The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-13

IN. Tdibcrt, Merchnnt
tanning the earliest years of discretion, the
sons decided that it 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-feelng young men, they looked upon
this duty as a sad necessity.
Had they been tempted to swcrve 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 sangline
business man came off. Mr.. Talbert realized
his capital and sold his business. He obtained
less for it because he made the stipulation that
his name should no longer appear in connec-
ton with it, Then, n widower with one
daughter and two sons he bought Hazlewood
House, and settled down to drift gradually
into good society.
He educated his children by this creed. II
is the duty Of all people to rise in the world
both in commercial and social circles Thanks
to his exertions and good fortune, the first
half of the obligation had been discharged.
The second rested chiefly with his children.
He did not tell them this in definite words,
but all the same preached it to them most elo-
quently, and was more than content, and felt
that the fruits of his training were showing
themselves, when his daughter married Sir
Maingay Clauson, a fairly respectable and
well-to-do baronet.
This satisfactory alliance gave the Talberts
lift in the social scale although, so fer as
Oakbury was concerned it was little needed.
Mr. Talbert had now been out of business for at
least ten years. He was quiet, gentlemanly,
and, if not retiring, at least unobtrusve His
wealth was estimated at about three times its
correct amount With these advantages he
already found himself well received by the
families of position, his neighbors Content
as he no doubt felt on his own account he,
, nevertheless held up their sisters brilliant
match as an example TO his sons, and talked
so much about the necessity of their choosing
their intimates fittingly that it is a marvel
the young men did not speedily develop into
fools or snobs.
But even now when verging upon middle
age they were nether-although any man
who would decline your acquaintance or
mine ought, of course, to be one or the
other-perhaIs both. The worst that could
be urged against the Talberts was this: From
the very first they had told themselves: I'VE
can find as pleasant and as true friends among
the upper ten thousand-among those who do
not make their living by barter-aS we can
among commercial people. Let us therefore
only associate with the best. A man has an
undouhted right to choose his own friends
Weshal not go out of our way to toady the
great, but with our ideas on the subject we
can only make associates of those whom we
consider the proper class of people. Duke
of Badminton may associate with whomsoever
he chooses. He is always, per Sc, the duke.
We are not dukes. Our father made his
money in-well, never mind i'll what. We
are not even millionaires. We have enough
wealth to live comfortably and like gentle
men, but not enough to roll i'll. If we go hand
in glove with oil, tobacco, sugar, etc, We
must, on account of the narrow distance
which divides us from the status of commerce,
sink to the level, or at least get COMPOUNDED
with those useful, respectable, profitable, but,
to us, distasteful commodities. Therefore it
behooves us to be fastidious even to a fault"
Who can blame such sentiments as thesel
To my mind there is kind Of shrewd nobility
in them!
Why, with such sensible views on things in
general, the two young men did not follow
matches is n matter which has never been
clearly explained. When, after an immacu-
late career, they left Oxford, they were tall,
well-built, young fellows; moreover carrying
about them an inherent look Of distinction.
So far as the world knew they had no vices.
Indeed, in spite Of stature, good looks, and
broad shoulders, in some quarters they were
accounted mlksops. Perhaps because, in ad-
thn lob
they strove to adopt towards every one, they
had many little iinnicking, old-maidish ways
| which were a source Of merriment to their
contemporaries. Nevertheless, among those
who were honored with their friendship, the
| Talberts were not unpopular. With many
women-the middle-aged especially-these
tall, handsome, refined young men were
prime favorites The fact of the brothers
having reached the respective ages Of 40 and
Al without having selected helps-meet for
them argues that something which makes
marrying man was missing from their
| natures.
1t may be that the pleasure they found in
travel prevented their settling down. For
many years, either together or Nngly, the
Talberts spent nine months out Of the twelve
away from home. Their father, who had no
wish to see his sons striving in the ruck of
humanity for the worlds prizes, made them
handsome allowances. Greatly to their credit
they lived within their incomes, even saved
money. These savings they invariably in
vested in works Of art, so that rs years went
by their acquisitions if united would have
formed valuable and tasteful collection, the
units of which bad been culled from east,
west, north and south-so judiciously that
the brothers felt sure that, il such thing
were needed, the selection would enhance the
reputation they already enjoyed for refined
tastes and knowledge of matters artistic.