er noticed in him before.
Nor was it laughing matter somewhere
else. The news of that mornings interrupt
ton flew apace, with various additions and
amendments. Thus improved upon it reached
the ears of Mr.. s.. Leger, who lived bat a
few miles off, and it created profound sei-
satioD, so much SO that, instead of spending
the afternoon with the Freres as expected, be
took himself off aud was never seen by them
again. 1t was discovered that Tom Tylers
version had been correct and good radiance
for Mary Frere; but heart trifed with and
wronged can never quite recover itself.
For time Sam was almost reverently
treated at home. They felt the force of his
simple explanation why he had chosen such
singular way of uttering his suspicious, that
1t was "because they would only have laughed
at him if he had told them," and were little
ashamed of themselves. But the old habit
revived after while, as old habits, both fam
lily and personal, so easily do, and Sans
brains were held as cheap as ever, except by
Mary, who was drawn to him more than ever,
and by bis mother, who never ceased to pom
meaning of that display of firm intelligence
and almost fierce affection.
''Pll tell you what it MEANS" said her
brother to Mrs. Frere one day when she was
talking to him about it-he was lawyer in
London, old hn Quicksett, of Grav's Iun
who could see thing as shrewdly as most
people-"it means this, that Sam has got a
heart and head, but his head is more out of
the way than usual, aud can only be got at
fhr0nOh N 20 an nj fosh hod
room, that can only be reached by going
through another. Look here, sister, like
amazingly that story ofthe banns-its grand.
Not that there was anything clever in what
he did, just the reverse; il might have been
most stupid mistake but this is what takes
my fancy so. the firmness of purpose, a far
higher quality of mind than mere cleverness,
that could make the poor fellow face every
thing he did for the sake of the sister he
loved. There must be something in one
whe could run the gantlet like that. when
his heart was fairly unlocked; and think
have the key"
81 always thought So" cried Mrs. Ferre,
greatly delighted.
swell, let me try. Pll run away with
Sam, and make lawyer of him. What do
you say? p"
The grinning was epidemic round the ia
BILE after 1t was known that Sam was to be a
lawyer. His brothers and sisters could hard
ly look at him at first without smiling; it did
seem so droll, so absolutely contrary to every
notion they entertained of him. Had he sat
before them in full naval costume as Admiral
of the Channel feet it would hardly have
struck them as being more unlocked for and
preposterous. Uncle Johns presence saved
Sam from collective bantering, though the
old lawyer was too wise to make any fuss
about the matter; but when Sam was alone
with his brothers and sisters he had a hard
time of 1t, though all was, as usual, in per-
feet good humor.
At first Sam had, of course, to go through
the usual drudgery of a lawyers Office, in
which, il it be possible for any one to shine,
he certainly did not. His blunders were aw-
full, and provoked the wrath or ridicule, as
the case might be, of his fellow clerks, who
were all well seasoned and somewhat ancient
men. But his uncle never found fault with
him. The most he said when some frantic
bungle was brought to his notice was, "Sam,
do this over again you know you can do it
a great deal better than that" And sure
enough, it was done better the second time.