The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-09-22

49, y - -
p 'Hllbl fat habit. even from
WI boyhood, and in
clined to a cheerful and cursory read
Ing Of the face of life, and possible
this attitude of mind was the original
4 cause Of his misfortunes. Beyond
this hint philosophy is silent on his
career. and superstition steps in with
the more ready explanation that ne
was detested of the gods. S&s
0 His father-that iron gentleman
had long ago enthroned himself on the
heights of the Disruption Principles.
What these are (and in spite of their
grim name they are quite innocent)
no array of terms would render think
able to the merely English intelligence,
but to the Scot they often prove unctu-
ously nourishing, and Mr.. Nicholson
found In them the milk of lions. About
the period when the churches convene
at Edinburgh in their annual assem-
bl1es he was to be seen descending the
mound in the company Of divers red
headed clergymen !; these .voluble, he
only contributed oracular mods, brief
negatives, and the austere spectacle of
his stretched upper lip. The names
of Candlish and Begg were frequent.
In these interviews, and occasionally the
talk ran on the Residuary Esta blish-
ment and the doings Of one Lee a
stranger to the tight little theological
kingdom of Scotland might have lis
tened and gathered literally nothing.
And Mr.. Nicholson (who was not a
dull MANI knew this, and ragged at it.
He knew there was a vast world out
side, to whom Disruption Principles
were as the clatter of tree-top apes;
the paper brought him chill whiffs from
It; he had met Englishmen who had
asked lightly if he did not belong to
the Church of Scotland, and then had
failed to be much interested by his
elucidation OF that nice point; it was
an evil, wild, rebellious world, lying
sunk in dozenedness, for nothing short
OF a Scots word will point this Scots
mans feelings. And when he entred
into his own house in Randolph Cres-
cent (south side), and shuttle door be-
hind him, his heart swelled with Sc
curity. Here, at least, was a citadel
impregnable by right-hand OBJECTIONS
or left-hand extremes. Here was
family where prayers came at the same
hour where the Sabbath literature was
unimpeachably selected, where, the
e11ast -rhe -sho,ald- hare loaned to any
false opinion was instantly set down,
and over which there reigned all the
week, and grew denser on Sundays, a
silence that was agreeable to his ear,
and a gloom that he found comfort
able. E'' s.zS :: sEy's IA
O Mrs. Nicholson had died about thirty,
and left him with three children, a
daughter two years, and a. son about
eight years younger than John; and
John himself, the unlucky bearer of
name Infamous in English history The
daughter, Maria, was a good girl-du-.
tiful, pious, dull, but so easily startled
that to speak to her was quite peril
Gus enterprise. II don't think I care
to talk about that, if you please" she
would say, and strike the boldest
speeches. by her unmistakab1e pain;
this upon aid topics-dress, pleasure,
morality, politics, in which the formula
was changed to my papa thinks otherl
WISE" and even religion, unless it was
approached with particular whining
tone of voice. Alexander, the young
er brother, was sickly, clever, fond Of
books and drawing, and full of satiri-
cal remarks. In the midst of these
imagine that natural, clumsy, unintel-
ligent and snirthful$ animal, John:
mighty well-behaved in comparison
with other lads, although not up to the
mark Of the house in Randolph Cres-
cent; full Of a sort of laundering af-
lection, full of caresses which were
never very warmly received: full OF
sudden and loud laughter which rang
out in thatsstill house like curses. Mr..
Nicholson himself had great fund
Of humor, Of the Scots order-intel-
lectual, turning on the observation Of
men; his own character, for instance
IF he could have seen it in another
would have been rare feast to him;
but his sons empty outlaws over a
broken plate, empty, almost light
hearted remarks, struck him with pain
VI q wan sS5sS4.EEE
Outside the family John had early
attached himself (much as dog may
follow amarquis) to the steps Of Alan
Houston, a lad. about a year older than:
himself, idle, trifle wild, the heir to q
good estate which was still Id the.
hands Of a rigorous trustee and SO
royalty content with himself that he
took Johns devotion as a thing Of
course. The intimacy was gail to MT.
Nicholson: it took his son from the
house, and he was a JEALOUS parent; it
kept him from the Office, and he was a
martinez; lastly Mr. Mi olson was am
D bilious for his family Gin which and
the Disruption Principles he entirely
lived and he hated to SEGA son Of his
play second fiddle to an idler. After.
some hesitation he ordered that the
friendship should cease an unfair
command, though seemingly inspired
by the spirit Of prophecy; and John,
saying nothing continued to disobey
the order under the rose.
John was nearly nineteen when he
+ was one day dismissed rather earlier
I than usual from his fathers Office,
where he was stud wing the practice cf