The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-12-02

farm, much larger and more valuable, was
entrusted to him. It was well known
that there was limit to the distance
that mere agreement with his opinion
could carry Mr.. Smart; and, moreover,
on the occasions when he and Mr.. For
acre, now middle. aged man, but of
course much. his junior, met in one an.
others society, there was not any undue
Difference observed On the latter's part.
Indeed, judging from what l myself saw
of them, the Difference was rather on the
other side, which was certainly remark
able. For, next the Duke OF Grampian,
his land steward, though he was but a
country attorney, was, as his Grace's
representative, perhaps the most power
full man in the country, and was looked
up to by those whom he could favor &C.
cordingly.
l remember the man well, TOR 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 large garden in its
rear, and quite Independent of the COT
fee" establishment, with which, how
ever, it communicated; and I recollect,
boy as was, how it surprised me once
to see Farmer Foracre come out of the
former part ct the edifce one day like
guest and an equal.
My uncle raised his eyebro VS. when
told him OF it, as though he could not
make it out either; for Mr.Smart had no
daughter to marry (even surprising her
union with a farmer would not have been
xaesazziance). but only one little boy,
who 1t was said would one day be i'm
mensely rich. However rich he was
growing, that did not prevent Mr.. Smart
from money getting, at which he was a
very sharp hand; and think my uncle
had his suspicious that honest Foracre
would have to pay pretty handsomely for
the consideration with which I had seen
him treated. Tenants of the Duke had
more than once been sold up rather sud-
denly, and the principal creditor, who
had supplied them with the money (for a
consideration during their embarras-
ment, had proved to be Mr.. Smart him
self. Every one would have been sorry
had this fate happened to honest Foracre,
and indignant also; tor 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 gray eyes and
keen Ratchet face-which seldom broke
into smile except in the presence of his
Grace the Duke-and contrasted them
with the physiognomy of the good far
mex.
However, so far as being sold up For
acre became very prosperous, and, as it
happened, was ''gazetted," if I may so
call tito larger farm than the one he
then held, on the very next market.day
to that on which had seen him leave MIR,
Smart's house wi ping his mouth with the
back of his hand, which is the way with
the Wiltshire folks after good meal.
Thus tar I have written from nv
personal knowledge Of the man, but I
have heard much of him from others.
Although none knew whence he had
sprung, he seemed to have good many
friends, who came to visit him from time
to time, and who were all apparently re-
spectacle persons. 1t was noticed, too,
by those who spoke with them, thatsthey
were much above the common run in tile
way of lntell1s ence, and superior to their
host IN that Way, if not in social position.
This, again, Was not set down in the good
mans favor. for bachelor farmers, even of
middle age, are sometimes coarsely con-
vlvial,and will surround themselves, when
they can afford it, with boon companions
who do them no good. As Mr.. Foracre
advanced in years these guests grew more
numerous, which might be easily account
ed for by his increased means of enter
tainment. At the time have In my mind
he was in the occupation Of the Manor
Farm, and, so to speak, at the top Of the
tenant tree; but what was observed as
curious was, first, that his friends
only came Que at time; and
secondly, that no friend ever
visited Mr.. Foracre's twice. They
came, and apparently njoyed themselves:
they shot and tished (for Mr.. Smart gave
Foracre greater sporting rights than
were enjoyed by most tenants), ana ate
and drank Of the best, and parted, as it
seemed, with their entertainer upon the
best OF terms; bnt they never turned up
again in Seton. Another popularity OF
the honest farmers visitors was that
10y WIZ a. Ill"
The Manor Farm, large as it was, was
almost entirely furnished by the con-
tributions Of its tenants friends and ad-
mirers: they did not send mere knick-
knacks such as for wedding present,
but serviceable articles of value-carpets,
dinner table. and bookcases, of all which
Mr.. Foracre made no more than a fash
ionable curate does Of his gift slippers.
He never Haunted his popularity in the
face of his less fortunate fellow creatures.
''Smith and Jones'" he would say, ''are
very kind, much too kind and that was
all. One day he had a very handsome
silver breakfast service sent him, such as
probably was not to be seen in Seton
except in the squire's house. He was
very unwell at the time, and this act OF
generous attention might have cause
many man -softened by illness-to
make much of such a gift; yet no one SO
much as heard him speak Of it. Never
theless, he could not disarm envy; and
we'll remember Miss Tabitha Prim, a
bitter old maid Of Calvanistlc opinions
the sister of the village doctor, taking on
herself to remind him of what was writ.
ten about laying up gold and silver
against the day of wrath. But the ex-
cp1)ant fallou oDlr IN, ;IoJ Owl 4L.-1 !,