Year: 1868

Translated from the French by r. E. A. Atree.1 ]


THE most honest of all Quakers, Toby
Simpleton, lived at London, in a pleasant
little dwelling graced by the presence of
his daughter Mary. She was not quite
seventeen years of age; was charmingly
lair, had blue eyes, and possessed as much
modesty as beauty. All the young men
OF her fathers acquaintance were her suit
ors all those of the neighborhood sought
to gain her notice. Vain efforts Mary
was no coquettc, and instead of enjoying
the effect produced by her charms, she was
vexed on account of the manners of all her
admirers except one Edward Wsresford,
yo1nS artist, admitted 70 the intimacy
of her family.


A very simple event had caused this
friendship. A premature death had car
ried off the Quaker's wife. She was young
and beautiful, and desiring to perpetuate
the image OF her who was SO dear to
him, nd had caused the artist to come to
the bed of death. 1t was there that Ed
ward saw the desolate damsel it was there
serious first love took place, amid the
tears of one and the pious work of the
other. The year which elapsed after this
epoch had but strengthened the bond
formed under these auspices, and the
young man had showed to the father
both his desire and hope.


The excellent Toby had no reason what
ever for opposing the mutual inclinations
OF the two young persons. Without be-
ing rich, Edward earned by means of his
pencil what suf!ced to support family
honorably. His father, Mr. Weresford, an
business with a fortune increased more
than tenfold, This was rare example of
rapid success in speculation-so rapid in
deed that few could follow its progress.


Yet Weresford, of so blunt and stern
disposition, lived alone in a suburb of
London, and without caring what his son
was doing, left him entirely at liberty. He
was one of those accommodating egotists
who trouble no one, provided they trouble
not them-persons of perfect complaisance
if you ask nothing of them.


] q Edward, therefore, could, without inter
ruption, court his pretty Quakeress, well
assured that his father would never think
OF opposing his marriage. The situation
OF the loving couple was, to all appear
ance, very prosperous and honest Toby
did not put off the day of their marriage
longer than to collect the arreages of his
rents; he destined the money for the ex-
traordinary expenses of the ceremony.
For this purpose he went to his country
seat, some miles from London, in order to
regulate his affairs. He had passed but
one day away from home; and as he was
about to put up his horse for the night, he
perceived at some distance a horseman,
who had barred the road. He stopped, un-
certain whether to go on or turn back.
Meanwhile the horseman advanced
toward him.


The Quaker could not even think of
escaping. He therefore put on o good
face, and brought his horse to a walk. In
approaching the man who caused his
uneasiness, he perceived that he was
masked, grievous augury, which was
pistol and directed the muzzle to the trav-
eler, demanding his purse The Quaker
Gid not want courage, but, calm by charac-
ter, inoffensive by religion, and even
unable without arms to resist an armed
man, he pulled from his pocket very coolly
purse containing twelve guineas The
robber took it, counted the pieces, and left
the poor devil whom he had stopped to
pass on, while he put his horse to the
trot. But the robber, seeing the slight
resistance he had opposed, and allured by
the hope of second booty, Immediately
rejoined honest Toby, placed himself
anew in his way, and presenting his pistol
as before, cried out to him:


Your watch"


The Quaker, surprised, was nevertheless
unmoved. He coolly took his watch from
the fob, looked at the hour, and put the
costly article into the hand of the robber,
saying:


iNow, beseeeh thee, permit me to &c
to my dwelling--my daughter will be
uneasy at my absence"


GA momSht more" replied the masked
cavalier, the more and more hardened by
this docility; "swear 10 me that you have
no other sum"


al never swear" said the Quaker.


"Very well. Affirm that you have nc
other money, and on the faith Of an hon
est robber, incapable of taking by vio
lence from man who yields with so good