Connecticut western news., 1883-01-31
ROYSHAM'S HORSES.
4 STORY OF HIGH LIFE ON THE HUDSON
 BY eRUEsoME BRIGHT.

Roysham owned 8 little estate at Ridgeton, on the Hudson, and managed small produce and commission ware house in New York. But ownership does not always imply control, as all of Roy sham's acquaintances came to under stand, for although the head of the fam fly paid the taxes on the property and paid, also, the bills of butcher and gro cer, it was generally known that Mrs. Roysham was sole manager of the family and its home, and from the many blum ders. that Roysham committed in busi- ness 1t was believed that Mrs. Roysham had great deal to say about the doings of her nominal lord and master at the office in New York.
 Whatever the cause may have been, it was noticed that as Roysham gained grace and responsibilities he seemed to lose worldly possessions. AS his two boys and four girls reached adult years they became renowned for dressing in worse taste and materials than any other young people in the neighborhood. This was no bar to their enjoyment of all so- ciety that was about them, but something else was.
 New York overhowed in their direc- tion, and in single year several farms on the edge of Ridgeton were cut up into villa sites, and dotted with the very obtrusive and unsightly structures in which the New Yorker generally in- dulges when he makes his home in the country. The city incursion had sud- den and peculiar effect upon the Roy shams. The sons and daughters, greatly against their will, were entirely with drawn from local society. The family changed its pew in church from long bench against the wall and we'll to the rear, to two short seats in the main aisle and not far from the chancel. Roysham Senior, who for dozen years had been compelled by his wife to refuse the oft proffered position of churchwarden, was now forced into that dignity by Mrs Roysham, and, more important thar all else, in the eyes of the lady of the house, the head of the family sold ou one of his life insurance policies ant bought with the proceeds pair of spir ited horses and handsome carriage.
 The meaning of all this was that Mrs Roysham had determined that he children should marry into some of tn city families who had arrived. In he 4ha iAx built new house, wore handsom clothes, drove good horses, and was i business in Wall street was rich, and a she had never ceased to regret that sh did not marry money, she was resolve that her children should avoid her errc and profit by it. By appearing exclusive she was sure her sons and daughter would attract the attention of the cit people, and she trusted to the famil prominence in church-the only churc in the village-and the horses an carriage to do whatever else was nece. sary.
 Roysham and his children were restiy under the new conditions in which the found themselves. The boys wei iustifiably fond of many estimable youn women who had always lived in tt village, and the daughters were n' averse to attentions that they had bee in the habit of receiving from tl brothers of other girls. Roysham hin self complained that the horses ate the heads off-a figure of speech that w somewhat excusable in view of the ia that the cost of oats and hay equall' that of the family's supply of grocerie while the man who took care of u animals and sometimes acted as coac man had to be paid three times as mu' as the one family servant. Repairs
 carriage and harness required mo money than repairs to the family war robe.
 ButsMrs. Roysham remained fir she inlistsd that to drive out every brig