Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-04-27
A Romance of Labor.

The following true incident was brought
to my remembrance while listening to the
rebellous words of II young man, who
could not see his fathers wisdom in desir-
ing him to learn II trade.
" 1t will make a common man of me
father he said querulously; shall be
as dirty as blacksmith, and have hands
like coal HEAVIER"
"And if you think, Fred that wearing
fine clothes and having white hands makes
YOU IL gentleman, let me tell you, sir. You
are now very common man to begin
with. A good trade might help you to
truer notions of gentlemanhood.'
Then looked ut the handsome fellow
for he was handsome-and | thought Just
now of Steve Gaskill. Steve has made his
mark now, but many years ago | heard
lust such a talk between him and old Jo-
siah Gaskill, relative to the young man
learning his fathers trade ola woodstaper.
=. 1t 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 that
shall do something better for myself than
that"
Every well, lad; what is it thou'd fain
to be?'
l." A lawyer, father"
"They're naught bnt 4 lazy, quarrelsome
set, hut thou shall not say | ever stood in
thy gtte. Be lawyer, lad, I'll speak to
Denham tomorrow about thee"
SO young Steve was articled to Denham
& Downess, to study law, especially con-
vevancingn He was an only son, but had
three sisters, and over them and his mother
he exercised supreme influence.
Whatever Steve did was right, whatever
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 advised his son to be a
lawyer, but seeing that Steve was net
afraid of being one, he was rather proud
of the lads pluck and ambition.
| 1t cost them deal. Steve's tastes were
expen, ,ve, and he fell naturally among Il
class of men who led him into many eX-
travapances. There were occasionally
awkward scenes, but Steve supported by
his mother and sisters, always cleared
every scrape, and finally satisfied the fam
ily pride in being regularly admitted upon
| tIlt IOll vi ltl hhISoNS . ''etOi
In the meantime his father had beer
daily failing in health; soon after this he
died Most of his savings had been Sc
cured for the benefit of the helpless women
of the Gaskill family, and Steve now found
himself with IL profession and a thousanC
pounds to give him fair start in it. Peo
pie said old Gaskill had acted very wisely
and Steve had sense enough to acquiesct
in public opinion, lie knew, too, that as
long as his mother or sisters had shilling
they would share with him.
SO he hopefully opened an Office in hi'
native town of Leeds, and waited for eli
ents. But Yorkshire men are proverbialll
cautious; II young, good-natured, fashion
ably dressed lawyer was not their ideal
Sieve could not look crafty and wise unde
anv circumstances, and that first year ht
did not make enough to pay his rent,
Nevertheless he did not in any way cur
tail his expenses; and when the summer
holidays arrived he went as usual to ;
fashionable watering place. 1t happened
that year saw the debut of Miss Ellzabetl
Bri,ithwate, great heiress, and verN
handsome girl Steve was attracted b.
her beauty, aud her great wealth was NJ
0rHWDaCk III HlS by6' III 'uOlb tiLlc u
perceived that Miss Braithwaite favoret
hlIn above all other pretenders to he
hand. and he began to consider the advan
tages of n rich wife.
His profession hitherto had been fail
ure; his one thousand pounds were nearl
spent; his three sisters were all on th
point of marriage, a condition which nigh
seriously modify their sisterly instincts
and his mothers annual income would nc
support him month-would it not be th
best plan to accept the good fortune s
evidently within his reachP
Elizabeth was handsome and inclined
: favor him, and though she had the reputa
ton of being both authoritative in tempe
and economical in money matters, he dl
not doubt that she would finally acknow
edge his power as completely as his motht
and sisters. So he set himself to win Mis-
Braithwaite, and before Christmas the
were married.