Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-24


with his second best bed snd agold headed
stick. Now il angered Mathew to think
that he being also nephew aud sisters son
of Samuel Embletop, Of Norwich Mill,
was left no part or portion Of this goodly
heritage. It would seem that, knowing
his uDcle's design 20 send Ralph 70 Cam
bridge, and his hope that he world become
q credit to the family and pillar of the
church, he hsd hoped and even grown to
believe firmly aud TO expect it as a right,
that the mill at least, if not the farm, or
portion of it, would be left to him. 1t was,
therefore, bitter blow for him to find
that he was left nothing at all except what
be could make or save a. guardian Of the
heir and administrator of the estate, with
free quarters at the mill for six years.
Surely for q man Of probity and common
sense that would have been considered q
great deal.
He came with bis sister, who was as
much disappointed as himself, in spirit
of raroor, malice and envy. He regarded
the innocent boy as a sRpplanter. The
first thing be did was to inform him that
be should have no skplking or idleness
lie therefore put stop to the Latin and
Greek Lessons with the vicar, and employed
the 10Y about the work Of the place, Civ
ing him the hardest and most disagreeable
tasks on the farm. For freedom was sub
stitpted seryitude; for liberty, restraint;
for affection and kindness, harsh language
and continual floggiDgs; while Barbara,
with her tongue, that i'll governed weapon
of woman, made him feel for the first
time in his life how idle, how useless, how
greedy q creature he was. The boy bore
with all, as meekly as was his duty, for
oui;e two years. But be often came to
me or to the fugleman with fists elinshed,
declaring that he would endure this Ill
usage no longer, and asking in wonder
what he had done to deserve it. And at
such times he would swear to leave the
mill, and run away and seek his fortune
anywhere somewhere ia the world. 1t
was always in his mind from the frat,
when Mathew began his i'll treatment,
that he would ruu away and seek his for
tune. In this design he was strengthened
By the example of my father, who left the
village when q boy of ii to seek his for
tune, and found-yOu snall hear presently
what he found. dissuaded him as much
as could, because it was dreadful for me
to think of being left without him, or OF
his running about the country helpless and
fIiendless The fugleman, who knew the
world and had travelled far, pointed out to
him very seIlsibly that he would have to
endure this hardness for very short time
longer, that he was already Is and as tall
"a most men, and could not for very shame
be logged much longer, while as Tor Bar
bars's tongue, he declared that q brave
man ought not to value what woman
said, let her tongue run as free as the
sergeant at drill of recruits, no mere than
the price of o ropes end; and again, that
| in five years. time, a. soon as RLlph was
81, he would have the right to turn bis
cousin out of the mill, which would then
become his own property, and very pref.
~ property, too, where On old friend would
expect to find pipe aud q glass OF Hol-
lands or rum. And he promised himself
TO assist at the ducking in the river which
| he supposed that Ralph would give his
cousin when that happy day should arrive,
as well as at the great feast aud rejoicing
which he supposed would follow. The re-
suit of these exhortatiors, to which were
added those of my grandmother, was that
he remained at home, and when Mathew
Humble cruelty belabOred MIN he showed
no anger or desire for revenge, and when
Barbara smote him with harsh words and
found texts out of the Bible to taunt him
with he made no reply. Nor did he rebel
even though they treated him as If he were
common plowboy and farm drudge, in
stead Of the heir TO all.
l confess, and have long felt sincerely,
| the wickedness of the thing which at
length brought open disgrace upon poor
Ralph, and drove him away from us. Yet,
deserving of blame and punishment as our
actions were, l cannot but think that the
conduct of Mathew in bringing the chief
culprit-he knew nothing of my share or
of the fuglemau's- before his worship, Mr..
Justice Carnaby, was actuated more by
malice than by an honest desire TO bring
criminals to punishment. Besides, De had
for some months before this been soread-
iug abroad wicked rumOrs about Ralph,
saving, among other false and malicious
things, that the boy was idle, gluttonous,
lying, and even thieving, iusomuch that
the vicar, who knew the contrary, and
that the boy was as good a lad az ever
walked, though fond of merriment and a
little headstrong, openly rebuked him tor
malice and evil thinking, saying plainly
that these things were not so, and that, II
they were 80, Mathew was much to blame
| in blabbing them about the country, rather
than trying to correct the lads faults, and
doing his best to hide them from the gen
eral knowledge. Yet there are some who
always believe what is spoken to ones dis
praise. and sour looks AMI unfriendly faces
were bestowed upon the boy, while my
grandmother was warned not TO allow me
| to run wild with lad of so notorious bad
character. This is all that meant when l
said Just now that at first all were our
| friends.
When Ralph was gone l took little joy in
anything until l got my first letter from
him, which was not for very long time
afterward.
Now, one day, as l was walking sorrow-
fully home, having sat all the afternoon
with the fugleman, | saw Sailor Nan
beckoning to me from her stone outside the
door.
Child" she said, where's your sweet
hearth"
"Alack," l replied, II know not, Sailor
Nan"
Young maids" she went on, must
not puks and pine because they hear moth
ing for q while of the lads they love. Be
of good cheer. Why, read him his for
tuUe myself in his own left hand. Did my
fortunes ever turn out wrong? AS good o
tale ofluck aud fair weather as ever read.
Come, child, give me thy hand; let me read
your lines too"
1t is strange how in the lines Of ones
hand are depicted beforehand all the cir
eumstsnces of life, easy to be read before
hand by those who are wise. Yet have /
been told that it is not enough to learn the
rules unless You have the gilt.
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