Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-10
CHAPTER II.
A FAMILY OF POSITION,

Be 1t remembered that Oakbury Is not
Blacktown. Many of its inhabitants are
greatly annoyed when they hear it called a
suburb Of Blacktown. Oakbury is near the
large city, but not Of it. Although the fact
cannot be ignored that the existence Of the
many charming country houses which adorn
Oakbury is as much due to its contiguity to
the dirty thriving town az to its natural
beauties-and although a certain proportion
Of those desirable residences has been pur-
chased by Blacktown's successful traders, the
most aristocratic inhabitants Of Oakbury look
with indifference on the good and evil for
tunes of the city. They, the aristocratic in
habitants, are useful to Blacktown, not
Blacktown to them. They are out Of its dis
sensions and struggles; better still, beyond
he range Of its taxation. They are of the
county, not the town. So they head their
letters "Oalibury, Westshire; +" and, as a rule,
decline intimacy with any Blacktown trader
under the rank of banker or merchant prince
Besides Lord Kelston's well known country
seat, there must be In the parish Of Oakbury
some 20 or 25 gentlemens residences. They
cannot hO called estates, as the ground at
tached to each varies respectively from three
to fifty acres, but not a few of them might
lay claim to be described by that well-round-
ed phrase, dear to auctioneers and house
agents, n country mansion, fit for the occu-
patton and requirements Of family Of posi-
tion." They are not new, speculative, jerry
built houses, but good, old-fashioned, solid
affairs No painted and gilt railings surround
them; thick boundary walls and fine old trees
hide them from the gaze Of inquisitive holi-
day folks As the country around is very
beautiful and richly timbered as the prevail
ing wind which blows across Oakbury comes
straight from the sea, pure and uncontam-
mated as two Of the best packs Of hounds
in England meet within an easy distance;
and, prejudice notwithstanding, as the con-
veniences offered by large city are 80 close
at hand-it Is no wonder that the rector of
Oakbury numbers many families Of position
among his parishioners. If mine were fam
lily Of position, it should most certainly oc-
cupy a pew in that fine, old square-towered
church.
After this description 1t will be easily be-
lieved that the Oakbury people are somewhat
exclusive-by the Oakbury people are meant
the inhabitants Of the aforesaid twenty
houses; the manner Of the villagers and other
small fry who constitute the residue Of the
population need not be taken into account.
The Oakbury people proper are very particu-
lar as to with whom they associate, and the
most particular and exclusive of all are two
gentlemen named Talbert, the joint owners
and occupiers Of Hazlewood House.
Their ultra-exclusiveness was but the nat
uraj outcome Of the postioa IN which they
were placed. The fact that their income was
derived from money made by their father in
timber, tobacco, soap, sugar, or some other
large industry Of Blacktown-people have
already nearly forgotten which it was-must
be responsible for the care the Talberts were
bound to exercise before they made q new
acquaintance.
Because, you see, in their opinion at least,
the taint Of trade still clung to them. They
were but generation removed from the
actual buying, selling and chaffering. Meta
phorically speaking, their own fathers hands
had been hardened by the timber, stained by
the tobacco, lathered by the soap, made
sticky by the sugar, according to the particu-
lar branch of trade at which he had worked
to such advantage. So it was that upon at
taining the earliest years OF dlscreuon, une
sons decided that 1t was more incumbent
upon them than upon the generality of per-
sons to be particularly particular in their
choice Of friends. As they were amiable,
right-feeling young men, they looked upon
this duty as a sad necessity
Had they been tempted to swerve from this
line Of conduct respect for their father should
have kept them steadfast. He had always
impressed the great duty upon them Before
the two boys were out Of the nursery the great
coup which Is expected by every sanguine
business man came off. Mr.. Talbert realized
his capital and sold his business He obtained
less for 1t because he made the stipulation that
his name should no longer appear in connec-
ton with 1t. Then, widower with one
daughter and two sons, he bought Hazlewood
- Liza Ill.