Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-27

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hAd been giving tns rscror nrrssn -nunueo
per annum This, be promised, should b
continued 10 his death, when an ample pro
vision would Be made for himself and bis son.
This arrangement had gone on for many
years undisturbed, but q short time before,
10 Rector Brents great astonishment, his
brother, than over seventy, told him he
meditated marriage. The facts were soon
out A strong-minded Irish widow, Of good
family, with file Of tan, hungry, pennies
sons, had marked him for her own There
followed, in the usual artful sequel. hattery
and amiable persecution The old man was
cajoled, managed, AMI, In the last stages Of
the affair, bullied, until, without his brothers
knowledge, he was actually married to the
triumphant widow, who wrote 10 the rector,
explaining the haste and secrecy Of the tran
saction by the state Of ''our dear Henrys
nervous system The elder brother assured
his Junior that the marriage would make no
difference in his allowance or his subsequent
prospects; and for twelve months this prom.
ise was kept But the old man was growing
feeble, and his wife inpatient Her sons
were expensive, and she wished to secure
not be ascertained, but she spirited her hus-
band away to the south Of France. Under
the plea Of bronchial disease and nervous
prostration, she shut him up from society;
and when, a few months before, the rector,
growing uneasy, had gone to Cannes to see
his brother, he was not admitted to the house,
being comforted by the assurance that every
thing was being done to restore, or at least to
compose, dear Henry's nervous system" To
tell the rest I'm q few words, on the morning of
Sibyrs marriage the poor rector received
letter, written by his brother himself, in
which, after some vague sentences about "loss
of money" failure of investments" and ain
creasing expenses" he plainly said that he
inclosed the last check which he would ever
be able to send. The letter closed with
postscript, in which the rector was reminded
that already great deal had been done for
him, which genial stroke was due to the die
tation of the accomplished Mrs. Brent So
our unhappy rector found himself placed In
the position Of the holder Of a benefice worth
scarcely hundred year, after outgoings,
costly establishment, luxurious habits de-
clining years, and a son who had been led ia
expect fortune as his Inheritance.
The little clergyman behaved with singular
dignity and straightforwardness. He told
the whole story frankly, and seemed to de-
velop fortitude for the trial We were
pleased to hear now from his lips some of
those phrases about trust in God and resigna-
ton to the dispositions of providence at
which we had sometimes felt inclined to smile
when the sleek little fellow spoke them in the
pulpit. Indeed, SO deep was our comnlisera-
tion for the rector's misfortune that we-who
are neither church nor, fear, very chari-
table people-summoned meeting of lead
ing parishioners, at which we resolved, by
annual subscriptions, to raise enough to pay
the curates; and thus, without directly pau
periziAg our clergyman, we hoped to enable
him to hold his living. In this way Rector
Brent Was put in possession of about three
hundred year-not a bad allowance, you
may say: but consider how he had lived
hitherto. The carriage must be put down;
the gardens must be laid out in grass; the
cozy dinner parties must be given up; Rector
Brent must, for the rest of his life, walk the
ways of gentsel poverty.
Among the first to hear the bad news was
Mrs. Barbara. Temple That excellent little
woman had a maxim for every change and
chance, and upon hearing the tidings she re-
marked that such was the world-up and
down. "If the ups were always up" she
continued, straying for an instant into philos-
ophy, "the downs would never have chance.
There was only SO much money, so much ease,
so much luck, going. What one lost fell to
the lot Of another" At the same times /, ex,s
pressed and felt genuine sorrow for Mr. Brent
and for his son, who had always appeared to
her most pror using young fellow
Shortly after hearing all this, Mrs. Temple
rang for her maid, and sent for Sophia, who
came in with light dancing step, rare with
her; her face was full of glee.
Il know what it is, mamma; you want me
to look at you dress. But saw it before you
did. Fright, !, it is! You shan't wear it,
dear; net if gear it myself"
Sophia, YOU look very pretty this morn
ing" the mother said, with much fonclness
and admiration, and touch of sorrow too,
as she thought of the disappointment the Girl
was about to have. "Never mind the gown;
have something to say to you"
Sophia looked wondering into her mothers
serious face, as she took seat beside her
"Life is full Of trials, Sophy." the kind
hearted little wording began No one is tit
to live who is not ready to meet small vcxa-
tions and disappointments, that perhaps at
first don't seem small, and meet them witt
cheerful face. One great thing is to remcm-
ber-what is undoubtedly true-that most
disappointments have bright as we'll as a
dark side. Indeed, if one looks over ones
life, it is surprising to notice how many mis-
haps which we either cried over or felt we
would like to cry over, only we restrained
ourselves, become on review matters Of con-
graduation. Do you know, Sophy, think
sometimes, when look back over my life,
that what called my misfortunes have in
three cases out of four become either directly
or indirectly sources Of happiness after
year or two. I Idon't wish to talk boastfully,
dear; but think some of that is due to my
own good common sense"
She drew herself up with selfsatisfled
air, but instantly resumed her compassionate
tone, while Sophia looked a little anxious,
not knowing what was coming She saw
that her mother watched her closely, as she
delivered herself of these philosophic morsels.r
u shall not delay what I have to say, Mrs
Temple went on, stroking her girls hand
kindly. II have heard something this morn
ing which renders your marriage with young
Brent impossible"
Mammal" Sophia cried, in greatagitation
These things happen, Sophy," the mother
continued; ''these things often happen. I
never told any Of you girls before but as
sure you the first man that proposed to me
and to whom was on the point of being
married-had to fly from England to avoid
transportation" aim
Mammal Sophia cried again, but now
springing to her feet, with face white with
fear and pain. STell me; what is iti He
can't, o, he can't have done anything
wrongl"
Nothing wrong, dear" she answered. II
only mentioned my case as in some respects