The herald., 1897-09-19
to the naked. this happy state of equal pos

to the naked. this happy state of equal pos
sessions will lastT
"'Weu,' erplied Ozias Lamb. slowly. i
should say, takin all things into con-
sideration-the graspin' qualities Of them
that had been rich, an the spillin quail
ties of them that had been poor. about
fourteen hours and three-Quarters. l
might make it twenty-four-I suppose
some might hang onto 1t over night-but
l guess on the whole 1t Is safer to call 1t
fourteen and three-quarters.'
"'Well, returned DR.. Prescott, what
then, Mr.. Lambs?
"Then Simon Basset spat, and shifted his
quid, and spoke. Tell ye what it is, all of
ye--its mighty easy talkin' an givin' away
CAB instead of dollars. I'll bet We. any,
thing yell put up that there ainT one of
ye out of the whole lot that amt got any
money that would give it if he had IT.
81 would declared clear, young voice
from the outskirts Of the crowd. Every
body turned and looked, and saw Jerome
beside Squire Merritt, his handsome face
all eager and challenging. Jerome was
nearly as tall as the squire, though more
slender, and there was not handsomer
young man in the village. He had, in
spite of his shoemaking, a certain carriage
Ike prince, having overcome Dy SoWe
erectness of spirit his hereditary stoop.
Simon Basset looked at him. If We had
a big fortune left We, s'pose yed give it all
away, would We"
"'Yes, sir 1 would Jerome blushed
little with a brave modesty before the con-
centrated fire of eyes, but he never un-
bent his proud young neck as he faced
Simon Basset. 'S'pose ye'd give away every
dollar?'
"'Yes, sir, would-every dollar
Lord! calculated Simon Basset, and
his bristling, grimy jaws worked again.
Squire Merritt looked at Jerome almost
as he might have done at his pretty Lu-
cinia. BY the Lord Harry, / believe you
woud!' he said under his breath.
"'Such idle talk is not to the purpose
DR.. Prescott said, with stately aside to
the minister, who nodded with the utter
accordance of motion of any satellite.
But Simon Basset spoke again, and as he
spoke he hit the doctor, who sat next him,
a hard nudge in his broadcoth side with
a sharp elbow. Stan ye any amount that
ye want to put up that that young bob
squirt won't give a dollar if he ever gets
it to give he said. with wink Of curious
confidential scorn.
"I do not bet.' replied the doctor
shortly.
Lord! We needn't be pertickler. doctor;
it's safe 'nough returned Simon Basset,
with sly roll of facetious eyes toward the
company.
1.-The doctor deigned no further reply.
60 I'll stan amy man in this company any,
thing he'll put up. cried Simon Basset,
who was getting aroused to singular
energy. Nobody responded. Squire Mer-
ritt indeed. opened his mouth to speak,
then turned it off with laugh. I'd make
the bet, boy he whispered to Jerome If it
was anybody else that proposed it, but that
old
There's another thing I'm willin' to
promise continued Simon Basset If that
young feller comes into money an gives
1t away, I'll do more than give away a
quarter of my property-Pll believe any
thing after that. I'll get religion. Butt
won't agree to do that unless you back me
up. doctor. That ought to induce you-the
of savin' brand from the burn
in; an if I amt brand, dunn who is
"I tell you, sir. I'll have nothing to do
with it, shouted DR.. Prescott. The minis
ter at his side looked pale and scared as
a woman.
"'Then' said Simon Basset, It's settled!
You an me won't agree to any such fool
ishness, because we both on US know that
there's no such Christian charity an love
as that in the world; an II there should
turn out to be, we're afraid we'd have to
do likewise. I thought I was safe enough
proposing sucn plan, DOCTOR
There was a great shout of laughter, in
spite of the respect for DR.. Prescott. In
the midst of 1t the doctor sprang to his
feet. looking as none of them had ever
seen him look before. Get a paper and
pen and ink he cried. turning to Lawyer
Means; draw up the document that this
man proposes. and I will sign it,
And a document was drawn up and
signed wherein Jerome agreed that If he
ever came into the possession of s25, 900
he would give it to the poor of the town
within a month. in case DR.. Seth Prescott
and Simon Bassett. Esq. would agree to
give one-quarter of what each might be
worth at the same time. This remarkable
compact was then and there signed on tha.
frosty night. and Jerome Edwards, the
poor shoemaker, went home with his sack
Of meal upon his shoulder and with the
ever serious problem of life in his heart.
We have not space to set forth more of
this very strong novel. To the end 1t is
full of real interest. and, while the ele-
ment Of humor is utterly lacking, every
thing else is there which has made New
England character what it is. The story
ends happily and some of the closing scenes
are Of rare dramatic power. 1t is on the
whole, clean and ennobling novel.