Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-02-01
WALTER BLOOMFIELD

".Are the large farms in America
very prohtable?" asked my father.
"No; the most Improbable things In
the States; still, they do pay a beg,
carly fifteen or twenty per cent. No
body loses money by them"
"And the laborers-of course they
are paid more literally than in Eng,
land"
"Liberally! What has liberality to
do with business arrangement? The
laborer sells his labor for the most
money he can get for 1t, and the capi'
talist sells his money for the mos,
labor he can get for it. Midway be,
tween these antagonistic forces Is
found the natural rate of wages. An
American laborer does better for him.
self than an English laborer, If that
is what you mean"
l observed my uncle closely while
he talked to my father. He was tall
man, slightly built, with regular fea-
lures. fresh complexion. and keen,
restless eyes. His manner was very
earnest, and he had habit of looking
hard at the person to whom he was
speaking. His style was too aggres-
sive to please me, but l considered
him q very clever man, and was much
interested in all that he said. Per
sonally, he slightly resembled my
father; in other respects the two men
were absolutely different. My father
was q man of few words, and his sub.
dued manner showed that he regarded
the doings of men rather as a specta-
tor than as an actor among them.
My uncle and father continuing to
talk together upon subjects in which
neither my aunt nor l could join, 1t
occurred to me that the lady was ne
elected; and l deliberated upon the
expediency of opening conversation
with her. Failing to think OF anything
more appropriate. asked her how she
liked England. but was SO nervous in
putting the question that I knocked
the contents of a salt cellar into her
lap.
This unlucky accident afforded me
an unexpected relief. My aunt ac-
cepted my apologies SO gracefully. and
with such charming good humor, that
| was enabled from that moment to
converse with her like a rational be-
ing. Looking at her somewhat more
observantly than l had done before
| noticed that she had profusion Of
brown, wavy hair, that her light blue
eyes were large and expressive. her
features beautiful. and her figure ad.
miraDly proportioned. Altogether, /
thought her the handsomest woman
l had ever seen.
Il arrived in England less than
week ago. she said, "and have seen
very little Of your country. like
London immensely. what l know of
it at Kensngton; but l have not even
visited your Museum there yet. When
We return to London at the end of the
week. hope to present my introduc-
tions and go about u little with my
sister"
Have you a sister in England"
asked my father. looking up.
Yes" said uncle Sam, answering
for his wife; didn't you know that?
Mrs. Truman has young sister who
lives with usher only relation in the
world excepting We three. l thought
l told you about her
NO. said my father: Il have never
heard of her. Why didn't you bring
her with you TO Holdenhurst:"
Constance was more upset by the
voyage even than H. remarked ny
aunt. land did not feel equal to com
ing here
You should know Connie said my
uncle, addressing me; shes q smart
girl .r
| made no reply to this; but my aun:
filled up the gap by asking il / was
ut liberty to return TO London with
them, that they might have the benefit
of my knowledge of the metropolis.
/ knew Of no objection 10 the propos.
al except that my knowledge Of Lon
don was very limlted-an objection at
once Overrulcd.
Taking him all round, prefer old
Marsh to an" man ever met; not be
cause he gave me one Of his daugh-
ters and half of his fori unc, though
that is something. but because it was
he who removed the English scales
Trnpl IN, L.,
at the world like an American
And is Mr.. Marsh dcad:" inquired
my father.
Very dead.' said my uncle. "He
has been balancing marble column
on his chest in Greenwood Cemetery
for three years or more"
My father and were she cked at the
levity of uncle Sam, and our faces
must have indicated our thoughts, for
aunt Gertrude remarked:
you must not mind all that my hus.
band says. His acts are more Chris
tan than his words. I cannot re.
form his manner, so must apologize
for him"
well, you see," said uncle Sam,
continuing. "too strongly marked
Christianity spoils man OF business.
| could cite several instances. After
all, what arc called Ionest men are
merely thieves who lack the courage
OF their conyictions-feeD,e folks who
trcmblc at taking the shortest way
to the accomplishment of their pur-
noses. l know many man In Npw