The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-07


For. unfortunately the will named Mathew
Humble as guardian and executor, to
whom the testator devised his best wig
and his best coat, with his second best
bed and a gold headed stick Now it
angered Mathew to think that he be-
ing also nephew and sisters son Of
Samuel Embleton. of Norwich Mill. was
left no part or portion of this goodly
heritage 1t would seem that, knowing
his uncle's design to send Ralph TO Cam
bridge. and his hope that he would be
come credit TO the family and pillar Of
the church. he had hoped and even grown
to believe firmly and to expect it as
right, that the mill at least. if not the
farm. or a portion of it. would be left 10
him 1t was. therefore. bitter blow for
him to find that he was left nothing al all
except what he could make or save as
guardian ct the heir and administrator Of
the estate. with free quarters at the mill
for six years Surely for man of pro
bity and common sense that would have
been considered great deal
He came with his sister, who was as
much disappointed as himself. in a spirit
of rancor, malice and envy He regarded
the innocent boy as a supplanter The
first thing he did was TO inform him that
he should have no skulking or idleness
He therefore put stop to the Latin and
Greek lessons with the vicar and employed
the boy about the work of the place. Civ
ing him the hardest and most disagreed
bio h. G., T-oolo,,,
substituted servitude. for liberty, re
straint: for affection and kindness, harsh
language and continual hoggings; while
Barbara with her tongue, that i'll gov
erned weapon of woman, made him feel
for the first time in his life how idle. how
useless, how greedy a creature he was
The boy bore with all, as meekly as was
his duty for quite two years But be
oftes came to me or to the fugleman with
fists clincbed, declaring that he would en-
dure this i'll usage no longer, and asking
in wonder what be had done to deserve it
And at such times he would swear TO leave
the mill, and run away and seek his fort
une anyw here-somewhere III the world
Ii was always in his mind from the first.
when Mathew began his i'll treatment,
that be would run away and seek his fort
une In this design be was strengthened
by the example of my father. who left the
village when boy Of II to seek his fort
une. and found-you shall 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 friendless The fugleman.
who knew the world and had travelled far.
pointed ont TO him very sensibly that he
would have TO endure this hardness for a
very short time longer that he was al
ready 10 and as tall as most men. and
could not for very shame be logged much
longer. while as for Barbara s tongue. be
declared that a brave man ought not to
value what woman said. let her tongue
run as free as the sergeant al drill of re
cruits. no more than the price of a ropes
end, and again. that in FIVE years time. as
soon as Ralph was 81. be would have The
right to turn his cousin out of the mill
which would then become his own prop
erty and very pretty property, too,
where an old friend would expect to find
a pipe and a glass of Hollands or rum
And he promised himself to assist al the
ducking in the river which he supposed
that Ralph would give his cousin when
that happy day should arrive as well as
al the great feast and rejoicing which he
supposed would follow The result Of
L. !.
those of my grandmother was that he
remained al home and when Mathew
Humble cruelty belabored him he showed
no anger or desire for revenge and when
Barbara smote him with harsh words and
found texts Out of the Bible TO tauni him
with he made no reply Nor did he rebel
even though they treated him as if he
were common plowboy and farm drudge
instead of the he'll to all
confess. ana have long felt sincerely
the wickedness of the thing which al
| length brought open disgrace upon poor
| Ralph and drove him away from US Yet
| deserving of blame and punishment as ON
actions were | cannot but think thai the
| conduct of Nal hew in bringing the chief
culprit-he knew nothing % my share OF
of the f,igleman before his worship
| Mr. Justice Carnaby Was ACT uated more
| by malice than 10y an honest desire to
| bring criminals TO punishment Besides
| he had for some months before this been
spreading abroad wicked rumors about
Ralph. saying among other false and
| malicious things that the boy was idle
gluttonous lying and even thieving in
| Somucb that the vicar who knew the con
trary. and that the boy was as good lad
As ever walked though fond of merrimeni
and little headstrong openly rebuked
| him for malice and evil thinking saying
plainly that these things were not so and
| that if they were SO Mathew was much
10 blame in blabbing them about the
| country rather than trying 10 correct the
lads faults. and doing bis best TO hide
| them from the general knowledge Yet
| there are some who always believe whai
IS spoken to ones dispraise and sour looks
and unfriendly faces were bestowed upon
| the boy while my grandmother was
| warned not 10 allow me TO run wild witt
lad of so notorious a bad character Thi.
is all that ! meant when | said just now
| that al first all were our friends
When Ralph was gone took little joy
IN anything until got my first letter from
him. which was not for very long time
afterward
Now. one day. as ! Was walking sorrow
| fully home. having sat all the Afternoon
with the fugleman | saw Sailor Nan
reckoning TO me from her stone outsid.
the door
Child she said. where's your sweet
hearth
-Aiack. | replied. Il know not. Sailor
Nan