Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-05-17
CHAPTER III.
FAMILY OF POSITION.

Be it remembered that Oakbury is
not Blacktown. Besides Lord Kel>ton s
well known country seat, there must be
in the par sh of Uakbury some twenty
or twenty-five gentlemen's residence.
They can not be called estates. as the
ground attached to each varies respec
lively from three to fifty acres, but not
few of them might Jay claim to be
described by that well rounded phrase,
dear TO auctioneers and house agents,
"a country mans on, fit for the occupa-
ton and requirements of family of
position. They arc not new, specula-
tive, jerry built houses, but good old
fashioned solid affairs. No painted
and gilt ratings urround them; thick
boundary walls and fine old trees
hide them from the gaze of inqulsi-
tive holiday folks. As the coun-
try around is very beautiful
and richly timbered; as the prevailing
wind which blows across Oakbury
blows straight from the sea, pure and
uncontaminsted; as two of the best
packs of hounds in England meet
within an easy distance; and, prejudice
notwithstan ing, as the convenlences
'ered ty n large city are so close at
hand it is no wonder that the rector
of Oakhury numbers many families of
position among his parishioners.
After this description it will be easily
believed that the Oakbury people are
somewhat exclusive by the Oakbury
people are meant the inhabitants of the
aforesaid twenty houses; the manners
of the villagers and other small' fry
who constitute the residue of the popu-
laton need not to be taken into &C
count. The Oa&bury people proper
are very particular as to with whom
they associate, and the most pai ticular
and exclusive of all are two gentlemen
named Talbert, tn joint owners and
occupiers of HaZelwood House
Their ultra exclusiveness was but the
natural out come of the position in
which they were placed. The fact that
their income was derived from money
made by their father in timber, tobac-
co, soap, sugar, or some other lar. @ in
dustry of Electromagnetic have
already nearly forgotten which it was
must be responsible for the care the
Talberts were bound to exercise before
they made new acquaintance.
Because, you see in their opinion at
least, the faint of trade still chung to
them. They were but generation re-
moved fir IN the actual buying selling
and chal1ering. So it was that upon
attaining the earliest years of discre-
ton, the sons decided that it was more
incumbent upon them than upon the
generality of persons to be peculiarly
particular n their choice of friends.
As they were amiable, rightfeeling
young men, they loo ,ed upon this duty
as necessity. Had they been tenn tied
to swerve from their line of conduct,
respect for their father should have
kept them steadfast. Before the two
boys were out of the nursery, the great
coup which is expected by every san
guine business man came off Mr..
Talbert realized his capital and sold his
business. He obtained less for it be-
cause he made the stipulation that his
name should no longer appear in con-
nection with it. Then, widower with
one daughter and two sons he bought
Hazelwood Fouse, and settled down to
drift gradually into good society.
He educated his children by this
creed. IL is the duty of all people to
rise in the world-both in commercial
and social circles. Thanks to his exer-
tions and good fortune, the first half OF
the obligation had been discharged.
The second rested chiefly with his chill