Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-10-27


-SAa TIE word crank
rtahSSM may mean much
NISSH or little, as thu
hobby that creates it has its roots in
popular prejudice OF otherwise. Uranhs
are active, passive. insaiie and excess
sively SINE. The medium grade of hui
mainly thai labels itself society does
not want too much insanity nSr toe
much sanity. I have often thought
that the action of social laws on the
human world is like that of rains and
frosts on the material world, to level
its hills and fill up its valleys. The
effect IN ertremis in both eases would
be monetony from lack of individu-
ality,
The individuality of Job Collins
stood out in full relief and asked no
apologies of society. His father hal
been country physician, AID his
mother had beph a saleswoman in a
millinery store. The worldly expert
ence of these two had precipitated in
their offspring large distrust in the
divinity of woman, which distrust had
developed with the child till in the
man it had become hobby that en-
braced the whole social curriculum.
In earlier years the custom of the
times and force of circumstances
which was never fully analysed had led
him to pay court to a Miss Rachel
Eastman Tor several years. Although
he was forced to admit to himself that
her companionship was very pleasant,
and although he had fully made up his
mind that Rachel was the one shining
variation of en- uninviting lot, he de-
layed compliance with the social laws
for suck cases made and provided, till
Rachel, who was only an ordinary
young lady, aft all, accepted the pro
posal OF another gentleman, and left
Job to figure out his problem OF his
leisure.
From this epoch Jobs idiosyncrasies
rapidly ripened and assumed visibility.
He became good deal of professed
misanthrope, and happening to rea
Thoreau's Walden" he absorbed all
that gifted writer's discomfort with
social shallownsss, without capacity to
see the beauties OF life that Thoreau
saw.
But at the bottom of all this he was
a much better man than many one
who traducad him, and many persons
who honestly needed friend in
tight pla e found Job Collins much
kinder through his bitter talk than
others who enriched the world only
with silver speech.
During the California gold fever of
'49 he had gone to that slope with the
crowd; but, more fortunate than the
crowd, he had returned with respect
able competency, which he was wis,
enough to protitably invest, and selfish
enough to not divide with his rela-
tives.
A niece of his, Mss Betsy Collins,
who was maiden lady, and, SO far as
anybody knew, his heir, had lived at
the Collins homestead for some years
as its housekeeper; and it was while
she thus gov erned the kitchen and par
lor that Job had done, as she said, the
most foolish act of his life. He had
taken into his house and assumed the
support of a little girl, the orphaned
daughter of one of his warment friends,
DR.. Adams, who, in dying penniless, had
left his little motherlcss Esther to the
charity of the world.
Job made no remarks about the mat
ter, but at once gave orders to have her
admitted as a member of his family
Whether actuatcd by fear that she
might some time be supplanted as the
heir to the Collins property, or by her
faith in the doctrine that charity should
begin at home, Miss Betsy expressed
much dissatisfaction with this addition
to the family, saying that an old bach
elor could not properly bring up n girl,
and she would not, so there. There
was never. anv more kindness shown the
little Esther by her than she thought
necessary to retain her own situation.
1t was some years after this that |
opened an Office in Balston as young
attorney and made the acquaintance of
the Collins family. 1t was small vii
clse's business; so that the family his
tory of most of my clients came to me
before their patronage.
1 had formed quite intimate az
quaintance with Job Collins, and
listened to his philosophical TRADES
against society with more OF less
amusement.
One day he showed me the draft of
will which he had drawn himself, and
asked my opinion on the legality of
certain parts of it. / noticed that it
was not signed nor witnessed, but ex-
pressed an opinion that it was otherwise
in form to stand law. 1t left small
annuity to Miss Betsy, but the bulk of
the estate was placed in the hands of
executors for his protege, Esther
Adams.
The next week Mr.. Collins went to
New York on some business, was taken
sick there, returned and died within ten
days of typhoid fever.
If his death was seriously felt by his
niece, she exhibited wonderful
in reprsssino il. IT, scanned a