Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-12-19


N autumn the old Randolph home
stead looked rs if it wero showcred with .
gold. The great elm trees, Transmitted .
by the touch Of this Midas Of the seasons,
stood in yellow glory of myriad leaves, |
which every breath OF the cool west /
breeze scattered profuscly eastward, /
where, with the still unchanged grass,
they formed a spangled carpet of green
and gold. The apples throngcd tho
crooked boughs Of the orchard, some like /.
| glowing rubes, others like the famous
fruit of the Hesperides, though there
was no guardian dragon to give them
| fictitious value Tho broad roof Of the
| house itself was Uttered with innu-
merable little golden scales, of work
manship far beyond the skill
of any human goldsmith, yet of
absolutely no market value. What is
| the significance of this yearly phantas-
magoria Of illiinitable riches, worthless
because illimitable; Is it satire or
consolation? Does it mock the poor
mans Indulgence or cause him to hope
again for competence; 1t comes as die
guerdon of Nature, after her mighty
task is done but when she has composed
herself TO her wintry sleep it is troddcn
into the earth and forgotten, and the
new year begins his labors with new sap
and naked buds. II is only the human
world that HIS to bear the burden OF in
heritance: and perhaps we shall never
enjoy true wealth till we have learned
the lesson of the trees.
Poor Mr. Randolph certainly had lit
tie else beside cutumn leaves wherewish
TO satisfy his creditors, and the winter
Of his discomfort was close upon him.
There is philosophy for the poor and n
philosophy for the wealthy, but the
philosophy that can console the debtor
has yet to be discovered
Born and brought up in the custom Of
sufficient resources, he had never CON
templated the possibility Of want. There
had seemed to be something noble and
high minded in meeting without ques.
ton all deuand5 upon him, but when
the supply actually ran short things
wore different aspect. Had he spent
his whole fortune simply IN paying his
sons drafts he would at least have had
tho comfort Of putting She whole bur
den Of the responsibility on his sons
!, shoulders. Bur unfortunately the larger
part of the loss Wa due TO private rash
ness Of his own. When he found that
/ Eds rapacity was getting serious the
devoted gentleman botOok himself to
Wall street and specialized there. The
brokers treated him as Richard III pro
| posed to treat his wifo-they had him.
but they did not keep him long. His
l.. J..
were probably more edifyinS than those
he INDUCED in on the street.
Tho revolving suspicion that he had
been n fool began to gcrmiuate in Mr.
, Rsndolnh's mind. This suspicion, which
is the salvation Of some men, Is the de-
, structiCn Of others. The integrity of
1Ir. Randolph's moral discrimination
, began to deteriorate front that hour.
4, Having enacted all his life the part OF
,. his own golden calf in the wilderness,
> his overthrow left him destitute of any
o criterion Of conduct. He talked violent
p ~ and volubly about his wrongs, and
, discussed various schemes, more or less
q impracticable and improper, OF eyaGing
lis liabilities DeatriX was naturally
] the chief sufferer from this uogaiuly
a development Of her fathers character
- and she WIS also obliged to bear
/ the brunt Of most Of the concrete
I, unpleasantneS Of their situation. She
:, had to tall, to the creditors. to eXttnuatt
. hor fathers side of the case, to hold out
n fair hopes and to smooth over disap
a pointments, and when she had wearieC
4 herself in parleying with the enemy sht
n had before her the yet harder task O
4 paciiying and encouraging her father
y who had listened to the dialogue from
y, the head Of the stairs, and fell upon he
: with petty avalanche Of complaints
! questions, suggestions, seedlings ant
a Querulousness. BeatriX loved her fathe
! with all her heart, but she was of u pen
! etrating and well balanced mind, an,
:, often had difficulty in not feeEn,
ashamed Of him. Insensibly she begal
TO treat him as fractions and super
u sensitive child, who must at all costs b
L humored and soothed, and when she Eel
L her own strength and patience almos
i ie oyertaxed she would only say to herself
~ ono wonder poor father has to give u
3 when l find it so hard"
~ But her troubles did not end with he
~ father. There was a certain Mr.. Starchel
IL the grocer's son; the grocer divided wit
the innkeeper the highest social cOnsid
III Grafton Of the village, lie was youn
~ gentleman Of highly respectable charzC
IL ter and education. After leaving schoC
u he had studied for year at bushes
IS college in New York; he was a membe
'h of the Young Mems Christian associl
e ton, and "a person Of gravity and It
er lieious CONVICTIONS Aweek or two afte
ne Ilr. Randolph's misfortune bocam
80 known he put on suit Of black clothes
IN relieved by faded blue necktie, an
he called formally on Miss Randolph. a
ne ter the first courtesies had been e.
nd changed lie said that he desired in ii
us first place to put the minds of Miss Ral
IN dolph aud her good father at ease r
IL garding the little account between h
aG firm and them. The money was nC
TO needed, and so far as he was concerne
is might remain unpaid indefinitely. Gan
I.I.z l.. -. \,