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Tul5UCH(AMN(i AT .MoNT.MOUHNd. CANADA JiAlLWA V XKWrS C'( >., ( Lnuii. d.) VM\ Sr.J wius Street, Mo.ntke.m.. PRICE. T^,N CKNTS. 1 T D^TELL \ do,, the Old pMi, 16 Ho^iom jam PlvAtt, Bi|d 414 ^t. panl nmi, R. HENRY HOLLAND&CO., WHOLESALE IMPORTERS OF 266 & 268 ST. PAUL STREET, - AND- 107, 109 & 111 COMMISSIONERS ST., lS/LC)lting ^ood^. V-X(3TO:EtXJL 167 McGILL STREET, 167 G-ires tho Best Meals in the City for 30 cents. GEO. ALDRIDGE, Proprietor. SMOKE •> ^ AND 99 SOLD ON THE TRAINS. BOTH ARE POPULAR BRANDS. TRY THEM. SMITH, FISCHEL &: CO., Manufacturers, MoGCB^in^, Toboggan^, ^now^hoe^ and Lacifo^^e^. aa-i3*i SIR PETER PETTYSHAM. A CANADIAN STORY. " Aspiring beggary is -.vrctcheclncss itself.' — Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield. CHAPTER I. Tile Pettysham's were an exalted family in the supremely aristocratic city of Montreal. The blood of the ancicnne noblesse flowed through their patrican veins though adulte- rated by each successive generation with a more plebeian, but proportionately more practical fluid. The seignorial family from which they were descended by the paternal side was an infinitely decreasing series, and, as time rolled on, the ancestral acres became so divided that if placed on end and planted on both sides, they might have sustained a childless couple of meagre appetites. But the quivers of the Pattyshams were full to bursting, and the olive branches came " as the leaves come when forests are blended." Consequently the practice of small economies was a school of adversity most beneficial to the young ladies of the family. In fact, the Pettysham girls were perfectly phenomenal, as several of their acquaintances remarked, and conjecture was rife regarding the domestic economy of this remarkable household. Always neat and attractive in appearance, invariably bicn chauss^s et Men yank's, they moved as peers in a sphere far above their financial resources. They rigidly |)ractised small economies, but, with a taste begotten of good breeding, as rigidly abstain- ed from the magpie chatterings of a cheese- paring class who are prodigal of precious time in making the aforesaid small economies the staple of its conversation. No one ever heard of the marvellous bargains Mrs. Petty- sham made in the auction rooms, and few of the secrets of her household were ever known to the world. The family were well aware that discretion was essential to social success, and she was shrewd enough to employ none but French Canadian servants, whose lan- guage and nationality kept them estranged from the English speaking Abigails of the neighborhood. And in this particular showed excellent judgment. She had a curt dis- couraging way of remarking when a servant ventured to speak of "her last place." " I have no interest in their affairs " This rebuke was conclusive and a great many mistresses in all gossip loving com- munities might profit by Mrs. Pettysham's example When the Pattyshams changed residences and the carte blanche for promiscuous in- trusion, " House to Let," disfigured the porch, she peremptorily declined to admit any per- son except at stated hours and by a written order from the agent. Inquisitive, but im- pecunious people, who seldom see the inside of such mansions except on occasions like this seldom went to the trouble of a long ride to the house agent in Great St. James Street, for permission to Paul-Pry through a house they had not the slightest intention of renting. Those who took the trouble were people who meant business, and when these unbidden visitors came during the prescribed hours they found every part of the household in orderly perfection. "The dining-room table was laid as if the family were about to sit down to an ordinary repast, though they and the domestics might have dined gregariously on " herring and point " in some obscure apartment before the arrival of observant house-hunters. These inquisitors were struck by the display of plate, cutlery and old china visible through the vistas in a miniature forest of fruit, and flowers. Indeed, Miss Martha Meany, who like her namesake, Mar- tha of Holy Writ, was troubled about many things which didn't in the least concern her, lay awake two whole nights in a vain endea- vor to solve the problem of how the Petty- shams made both ends meet. By arts like these and uncommon tact she cleverly managed to keep the impecunious skeleton in her closet at the centre, and not at the circumference of her affairs. She was the practical head of the family, as Mr. Pettysham had so long suffered from an exaggerated sense of his own aristocratic im- portance as to be utterly incapacitated from attending to the ordinary utilitarian affairs of life. In condescending to marry Miss Mar- garet Stuart, the only child of a wealthy mer- chant, he concluded that his role in life had been played, and, thereupon, placidly enve- loped himself in the dressing gown, and put on the easy slippers of sinecure as the hus- band of a rich heiress. I \ I b ^»:# But the crash of 1858 revealed to the astonish- ed Sir Peter that he had been living in a fools paradise. His father-in law failed, and the cre- ditors discovered that for many years the bank- rupt had been living beyond his income. Mr, Stuart was a man of preposterous Scotch pride so led away by a little commercial success that he would disown his own photograph taken in less prosperous days. " King Stuart" as he was facetiously called, was a lion hunter and immoderately fond of as- sociating with titled persons and people of aristocratic pretentions. No person in the retail trade was ever known to have cross- ed his threshold except to collect a bill. Unfortunately in the days immediately preced- ing the crash these visits exceeded those of invited guests by a large majority. The old gentleman's ancestry was veiled in dense obscurity ; but like the Homeric heroes under similar circumstances who modestly declared themselves to be|descend- ed from the Gods, he was understood to have thrown out hints that if "the King should have his own again" Victoria might not be on the throne of England. In mellow post-prandial port-pervaded moments he dwelt lovingly on the Jacobite affairs of 1815 and the 45, bemoan- ing CuUoden's fatal field as if it had deprived him of the crown of England. If prodigality at other people's expense and a strong antagonism to strict veracity were traits of the unfortunate Stuarts, especially of that mutton-eating King Charles the Second whose word no man relied on, he must certainly have been a lineal de- scendant. His royal blood would boil with in- dignation if any one ventured to spell his name with a " w." Miss Margaret, his handsome daughter, on becoming engaged to Mr. Petty- sham, who was not Sir Peter then, rather en- couraged her father's exaggerated Jacobinism, shrewdly calculating that her future husband could not offset his seigneurial blood against her Royal pedigree. Mrs. Stuart, however, who hn.d. been a milliner's apprentice in Edinburgh where her future husband was a draper's clerk,had never heard in their courting days of Jamie's regal pre- tentions. He was silent on the subject for many years until prosperity shone upon the couple in Canada. Then for the first lime he took his pedigree out of his pocker and aired it in mono- grams, crests and the Royal Stuart coat of Arms on his plate, carriages and everything in which their was a shadow of excuse to put them. In fact, it was even said that he seriously con- templated having his coat of Arms tatooed on the back part of his bald head, and was only deterred by the fact that the blue ink would be in too strong a contrast to the remaining fringes of red hair. When he enlarged too alarmingly on his Roy- al ancestry, she would exclaim. " Now James, now, now really ! " But she never said more than this, and the wit about town gave her the soubriquet of "Mrs. now now really." Tliat drastic year of shrinkage 1858 left Mr. Stuart a wreck on the commercial shore. His creditors cruelly intimated that he failed from entertaining too many military people et hoc genus omne, which being translated into modern English means " all in that swim." Mr. Stuart, unfortunately in this was but a type of a multi- tude of Canadian merchants during the military occupation of Canada. He could not reconcile himself to live in a rational manner on the residue of his fortune, which his creditors through clannish generosity left him, and after a few years died in debt and the hopes of a blessed resurrection where vulgar creditors and inquisitorial bankruptcy Courts are unknown. Mr. Pettysham, after his father-in-law had wasted his substance on ephemeral society, which, like the dew of the morning, came not to refresh him at eve, found it necessary to doff his slippers and don his boots for active service in securing bread for his family. The small seig- nenry of " Hardscrabble" bore a suggestive title. The land from defective agriculture was so ex- hausted that if presented to a western farmer he would have taken it immediately to the poor- house. The family lived at " Hardscrabble" for several years, and managed by hook or crook — principally by the latter — to make out a very substantial existence. Mrs. Pettysham, rose equal to the occasion, and by her vigorous management " Hard- scrabble" assumed a less rugged appearance. The city's •' fair pale daughter" brought cultures charms to her rural home to harmonize and solt- en the rough farm life. She had acquired in the cultured sphere in which she had moved. " An inborn grace that nothing lacked Of culture or appliance — The warmth of genial courtesy, The calm of self reliance." This genial courtesy and self reliance made her a favorite with her neighbors far and near, and in return for their experienced advice inagri- cultural matters, she taught them many of the little arts and devices to embellish rude homes which through the ministrations of a refined monitor had less of the back wood, and more of the boudoir about them, Then dairies, vege- table gardens, graperies and flower plots soon converted the forlorn seig^cury into a more pre- sentable state, from whic fair income was de- rived. If blood tells, the Royal Blood of th^^ Stuarts told most emphatically in this instance. I-Ier husband, who was inert, selfish and full of mag- nificent theories for the improvement of the goV' ernment snon found that his wife was a skilful domestic if not a political economist, and though knowintr little of the tariff and revenue was fully aware that the source of power lay with the possessor of the purse. She sold the produce and was finance minister of " Hardscrabble" while he kept the accounts and obeyed orders. There is no absolute cure for constitutional laziness, but a vigor- ous wife of decided character has been known to infuse some of her energy into a drone and by dint of perscvera ■»ce and proximity — keep him galvanized into moderate activity. Like an electric battery as soon as she ceased working he relapses into his former shiftless- ness, gets lazy and bilious, takes to pills, and other internal improvements, dies and only in death becomes a utilitarian by fertilizing a soil he was too inert to cultivate while living. Mr. Pettysham had abilities of no mean or- der, which only required the rough school of adversity to develo)), by attrition with the world, into fortune winning instruments. He was phlegmatic, had a portly, solid ap- pearance, and by cultivating a reticence which distinguished General Grant and Napoleon the Third might pass for a man who could " 'an if he would" utter many wise thoughts on' any given subject if he only wanted to. Such men get the credit for much reserved power by simply lying hushed in grim repose. He had been, by marrying an heiress, a stall fed ox and expected to be such for the remainder of his days, but his father-in-law's riches took wing and fodder came not to that bin to which a fortunate marriage had tethered him. One morning shortly after the failure his wife propounded the following problem relating to domestic economy : " Peter what shall we have for dinner to- night, there's not a cent in the house ?" " My dear," he replied with a smile, " I shall be better able to answer that question to-morrow." The Stuart blood was up in arms at this levity, but restraining her anger, she deter- mined to teach her easy going husband a severe practical lesson. It was an October day, crisp and bright. The air, full of tonic, felt like immaterialized champagne and Mr. Pettysham, after a brisk walk, from some "down town" haunt, felt he could do justice to a dinner which, from a woman so full of resources as his wife, he knew must be in waiting for him. The master of the house took his accus- tomed seat and looked with enough burning hunger in his eyes to melt the silver dish covers and scorch the food beneath. Madame sat vis-a-vis, and when her hus- band was not regarding her, one might have observed a look of silent thunder in her eyes. As usual he was full of club gossip and that fractional currency of conversation pe- culiar to men whose business in life is to kill time. She touched the bell and the little French maid with a look of be 'Mlderment on lui sparkling Gallic face removed the cover. The dish contained only a card on which was inscribed " work or starve." *' Why, my dear," he exclaimed in a cheery tone that ill concealed his mortification, " 1 never dreamt you had so much talent for humor or were addicted to practical jokes ! " This is no joke," Avas the dry response. " Then what is that ?" he added jticking up the card. *■ A stern reality, I told you this morning there was not a cent in the house.*' " Nonsense, Margaret, if I thought you really meant it I should have been more con- siderate. I'll just run down to the club and raise the siege, we're not in Poverty Flat just yet, are we .<•" " My dear, I shall be better able to answer that question to-morrow." It suddenly struck him that he had made a similar remark not many hours before. Wheii a man's credit is "gilt-edged," to use a cant phrase of the money market, there are many ways of obtaining money, though his business be rotten to the core. Mr. •Pettysham was not long in discovering that by his father-in-law's bankruptcy he had en- tered a ctil de sac through which there was no outlet. He also found that friends had feel- ings for themselves. One had a heavy and unexpected payment to meet, another had invested every available cent in mortga- ges, while a third, dear, good, kind soul, would be only too happy to oblige him if he would call next Monday. This promise the accom- modating friend was quite safe in making as he had already engaged a berth on the Allan steamer for Glasgow which left the Saturday preceding the appointed Monday. Mortified beyond expression he sat in the card room and watched the players for hours. His meditations were not interrupted as jjrosperity is the basis of most friendships, and few care i > cultivate the poor "who no revenue hath." Thrusting his hand into his coat pocket it came in contract with a card which he mechanically drew out and again read its significant inscription, " work or starve." \ I CHAPTER II. A nui.r. ONE. "The crowning fortuiio of Ji man is to bo born with a bias toward Komo pursuit, which linds him in employment ami happiness. R. W. Emer-sov. Those strong corrosive lioiirs lliat eat into the lieart conquer us. Pettysham rudely awoke to the fiict that Montreal was a magnificent place no doubt to spend in, but an undesirable locality when old debts were to be collected and money borrowed. Then he wondered how he could have wasted so much of youth's golden prime in associating with this herd of frivolous club-loungers, most of wiioni gambled in stocks all day and at cards all night. How often had his palate bribed his brains into accepting their liosi)italities ! And how he had endured their platitudes and inanites for the sake of unsatis- factory supi)ers and semi-barbarous civilities, from people who had just stepped into fortune but were a considerable way from good taste. His wife's intimation that he must work or starve reminded him of the Scotch border cus- tom. In the good old days of Lang Syne when honest industrious Canadian farmers were tilling the soil and building up Canada, the ancestors of the present race of Foreign Satraps who monopolize the Dominion and despise all other nationalities were plunderers, robbers and cattle raiders. Tney had little respect for the rights of meum and tuum as shown by their predatory free-booting mottoes such as " Thou shalt want ere I want " and " I hope to share." When the larder of one of these marauding lairds was empty, the good wife placed a pair of spurs in- stead of food on the dish — an intimation that the clan should go on a raid and replenish the larder. Pettysham resolved to do likewise. He owed the world a grudge for not giving him a sybarite livelihood suited to his ease loving constitution. He thought he would turn his attention to medicine and, after being pitchforked through college, settle down to kill people scientifically, or wreak his vengeance by physicking unfortunate humanity. But in that noble profession one has to do so much for nothing and it is not pleasant to be disturbed at night. Sleep like an oyster is to be swallowed at once and not to be nibbled at intervals. The army would suit him, but a moneyless married man on a subaltern's pay knows much of wretchedness though it be gilded by the gold of a showy uniform— the livery of impecuniosity. Besides fighting was unpleasant now-adays, however glorious, what with mitrailleuses, tor- pedoes, and a wretchedly mismanaged commis- ariat. I le had no idea of dying for the glory of Canada in the jungles of India or that "white mans' grave" Sierra l.eone. To be sacrificed for England's commerce .ind for the advantage of mercenary adventurers and unscruplous traders. True, in coming years he might have staid at home and fought the Fenians, with vo- lunteers who lost their positions in the Hanks whose vaults they had gone to the front to de- fend. Fxit army, better be a settler or keep a canteen. The church would be charming. He regretted being a Protestant as only the R. Catholic Church in Montreal is open to men of Canadian birth. The p;istors of many of the religious club-houses misnamed churches were Scotch or Knglish, the majority of whom were furnished like Dr. Holmes' country parson with a one story intellect and a one horse vocabulary. I>ut they were ignorant and bip^oted enough to con- sider R. Catholics, Episcopalians and the fol- lowers of all denominations but blue Prcsbyter- ianism as only human beings by toleration. This is the cause of so much sectarian bitterness in Montreal. He might get a little church in the suburbs to commence with and look out for a larger.sphere of usefulness, or, in other words an increased salary, as all spheres of usefulness are larger where there is a large? salary. He might while studying theology get the bag pipes to play for an hour ©r so every morn- ing under his window in order to acquire the ministerial drone of Scotch divines so dear to the " Presbyterian " heart. Put when he thought of penurious, faultfinding, contradicting elders who could ciuarrel like demons on the question of standing, bowing or kneeling at prayers, his heart failed him and he concluded that he had not received a call to go forth and preach the gospel of peace on earth and good will to man. He once remembered hearing Dr. CummingsofLondon, an eminent divineaddicted somewhat t» tossing theological tea cups and foretelling the destruction of the world, that certain persons were " As quarrelsome as a Scotch Presbytery— in the .wimic court ciu'.es, and in d... courseof ti*n^ the civil service carriage comes around .ind the people of Cana'^a are saddled wi'li a. .ether imbceile who, as befc.e stated, never paid a dollar of taxes. But a Canadian, whose family has been resident for centuries in the Dominion and have paid thousands upon thousands of dollars in taxes to the local and general governments, is snubbed and his claims ignored. This will not always last. Pettysham felt that he might get something to do in one of the departments, but it would take time to work that oracle. In palmy, prosper- ous days he had taken a part for mere pastime in the election canvass, and was very felicitous in stump speeches, and almost as happy as the jaunty Sir. John Macdonald in illustrating his telling points by apropos anecdotes. On one oc- casion he had canvassed a county in which he had never been before, and did so well that his friend was ignominiously defeated and came near being mobbed by the outraged constitu- ents. It happened in this wise : Pettysham had two lists of the voters, one for the Catholic and the other for Jie Protestants. He started ont with a box of Bibleti and a quintal of Cod- fish. When he arrived at a farm house belong- ing to a Catholic, a cod-fish was left for Friday's use, and a %w appropriate remarks were made on the divine origin of fast-days. When the hardy yeoman was a Protestant, and it happens that in this particular county those of that per- suasion were uncompromising Orangemen, he presented a bible and urged the recipient to search the Scriptures and to beware of the scarlet woman of Rome. These tactics, no doubt, would have worked like a charm, but unfortu- nately the stupid election agent put the Catho- lics on the Protestant list and the Protestants vice versa. The Protestants at the histings, denounced the candidate as a Jesuit in cjjsguise, and as emissary of Rome, while the Catholics called him a "Swiss," which is a term they use to de- note Protestant, French speaking missionaries, who are nearly all of that nationality. After this little contretemps he had refrained from meddling in politics. "No,'' he soliloquised, "I am not in a posi- tion yet to push for a position in the civil ser- vice." There was the law. Blackstone defines law as "a rule of action." Aaron Burr's definition, though Machiaellian gives % better idea of this uncertain science. "Law," he says, "is that which is plausibly, asserted and persistently maintained.' Pettysham felt that he would make a proficient pupil in the Burr school, more especially as T ower Canadian law was a crude, ill digested mass of antiquated absurdi- ties. So much so that England assumes the right to adjudicate on all cases involving a sum greater than $2,500. This sum represents the calibre of a Canadian Judge, and is the length to which mother England will trust his legal lore. The defendant, above that sum, may take the case to the English privy counsel, who knows about as much of Canadian law as a wild Indian does of the technicalities of a steam engine. It is true we have a Supreme Court, but a defendant with a long purse who wishes to ruin a poorer adversary who has both equity and Canadian law on hio side, may take the case to England in order to makv. ..e costs rs formidable as possible. The new Pacific Raii- waySyndicate should bi ng this fact prominent- ly beforct^the Irish people — it will be such an inducement to immigrate to the North-west. The judicial robe in Canada, in order to harmonize with the law, -hould be like Jacob's coat, of many colors. It is an inharmonious composite made up of the coitume ut Paris full of moedie- val absurdities which the French Revolution of 1793 swept out of existance. Engrafted on this is the Code Napoleon, the English com- mon law and a mass of statutes and amend- ments, one over! pping the other like shingles on a roof. The prophet Elijah says : "a sense of wrong maketh a man mad," and considering the hap-hazard way in which justice is adminis- tered in this benighted realm, it is surprising 8 that there is so little personal violence. Exc culors and guardians, for instance, give no bonds, nor are they required by law to render any account until the close of their official du- ties To rob the widow and orphan is con- sidered an accomplished pastime, and the Dick Turpin Executor who succeeds best is sent to Parliament to give him an opportunity to rob the ;:easury. Such men bv-jomethe public tools of railroad monopolists and are instrumental in depopulating the country. It was now just midnight and the billiard room of the club had a desolate air. Petty- sham had thoroughly reviewed the field, and the law seemed to offer the best chance of success. The " Hardscrabble " property yet remained, though for years it had only paid a nominal rent. That night husband and wife remained long in consultation. She reminded him that his heritage, small as it was, had been suffi cient for the moderate wants of a bachelor, but was entirely inadequate to the require- ments of a small family. In the past it had been a title deed to stock, but in the future, like Carlyle's little estate at Craigenputtick, away up in the Scotish Highlands where he spent six years in writing Sarters Resarters, it would be a retreat where he could preen his wings ere soaring to ambitious giddy heights. CHAPTER III. " A knave a quoting holy writ, Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the core." Shakespeare. Malevolent and frivolous reader, if you imagine this story to be a cornucopia of sweet- meats and complimentary bons bons lay it down and read Martin Fraquhar Tupper or any other versifier of commonplace cheap morality. Gall and laughing gas are the animating factors in this wormwood narrative, and, to quote from Byron, '' as fools are my theme let satire be my song." It is very agreeable through such soothing aminities as the foregoing, to put one self en rapport with the reader and -rive him thoroughly to understand that \\\i adverse opinion is not of the slightest importance. But let us return to our sheep — that is the Canadian people. Also to the wolves in kilts. The gift of continuance or "saintly perse- verance " is essential to the novelist. Emerson says that in the study of mankind " we touch and go and sip the foams of many lives." So let it be with this thread on which are strung more facts than fancies in a touch ,and go style, as connected thought is irksome, espe- cially when we write to please ourselves and not the reader. Such being the case, no doubt a large edition of this work will be left on our hands, and our library will contain many hundred volumes all of which, with the exception of a ridiculous minority, will be the product of our own pen. * * % '.'; ■::■ % The Pettyshams went to " Hardescrable," to practice economy in retirement. The head of the family read laws in the office of an advocate in Consumption, a neighboring village where the notary and the storekeeper kept the poor habitants for miles around in a state of abject serfdom. The one by lending money at fabulous usury ; the other, by his over- reaching and rascility. Solomon Screws, the storekeeper, was a Caledodian Jew of Yankee extraction. IJn- scruplous and selfish, he was fast amassing a fortune with which he intended to go into the wholesale line in Montreal. Jean Prudhomme, the notary, had the whole prothonotary system of Lower Canada instilled into him from earliest boyhood, his father for long years having been the leading notary of the village. Between him and the legal rate of interest there was a deadly antagonism. He abhorred schools, abominated newspapers, and never heard of a city bank establishing a branch without a premonitory symptom of apoplexy. "De habitants," he was wont to say, "dey know too much already. If dere was no schools dey would not read, and no read dey would never see dose newspapers, where de fools say dey will lend money at six per cent. Den de bank come here and, Mon Dieu, de notary's business he am spoilt. The cohesive power of plunder kept the notary and the storekeeper on the most in- timate terms. It was a tacit understanding that when Jean Baptiste gave Prudhomme a mortgag<^ on his farm, Jean should trade exclusively with Screws, to whom he trans- ferred the mortgage. If Jean failed to buy his supplies from the storekeeper who charged extortionate prices for adulterated goods, he could expect no mercy if he failed to meet his obligations. Screws, like all his breed, was diabolically vindictive to those who traded more cheaply elsewhere, and when he " got the upper hand of them" — a favorite Scotch expression — they were cheated out of farm, home and country. 9 >uch ,and go fsome, espc- irselves and ubt a large 1 our hands, ny hundred ception of a product of rdescrable," lent. The he office of neighboring storekeeper iround in a i by lending ther, by his 3per, was a ction. IJn- amassing a > go into the y, had the war Canada oyhood, his the leading of interest le abhorred and never a branch )f apoplexy. 3 say, ' ' dey re was no lo read dey >, where de ix per cent, in Dieu, de r kept the le most in- lerstanding idhomme a ould trade 1 he trans- led to buy ho charged 1 goods, he d to meet iabolically ire cheaply ipper hand sion — they d country. i Fortunate, indeed, were they who had sufficient money left to take them to the United States, tiie home for the oppressed of all nationalities. It is to be !«oped that the French Credit Foncier Companies who ofter to lend money for long i)eriods at a reaonable rate of interest will be a check on the Sliylock storekeeper and the unscruplous notary. This, by the way. While Solomon sat in the little room at the end of the store, which was hidden behind bales and boxes of marchandise, he suddenly caught sight of Mr. Samuel Sksimpit, his head clerk, a diminutive man, with a lynx eye and a hatchet face, on which nature had put a trade mark of close bargains and sharp practices. "Here, Skimpit," cried the Tycoon with beckoning finger. The clerk, who was carrying a gallon can of rum that lacked at least a pint of full measure hastened to his employer. I didn't see you in church yesterday ? I was there. Not in your regular seat. No, in the choir. What was the text. " When ye measure corn unto your neighbor, measure as an offering unto the Lord full and overflowing." Skimpit glanced at the gallon measure. So did Solomon. They parted in silence. " Yon Skimpit, is a shrewd lad," solitoquised the employer, " he'll be a leading merchant in Montreal yet." " If the Tycoon knew as much of Scripture as he does of falsifying errors" thought the clerk " he would know there is no such text in the bible. It's all right ; he won't trouble me about church again. He values a man who makes seven pints pass for a gallon and fifteen ounces for a pound." Both resumed their respective employments, and between Skimpit in the front and Solomon's system of book keeping in the rear, the habitant might as well have been one of the children of Israel in Egypt, making bricks without straw. Screws, with a Louis the Eleventh class of piety, which could plan a murder between the pauses of a prayer, was only scrupulous in his religious observances. With slimy softness of speech, he uttered many edifying remarks when the minister or one of the elders called on maiters connected with the church of which he was treasurer. Like Judas Iscariot, he kept near the money bag. It was as truly refreshing as a spring in the desert, to liear him, in the pauses of his writing, dilate on the goodness of Divine Providence. He punctuated his remarks by occasional entries in the ledger, as he wished to impress his visitors with the idea that he was an exceedingly busy man, and consequently tlicy sliould feel complimented that he could spare them so much of his valuable time. " My doctrine is that we shall be rewarded ia the next vvorld for the good we do in this — " Faase to enter one pair of boots to Jean Baptiste who was too poor to wear anything but home made beef mocgassins. "And I make it a practice and instil it into all whom I employ, to do unto others as they would be done by." Another pause to add twenty-five per cent to the price. Skimpit had charged for a seven pint gallon of rum. "The Lord knows that the things of this world trouble me not." Here he dropped a cent and with a pained expression fumbled over five minutes on the floor until he found it. Rising with a flushed hue on his porcine countenance, with its small, deep-set, furtive eyes, he continued the sermonette j pointing out in speech the straiglit and narrow path and by his actions travelling on »he broad road to perdition. In the estimation of his fellow citizens who had a pity and contempt for any lack of shrewd- ness in business, he was all in all. But he, and those of whom he was a type, telt uneasy and uncomfortable before superiors in education and refinement. The Revered Jeremiah Rose, the local canon of the village, regarded Solomon Screws as a very exemplary man, a sort of commercial demi- god, and determined to place his son as an ap- prentice in his store on the very first opportunity. The Revered Jeremiah, in a voice loud enough to reach the gratified «ar of the listen- tening Solomon, said to one of the Elders on departing : "What modest piety ! what industrious enter- prise." "A very discerning Divine,^ thought Screws. "Every far-seeing merchant should be on the right side of the spiritual teachers of the people." That eccentric author, John Ruskin, whose bright things come like flashes of kghtning, said. An English clergyman told me, and I agreed with him that it was acknowledged to be i mpossible for an honest man to live by trade |i England. Ru skin's father was a wine merchant Oa . 10 * his death, the gifted son placed this epitaph on his tomb stone: "An entirely honest merchant." Was this the exception to prove the rule, or merely the out some of filial partiality ?" Is staid honesty, in its severest sense, possible in trade ? Did the elder Ruskin ever tell a customer that his claret was tbc cheapest in the market when he knew that his aggressive rival was sel- ling the identical article at half a crown less per dozen ? Had he never prevaricated, never misrepre- sented, always pointed out to the unobservant and careless the defects of his merchandise ? Never persuaded a customer to load up with a stock ruinously slow of sale ! Never asserted that Tokays and Madeiras, as much out of fa- shion as the Falernian vintage of Rome, were once more popular? If such a man can be found, make him the Messiah of commerce - then crucify him for in- troducing principles into business woUy in com- patible with the present age standard of mer- cantile morality. Ruskin's clergyman was correct and his aph- orism might apply the world over. All uier- cliants are just as honest as circumstances will allow them to be. How men would smile it they beheld this par- adoxical epitaph in a churchyard. " An honest diplomat." Byron, with his usual cynicism, says " Believe a woman or an epitaph." A truism no doubt when applied to the women with whom his lord- ship associated, but a malicious libel when ap- ])Iied to the sex. This introduces us to another scene. Mrs. Screws sits at the head of the table. She is a ponderous matron of the British type, sug- gestive of Dublin stout and porter house steaks. Around her are four little Screws, fat l.odgy, and good natured. They look so much alike, one might fancy they had been pulled from a sheet of postage stamps. Others were in the nursery in the tadpole dough-like state of infancy, when all children seem to old bachelors to be howling-machines made on one universal plan. " Solomon, my dear" said the buxom dame to her husband, who was doing the great knife swallowing trick at the other end of the table. " Mr. Pettysham, and family are going to live at " Hardscrabble so Buchan says." " Indeed I its|aboutJtime they came and looked after the place. Buchan has made a pretti/ good thing out of it. Pettysham, got precious little rest from him. They say Mrs. P. is a smart woman. She's the man of that family. " " She's very ladylike too," echoed Mrs. Screws. " Ladylike ! fudge ! she'll be putting a I«t of nonsensical aristocratic notions into your head. You're too extravagant already. She was brought up with those military people, a reckless prodi- gal lot. You don't catch me lending money on officers' paper. When the " Buffshire bouncers" were in Canada they were all in debt and used to endorse each other's notes as carelessly as confirmed topers take temperance pledges they never mean to keep. Then, when matters got too hot, the gallant officer went on leave of ab- scence,exchanged into another regiment at Tim- buctoo or the world's end, and that was the last- you saw of your money. " " But, my dear,thcy have had reverses in for- tune, and have learnt prudence by adversity." " What nonsense ! such people never learn. They never learn economy, nor forget extrava- gant habits. I suppose you'll want to imitate their city ways, and dear Mrs. Pettysham will be your guide and pattern. They are an un- godly, worldly minded set, and walk not in the fear of the Lord I . "Judge not that ye be not judged, Solomon." No man is a hero to. his valet, and some men are precious small in the eyes of their wives. Solomon knew that his wife was prone to ridi- cule his religious cant and therefore did as most men do on such occassions, got angry and abu- sive. Screws, in fact was a Bourbon himself, and thirty years of Canadian civilization could not expel the vulgarity of an Edinburgh slum, a veritable in grained cowboy whom you could soak in attar of roses for a generation, and yet the fumes of the stable would still be paramount. Bourgeois like he made the dinner table the exchange for all that transpired in the house- hold during the day, and there the fault finding was done. Unquiet meals make ill digestion, and Screws, when his mouth was not full, growled about ex- travagance, pausing occasionally to harpoon a l)otato from the dish. A rather venal breach of 1 oUteness as he never ate with his fork. When in a particularly bad humor he hurried over grace, and the echo of " make us thankful for what we a' e going to receive" had hardly died lut when it would be supplemented with the angry ex- clamation. "Lord, woman ; what a devil of a dinner you're givin' us." Then Bridget carried the dismal tidings to I 11 p. is a smart uily. " echoed Mrs. Litting a l«t of ito your head, le was brought eckless prodi- ing money on lire bouncers" iebt and used carelessly as : pledges tiiey n matters got 1 leave of ab- iment at Tim- t was the last- ;verses in for- )y adversity." never learn, brget extra va- nt to imitate 'ettysham will Y are an un- Ik not in the :d, Solomon." nd some men ' their wives. )rone to ridi- e did as most igry and abu- himself, and on could not jvgh slum, a ou could soak and yet the )aramount. ner table the n the house- fault finding , and Screws, led about ex- harpoon a nal breach of brk. When id over grace, . for what we :d -lut when le angry ex- of a dinner il tidings to the kitchen : "The master's jawin' agin'. 1" Poor Mrs, Screws had got used to this, but the Elder's children, just returned from board- ing school in Montreal, remained silent and mortified through these ever recurring scenes. Their beloved parent's organs of alimenta- tiveness were preternaturaHy developed. He dotes on doing the marketing. It was quite appetizing to sere him sniff food and make voluminous remarks on its quality. The beef was " beautiful," the mutton "lovely," and other dishes were designated by similiarly expressive but inappiopriate adjectives. But when he scowled and prefaced his remarks with the trite proverb : "God sends food but the Devil sends cooks," a storm was bursting. Bridget heard the cook reviled and the beef disrespectfully used, and reported acordingly. Cooks, as a rule, are not culinary angels, be- ing so much near the fire is apt to make them partake more of the character of the denizens of a lower and hotier sphere. "Ould Blood and Bones is at it again," cried Bridget skipping gaily into the kitchen, "he says the Devil sinds such cooks as ye be, and it would take a sassage machine to chaw the mate. Sorry a lie I'm telling ye ! The cook, full of speechless wrath, looks un- utterable things, and amid angry snifits, she hurriedly wipes her red, smoking arms with her apron. "I'll leave the house ! I'll give warning ! It's meself as will be after sarvin' the loikes o' thini ! Me what cooks for the McFlyers, an the Ra- vens, and all the hoigh families on the top of themountain." "Don't be after doing that," says Bridget, soothingly ; "Never take heed of ould Blood and Bones, just stay and the Missus will be af- ter givin' yes an old dress or a rise in your wages." "Is it a rise of wages, indade, and live wid the loikes; me, what's bin livin' wid the quality ? I'p sooner cook for a has-been for me vittles thin git good wages from a niver-was, and ould Screws niver was and niver will belong to the quality I Tell the Missus I've given her warn- ing. Poor Mrs. Screws, as she had often done be- fore, managed to mollify the cook. Blood and E>>nes marched off to the store muttering that he w IS a misused man, though snmarling a re- luctant consent to visit the Petlyshams on their arrival at ' ^ardscrabble." He wanted to "hold off" he said and "keep a stiff upper lip," just to show these people that he considered himself quite as good as they were. The festive board was now the resort for Skimpit and his fellow clerks, who luxuriated in the baked meats of the funeral. Ther repast was resided over by the elddest daughter of the house, Miss Mary Screws, who adored Skimpit "he was so business like." Skimpiit thought more of a prospective share in his future father-in-law's business than he did for the undivided affections of the ever faithfuj Mary To his practical mind the heart was a useful muscle to promote the circulation of the blood and nothing more. CHAPTER IV. A chapter in which business and religion are mixed like the sign on the Swiss inn. " Wako anil repent your sins with grief, I'm called tho (iolden Ijhin of Ueef." The Seigneury of Hardscrabble, consisting uf about a thousand acres, had been rent(xl for a nominal sum during the prosperous days of tlic Pettyshams to Robert Buchan, a Scotch High- lander, known in the country round as " Bob Buchan." The generous Celtic blood coursed througii Bob's vt'ins, making him ])assionate and jiroud, but neither vindictive nor treacherous, and as hospitable as an Arab. Poor Buchan was fear- fully superstitious, and firmly believed in witches, warlocks, wraiths, apparitions and all tlie para- phernalia of the supernatural that precede, sudden death and calamities. In his native hills, where fancy feeds the imagination with beautiful scenery, he imbibed a strong love for the marvellous, the weird and mysterious. Ossian, that Homer of Celtic song, he had read and re-read, and found unbounded delight in his sonorous swelling numbers and majestic imagery. This poem, the Liimcntations of Jeremiah, the woe begone book of Job, the Apocalypse, and Wilson's tales of the Scotch border formed the extent of his reading. The '"mpress of such a library on the Gaelic nature can well be conceived, and it is not astonish- ing that in after life he fancied he had the gift of prophecy and second sight, like Camp- bell s seer who gave warning to Ihynx-like abode, and betaken themselves to the United States. Thomas, the eldest, had gone to Boston. Resembling his parents in their love for the marvellous, he had gradually drifted so far from religion, by attending spiritual seances and associating with mediums, that he conceived he had the gift of second sight and look to table-turning and interviewing the departed. In fact he was like one of those doctrinaires who take you into a fog and then leave you there. One would have forgiven his religious eccentricities, were he not a most persistant propagandist, seeking to innoculate every one he encountered with his own belief. I 13 He preached by this text, " The chosen of "the Ijord are we and heathen all besides," and with an inherited spirit of intolerance, those who were not spiritualist could never see the " Sum- mer land," the heaven of this sect. They would be condemned to hang around a celestial lobby or wander in a sort of Swedenborgian Hades — as ghostly undergraduates, until sufficiently ex- amined to obtain admittance to a highar class. This other spiritualistic world consisted of a number of spheres into which mortals were placed at death according to the relative degree iif perfection they attained to in thi.s vale of tears. If only comparatively good they were assigned to the comparative sphere. But if t>!iey struck the bull's eye of perfection in this sinful world of weak flesh, they ascended immediately to the superlative superstructure, on the summit of bliss, and no doubt looked down with contempt from their mountain perch on the dwellers in the .Sherbrooke, St. Catherine, St. Antoine and lower streets of this hereafter, where all men are evidendy not equal before the throne. But of this individual more anon. The Buchans were regular attendants at the Rev. Jeremiah Rose's church. That mild man- nered Divine was much troubled in spirit by Bob's vagaries, and strove ardently to keep the imaginative highlander in the orthodox path. In the main Bob was a full believer in the five points of Calvinism and the great truths of Christianity, but would too frequently allow himself to wander into the circuitous paths of superstition and have a good bout with witches and warlocks. This bib and rattle theology grieved the minister while Mrs. Pettysham quite lost all patience at his absurdities. Old Mrs, Buchan was always delighted to see the Minister. It gave her a chance to talk on religion which she loved only a little less than contradiction. When there was a rheumatic wind from the east she had serious doubts about the resurrection of the body, coming to the con- clusion that it was rather risky taking to the next world this earthly tabernacle of the soul with all the ills that it is heir to. In confirm- ation of this she would hurl texts from the minor prophets and other obscure portions of the Scriptures at the good man's head until he retired discomfited. Then the neighbors, loud in praise of her piety and learning, would pass the word from mouth to mouth. " Mother Buchan has again stumped the par- son.'' This rather lowered the good man in tlie esti- mation of the Jennie Geddes's of the village who " were no vera shure that the mcLMiistcr was gifted we' the power o' the speerit," and as women rule their husbands generally on re- ligious matters, it was as generally concluded that the Rev. Jeremiah was not a theological breech-loading, hundred pound armstrong gun. An itinerant preacher, when told that his pay was very poor, remarked frankly, " Yes the pay is dreadful poor — but it's dreadful poor preaching I give for the money." So the people of Con- sumption had to be contented with their minister whose preaching at the worst was better than his pay. Screws the Treasurer believed in keeping the ministers poor, as poverty restrained pride and begot humility — an essential in the character of a country clergyman. The Rose residence, or the Manse, as the old country people calhd it, was a substantial struc- ture having being built by an old Hudson Bay trader who, from compunctions of a tardily awa- kened conscience, devoted a pittance of the pelf swindled out of the Indians to the service of his Maker, like the penitent thief who thought to silence the still small voice by giving in alms the tail of the pig he had stolen. This Nor'- West magnate had also built the church, and on a marble tablet above the entrance commemor- ated the fact by the following inscription : — "This church was erected by Peter McGrab at liis sole expense." It might have been written truthfully at " his soul's expense,"considering the number of shoddy blankets and the amount of poor whiskey he palmed off on Lo, the poor Indian. Peter for- got, or never read Pope, or else the couplet wo\ild have warned him that " He who builds to God and not for Fame, Will never mark tba marble with his name." The church and manse, however, were the pride of the village, and if the minister did get poor pay, he was at least comfortably housed and was not under the necessity of constantly dunning the congregation for money to make as constant repairs to a cheap church run up by a contractor, who knew " - would have to wait a long period for his money and consequently wasted as little time and material as possible on the job. Not a few such flimsy churches are built on promises to pay. The Rose family consisted of Mrs. Rose, a re- fine lady, who in younger days had been one of the garrison belles of Montreal, but with that impulsiveness characteristic of the sex, suddenly embraced religion at a re- vival meeting and as suddenly embraced the opportunity of making the impression perman- ent by accepting the Rev. Jeremiah, who oppor- tunitely presented himself, while she was in this spiritual mood. The whilehome garrison belle made a most exemplary wife, and with mam u ready tact adopted herself to the entourage of a Canadian village. She more than supplied the deficiencies of her husband, and managed tlieir small income with the skill of a finan- cier. The reverend gentleman was undoubtedly a good man. He had a solid figure, unimpas- sioned flice and all the dignity of dullness — a dignity most essential in divmes of imposing appearance and limited abilities. The Buchans delighted to "sit under him" and Robert could truthfully exclaim : " I stroked with joy my o.J grey beard, To hear the points of doctrine cleared, And all the horrors of damnation Set forth with faithful ministration. No doubtful testimony here, "We all were damned, and that was clear I owned with gratitude and wonder. He was a pleasure to sit under. No one could deal in purgatorial pyrotech- nics, nor amplify a parable into a sermon better than the Rev. Mr. Rose, and this even his worst enemies admitted. Two children enlivened the manse. The eldest Frederick, a young lad of sixteen and full of promise, had been reared in the family circle, and inheriting a studious refined dis- position with a certain nobility of character, was better adopted for a learned profession than to measure tape and sell molasses in Screw's store, where his father had determined to place him. Florence, the other child, was in the delec- table period of budding womanhood. Her well poised head of oval form, giving the im- pression of refinement and intellect, was graced by luxuriant waves of golden hair like an aureole, that swept back into a plain Grecian knot, regular features of Hellenic loveliness, were made most piquante by a pair of dark hazel eyes which contrasted startingly yet harmoniously with her sun-lit hair. This Andaliisian type of beauty, so rare, so unique in our colder climes, may be frequently en- countered in the sunny land of Spain. The late Adelaide Neilson, born in Madrid, was the most lovely being that has graced the stage in this generation at least. And of the pure Spanish type also, was tUe radiant Eugenie Countess de Montejo, whose beauty bid the ambition of a usurper sleep, as Napoleon, de- clining a monarchical aliiance that might have strengthened bis dynasty, raised the daughter of a Count of comparative insignificance to the Imperial Throne of France. Of this rare type was lair Florence, who had that indiscribable soft charm of manner which a convent education there being an entire absence of the dmg School Bonn- which intrudes so un- givcs, Boar pleasantly in young ladies fresh from Miss Mc- Smatters fashionable Seminary, where the proprietress modestly purports to teach every- thing within the bounds of the human under- standing. The Sisters of St. Joseph, where she was educated, were ladies of intelligence, and that exquisite French refinement characteristic of the ancienne noblesse. In fact, not a few of these worthy women belonged to families of the highest rank in the courtly land of France. Her father, and many of the leading members of the congregation, were at the commencement antagonistic to his child's being educated by the nuns, but as no one offered to pay his daughters expenses at a fashionable Montreal boarding school, they were constrained to silence. On one occasion her mother called at the convent to see Florence, who was sent for by the nun in attendance. "Oh Mamma," she cried on seeing her mother, and was just about rushing into her dear parents arms when the nun stepped for- ward and gently but firmly arrested her progress, saying with dignity. " Miss Rose, leave the room and enter pro- perly." The hot indignant blood mounted to the rebellious young beauty's face, but she restrained her anger and left the room. On being summoned she re-entered, and turning to the nun made a most respectful courtesy which the sister returned and then retired, leaving mother and daughter to- gether. Withal, her voice, like Cordelia's, " was ever soft, gentle and low, that excellent thing in woman," and her accents fell so naturally that it was quite refreshing to listen to her liquid Can- adian tones, after the tympanum had been harrowed by the affected English drawl imitated by too many of our Dominion belles. This drawl is perfectly excusable in young gentlemen who have been sent from Canada to Oxford or Cambridge for the purpose of forgetting tbis native accent and their country. These soft- shelled snobs come back so imbued with Eng- lish ideas, that when bad weather in London is cabled, they put up their umbrellas in Mon- treal. ******* We have now, inconsequential reader, intro- duced the main army of our characters in due form, and with the foregoing dramatis persome we intend to work on to the finis, introducing oc- casionally, as they say in the play bill, persons ecjuivalent to "soldiers, sailors, peasants, police- men " and other utility people that vulgar little boys in the gallery jeer at and call Miss Mc- vliere the ;ach every- an under- where slie gence,and aracteristic Dt a few of ilies cf the of PVance. nembers of nencement ated by the pay his Montreal rained to r called at as sent for seeing her g into her cpped fof- er progress, enter pro- ted to the e restrained tered, and 1 respectful i and then lighter to- " was ever It thing in rally that it liquid Can- had been wl imitated :lles. This gentlemen » Oxford or getting tkis I hese soft- with Eng- n Ix)ndon as in Mou- lder, intro- ers in due s persome iducing oc- 11, persons Its, police- at vulgar and call \ 15 " soups," and men of the world consider as in- signiticaiit pawns on life's chess-board, Wkv the Gi.'rman army at the seige ol Sedan, wc have placed our forces on the surrounding hills and now tlie cannonading begins. The modern slory-tellers introduce the reader into a room full of people, and he finds out the char- acter as best he can in such a colloquial fashion that it is difficult to know who's who, until half way througli the book, vide tlio realistic pages of " Ouida " and the Sunday school editions of •' Zola." CHAPTER V. A chapter wlierein conceit chones a text, ignorance ex- pouuib it, and auiwratition advocatea it. The F^ettyshams had been for several days in possession of " Hardscrabble " and as soon as " things were set to rights " as our practical American cousins say, the family received calls, Already the old place shows traces of rejuven- ation, a few coats of paint, a little tidying up, a little gardening, a nail here and a rail there, and the wrinkles gradually disappear from the face of the old mansion, as if it had applied an infallible " Bloom of Youth " or some other cosmetic to its aged features. Mrs. Pettysham put energy into all arouna her and even the lubberly cow boy endeavored to be active and let people know he was alive while he did live. Mr. Pettysham, though a mortal of the careless kind and something of a Sybarite, was almost transformed into a stern Spartan by his indefati- gible wife. He read law diligently and being a man of varied information with strong percep- tive and retentive faculties might have been a Canadian Solon had fate called him to the bar at an earlier age. A jovial corpulent man with something of a sensual expression, he took life easy and never worried. There is an impression that fat people are " so good aatured." This is an error, the most intensely selfish people are invariably fat, they havj no sympathy for others and with them freedom from pain and a fair supi)ly of material wants means liuppiness un- alloyed. Your fat jovial sybarite is a very ^«/^but too great pru- dence kills enterprise." "Experience teaches us caution." "Caution carried to excess makes us lose many opportunities." " It is better to lose opportunities than to im- perii that by which opportunities can be im- proved." " Ah, Madame, it is useless to discuss with so clever a lady, you should be in Parliament." •'No thank you, that is not woman's sphere, I hope my husband will some day get there." " If he ever gets there," thought hcrcws, " he will be more indebted to you maa to his own abilities. He may have book learning, but a baby could beat him at a bargain." Skimpit listened attentively to this conversa- tion. He bad heard similar conferences on sev« the hou \ fl fifs neighbor rmerly have ill soon make "Mr. Petty- fariuing and up to the now nothing , phosphate, jose you will about farm- ps to enable agricultural il to embark 3r Montreal :hine Road cost about after ' Hard- " you would ising all the of interest, i that not BO, no man . . such mat- tie estate is )ut it never : as you can :d the hos- agricuUure vould thrive ThI- id an lii ar., epta- ^nships «i ho tal farming jVf sir it is L/f others, o great pru- is lose many than to im- can be im- iscuss with 'arliament." 's sphere, I there." :fcws, " he to his own ling, but a i conversa- :rences on several occasions and they boded little good for iht person who got between Hcrews aud Prud- homme. 'The notary before retiring was loud in liis praises ofliis good friend Sciews and improv- ing an opportunity when Mrs. Pettysham was alone, informed lier in l-'renchitied Knghsh that he admired " self inado " men. " Dere is my vera good friend Monsieur Screws. Smart ii/i oui. He make every ding him- self — lie make himself No fadder no nnidder, he came here all alone. He rich now ah oui. He rise from de lowest of de lov/." Screws heard these too fulsome compliments at hrst with pleasure, but when the enthusiastic notary said that he arose from " the lowest of de low," he fidgetted, grew red, and looked dag- gers at his indiscreet eulogist. Mr. Pettysham listened with amusement to the httle notary's application of the phrase " lowest of the low," which he had heard in some other conversation and imagined it would be suitable in describing the primal condition of a self made man. These self made men worship their creator, that is self, and though willing to be considered the architect of their own fortune, hardly wish to convey the impres- sion that they were, " Born in the garret, in the gutter bred." All men, would prefer to have it known, that like St. Patrick, they "came oi da cent people." " Wh" dear," he said when the visitor left, " I doii t think Mr. Screws appreciated the re- ference to his being the " lowest of de low." That was a pretty good joke. Do you remem- ber old bald-headed Crawfish who died worth a mint of money ? " "Yes, he was very proud of being a self made man." "Well one day at the club he was boasting rather loudly of the fact, when Charley Bounce, the broker asked him slowly and dryly : " Mr. Crawfish — you say you are a self made man, — well when you — were — about it — why did'nt you put a little more hair on the top of your h«ad." CHAPTFR VII. "Will I write in your album t Ah, do you not knew, We are writing ia albums v. herevet we go I Do good or do evil, whatever our part, We are writing a line on somebody's heart." Screws when angry was a master of invective and could be as vituperative as a police court lawyer. He allowed the rest of the party under Skimpit to form the advance guard while he held Prudhomme back, and gave the astonished notary such a volley of abusa for his too candid rcfercute to his lowly origin, that the little man fancied he nmst have sugj^'csted there was a bar sinister on the Screws coat of arms. The two men hated each other, but the co- hesive power of plunder kept them together, though they could kiss like Judas and deny e^( h other in d.mger like Peter, (irab and self were their gods, ami to tiie'r master passions all other considerations mu.st succumb. Both prostituted their relij;ion to gaining temporal ends. Like pirates beguiling an unsuspecting merchantman they attrac ted the strangers un- der the "Banner of the Lamb," but when they came within ran,L;e hoisted the skull and cross bones anci hred a raking broad- side. One rode the Protestant horse, while the other poses as a leading light of the Ultramontane party and thus they led the religious world of Consumption. It was robbery in broadcloth and therefore reverenced. Not the act but the manner of doing it constitute the difference between the financier and ihe felon. Speculate with the employer's money and the penitentiary awaits the loser, but taking the funds of a bank and sinking it in a hazardous railroad enterprise is only considered a financial misfortune, whereas success leads to knighthood and a seal at Royalty's table. " Tough-heel, I don't see any use of a man who has been brought up in the gutter always talk- ing about mud pies," said Screws to his com- panion with an angry snort. " Dat isvere true, Mon Dieu, nor do I see any use in the man what no speaks the French call- ing his friend, Tough heel and every body laugh. Ef you call me tough heel — bah ! cet nom bete — I vill tell that little story of de lowest of de low and vill lief you and take my hat and pro- menade." " Tut, tut, Mr. Frudhomtne, we can't afford to fall out about trifles, let's us change the subject. I found out in this visit just what I wanted to as- certain. The lady is the head of that house' .old. No use wasting any powder on Pettysham. ' Ah ! yes, she smart, vere smart. He good fellows, pleasant man to transact de business, he know so leetle of de grand art of making one bargain. Eh !" " Make a bargain I he make a bargain ? J ust about as well as an Indian could with a Hudson Bay trader. But he is no fool though he may not be sharp at a trade." " Yes, he have de grand ability, and he is of de noblesse, his family is von of stupendous anti- quity in la France." ■' What does family amount to if you can't pay cash?" "Ah ! Monsieur Screws, you are too practical. You can pay cash for one, two, dree, four thous- 22 '^* and dollar. Maybe he no have a leetle ten dollar bill, mais mon Dieu, if he run and you run for de Parliament, he takes his seat, and you ! You stay at home." Screws made no reply, but after some minu- tes reflection in which his pace kept time to the hurrying thoughts pass'ng through his scheming brain, he remarked : " Every man can be had somehow. Mrs. Pettysham is ambitious to have her husband in Parliament. The Conservative party is coming to the front." " De liberal member is vere rich. He will spend much money to be re-elected !" *' Money alone won't do. The people evidently want a change, and a Conservative candidate of old family would command much influence es- pecially with the clergy." " His election will cost two or tree thousand dollar." " I'll furnish that amount." " Without security." " No," a mortgage on " Hardscrabble." " His wife will never consentt" •' She will if the money is to send her husband to Parliament. That is her dearest ambition." " What good will his going to Parliament do us." " None at present." " Then why elect him ?" " I don't purpose he shall be elected, at least, this time." " If he run we must support him. " " Yes, we can urge him on with one hand for the sake of appearances, and pnll him back with the other." " How?V "Circulate reports that he is an infidel. Mrs. Buchan says that he laughs at the holy Prophets. He is careless, make jokes, and we can easily manage to convey an impression that he is not sound on religious subjects. If de- feated, we hold the mortgage on " Hard- scrabble " and you know what that means. Eh, Mr. Prudhomme I" " Yes, yes, but dey are not like the poor habi- tant, dey read and dey know where money can be had for low interest. I am aware of that. We can say we don't wish to hurry him, and will make a mortgage at low interest, say for five years. Paying the interest will reduce their income. I'll allow them to open a running account at the store, and you know what that means. Eh, Prud- homme ? " Ah ! yes," replied the Notary with alacrity, biij face puckered inio a priiunace, den you will suddenly have some notes falling due, eh. Some heavy payments to meet, eh. Must have the money, eh. Perhaps your vere good friend Prudhomme, might oblige de Pettyshams with a loan, eh. Yes, but it is second mortgage, must pay good interest on second mortgage, eh! Ah ah ! ! he ! ! ! you vere smart man, Screws." The conspirators were so interested m their schemes, that they unwittingly approached the party led by Skimpit and the clergyman, who being guileless of the ways of business men, did not understand the purport of their remarks. The clerk putting together the conversation in tlie drawing-room and this on the road had the key to the plot. " What a pity " he thought, that Florence is not Mr. Pettysham's daughter, then I could counteract the plot, save her father from ruin, who would out of gratitude bestow on me the hand of his lovely child. Cracky, this is getting romantic!" Skimpit, since he joined the church never in- dulged in strong language. He had quite a vo- cabulary of modified oaths, and never got nearer to swearing under the highest provocation than an occasional " darn." But he wss too much occupied with his fair enslaver to give much attention to planning per- sonal advantages from the knowledge he over- heard. Fair Florence loved poetry, and so did Skim- pit. He never heard Shakspeare's name men- tioned without a jealous pang, failing to see much difference between his Muse and that of the Bard of Avon. Skimpit's imagination was not of a glowing, tropical cast ; on the contrary, it was very practical . With a knowledge of the art of versification, he could have put Da- vid's Psalms in as good long metre as a ceitain exalted personage, who may be heartily con- gratulated himself on not being obliged to live by his pen, which, in the hands of Httle men, is an instrument for their own martyrdom, " What a lovely vegetable garden 1" ejaculated the poet. " Are you not fond of vegetables. Miss Florence? Why shouldn't poets praise these useful products ? Flowers are very well, but they only please, whereas vegetables sustain life. And as poets write much about life, why shouldn't they sing about that which sustains it?" If I had been Tennyson, I would have written, ' Come into the garden, Maud, and cull a cabbage for cooking.' Better than culling lilies. A man can't live on lilies." " You're evidently not an aesthetic," replied the young lady, laughing. "A what?" '* An sEsthotic. Don't you know what that means ? .Esthetics are — well, they are people who live on sentiment for breakfast, languish over a lily for dinuer and sup on moonbeams." Mr. i ;re good friend ^ettyshams with mortgage, must )rtgage, eh! Ah an, Screws." crested m their approached tlie clergyman, who siness men, did their remarks, conversation in le road had the hat Florence is then I could ther from ruin, stow on me the ', this is getting hurch never in- had quite a vo- ever got nearer rovocation than d with his fair planning per- ledge he over- id so did Skim- e's name men- failing to see se and that of lagination was n the contrary, knowledge of have put Da- e as a ceitain heartily con- obliged to live of little men, rtyrdom , :n I" ejaculated of vegetables, t poets praise ;rs are very ;as vegetables : much about lit that which yson, I would irden, Maud, Better than 1 lilies." :tic," replied w what that Y are people fast, languish moonbeams." I '' Indeed ! They should be exterminated." "Why?" " They spoil trade. When people get to live on nothing, they ruin the country stores, and I, as a business man, object to them. I do a little quiet trading on ray own account in 'he beef and pork line." " Why not write poetry on beef and pork, Mr. Sl.impit? They sustain life," queried the young lady, with a quizzing laugh. Why not, reader ? This is a prosaic, prac- tical age of heifers and hogs. We banquet not on manna, ambrosia, nectar and such celestial cordials. Let the modern bard, then, strike the lyre, and sing a cantata on cabbage, a bra- vaura on turnips, or warble the tender lamen- tations of the onion, that tearful Niobe of vege- tables. Let the love-lorn poet indite a soft, sentimental sonnet to the potato (when mashed), or cultivate a philosophical mood and rival Virgil and Homer in an epic on pork ! Again, why not? The citron, the orange, the fig and the vine are all praised in immortal verse. Then why should the more substantial part of the staff of life be neglected? Pope did, however, devote this couplet to the kitchen garden : "See dying vegetables life sustain ; ' See life, di«solviDg, vegetate again." But the muse on this subject is not exhausted. Skiriipit took the practical view, and as a con- sequence his versification was a blending of the sublime and the commonplace, a charac- teristic of the inspired Fenian orator, who said, that the ship of state of the Irish republic would ere long walk the waters like a canvas- back duck. He no doubt meant to give the quotation that the vessel would " walk the waters like a thing of life," but his memory was treacherous, and his florid imagination supplied the duck simile. It was not so sublime and comprehensive as "a thing of life," which might mean a swan or a whale. It is ditTicult to hide genius under a bushel. Mary Screws confided to Florence that her Samuel was a poet and wrote lovely verses. Though Skimpit never gave out, like Simon, Magus,"thsit himself was some great one," yet he never denied that he occasionally cultivated the muse, and, though some might think it un- business-like, he entertained a contrary opinion, as in the present age, he said, literary ability is a synonym for genera' ability, vide Disraeli, (Gladstone, Cobden, Bright. Lord John Russel, and many other able statesmen, who have also left their impress on the world of letters, to say nothing of Carlyle's " Able Editors." The m-'pse was at length reached, but before saying adieu to her admirer the young beauty made the blushing Skimpit a request, that ho should write a few lines in her album, and without waiting for a reply tripped gaily into the house, and speedily reappeared with a deli- cately bound, gilt-edged, perfumed little book — the bugbear of poets, and the delight of versi- fiers. The poet received this tribute to his genius with all the rapture a lover would a tell-tale rose from his mistress. In the solemn stillness of the night, he pondered on the profoundness of his passion, which was too great for his tongue to utter. His heart must break or burst in song. It did burst into song, but not of the agonizing, wailing, woe-begone sch-; ol that apostrophizes life and asks if it be worth living — a school that alternates its lamentations on getting into the scrape of being alive with mixed metaphors, which may be highly suggestive, like Browning's poems, but are not easily understood. The reader gropes after the hidden, mysterious meaning in fear and trembling, lest he should lose his mind, and when he snatehes bald-headed the mercurial thought, thinks it might much better have been said than sung, as there was nothing so sublime in it to warrant such ambigu- ous phraseology. But this is one of the fashion- able freaks of the modern muse, and every lamb's wool suckle-thumbkin who makes a bur- glarious entrance into Parnassus must be termed a poet because he darkens the most common- place thought in sublimity. Skimpit was not of this pernicious school. He wrote for the people. Every phrase was as clear as the noonday sun, and every line was plain to the least tutored mind. He penned an acrostic on "Florence," but its burning ardor was too pronounced for common eyes to see in a semi-public album. He laid the effusion aside, and,after long tossing in the bed in a wild frenzy of composition, produced this sweetly tender couplet, so full ot fervid remembrance and unaf- fected simplicity : When this you spy Remember I. Sau'l Skimpit. 5, 4, '58. True, it was not strictly grammatical, but the free-bounding soul of the poet was not to be chained Prometheus-like to a work of Prosody. He disdained the artificial rules of a class cul- ture, out of all originality, and as tihepoet of the people gave the rugged nuggets of his Muse just as they came from the mine of his exalted soul. The young lady's feelings on receiving back her album were not those of unmingled delight Her first impulse was to tear the couplet out aa aB 24 4 being too touching and tender for the general eye, but unfortunately it was written on the back of a page that bore a name and a couplet which was the refrain of her every song. CHAPTER VIII. " 'Tia sweet to court. But how l)itter. To court a girl And then not get her." Sweet Singer of Michigan. Miss Florence showed her album to a particular friend, who solemnly ejaculated after a peal of laughter, " In the name of the prophet — Figs." This is a cry that may be heard daily in the streets of Constantinople. There the peddlers preface the name of their wares by a pious ex- clamation, regardless of the incongruous associa- tions and the rapid transaction from pathos to bathos. This friend, Richard Douglas, the village schoolmaster, was a tall muscular young man whose father, a farmer, not far distant from " Hardscrabble," having a large family to sup- port, had early suggested that his eldest son Richard, who showed a very decided disin- clination to farming, should find employment in the city. The young man had no love, how- ever, for trade, and notwithstanding bright prospects held out to him by relatives in Mon- treal, accepted the offer of teaching school at a mere nominal salary. Unlike a great many shallow pretenders, who by teaching others learnt themselves to spell, he brought to bear on his duties a culture and conscientiousness, the re- sult of arduous study and a stern devotion to principle. A school is a mimic world, and the master no mean potentate. He rules the chil- dren, the children influence the mothers, and the mothers the fathers ; consequently, he is an unseen force acting in the present and reaching far into the future. Dionysius, the tyrant, after his downfall, taught in Greece, and became the autocrat of the school-room. Louis the Eight- eenth was a pedagogue in Switzerland, and was fonder of translating Horace than of framing a constitution for the French. Louis Phillippe taught philosophy and gave French lessons in New York city. Royalty under a cloud teach- ing the sovereign citizens of the American Re- public ! " Oh, he is only a schoolmaster ! " sniffed Miss Screws to Miss Florence a few days after the latter's return from the convent. " He's very nice-looking ; do you know his name? " " Richard Douglas, son of an old farmer up the river.with a large family, and as poor as charity." " Does he farm when not teaching ? " " Not he ; it would be something to his credit if he did. It would aid the old people who have a hard struggle to make a living. Pa offered to take him into the store before Mr. Skimpit came, and, just imagine, he actu- ally had the insolence to refuse. He might have got to be a partner. Pa even offered to give him a salary to keep the books in his spare hours, and do you know that after a week's trial Pa found him so obstinate and unwilling to learn business habits that he was obliged to dismiss him. Then he took to study- ing law. There, he's crossing over as if he wanted to speak to me ! " Mr. Douglas advanced with a polite bow, but Miss Screws returned the salute in such a frigid manner and with a quickened step that he saw any attempt at conversation would be considered intrusive. He looked at Florence, their eyes met, and in that momentary glance lay concealed the fate of a lifetime. The funny cynic who laughs with all and weeps with none loves to analyze the grand passion and puts it down to mere imagination which clothes lovers in each other's eyes with more charms and graces than the world can see. It is therefore quite a fallacy to suppose love is blind. In fact it would be truer to say that he enlarges the vision and lovers see more in each other than the cold, disinterested onlooker who judges with the intellect and not with the heart. No doubt Douglas thought Florence an angel, and he was to her a demi-god. If in after life such fond lovers discover that he has married but a woman and she only a man, why should the laughing cynic ridicule the the romance of court- ship ? Disillusion will come soon enough — al- most with the laying aside of the illusion fabric of the bridal veil. This is not a love story, and therefore the minute details of this courtship will be omitted. Suffice it to say, that he duly obtained an introduction, as most people ran when there is a will, and she was not displeased with his attentions. " Love in a village " would, no doubt, make a very pretty story, but when one grows old and cynical, few flowers of Fancy bloom on the rugged granite of his mind ; in fact the vegetation of romance at a late period of life becomes stunted, and if the attempt be made to portray passion, the reader feels more inclined to laugh than to liquefy into sympathe- tic tears. May and December never agree either in writing or reality. If readers hunger after highly-wrought love romances, let them seek the columns of the Montreal Star and there find passion torn to tatters by characters who walk on stilts with their heads in the clouds. To be realistic in this intensely prac- har ab fin{ lut( dov tat( 25 ng?" 5 to his credit I people who I living. Pa e before Mr. le, he actu- He might even offered ' the books )w that after bstinate and that he was )ok to study- if he wanted lite bow, but such a frigid that he saw e considered , their eyes ly concealed 1 and weeps ind passion :lion which i with more an see. It ose love is iay that he ore in each looker who 1 the heart, an angel, in after life las married should the :e of court- nough — al- tsion fabric story, and ship will be 5' obtained vhen there I with his ■Tould, no but when i of Fancy mind; in te period ttempt be feels more iympathe- 'er agree rs hunger let them Star and :haracters s in the sely prac- tical age, one must deal with facts as they are. The young lady no longer attitudinizes at the harp, an instrument well calculated to display a beautiful figure, nor do her tapering jeweled fingers play over the chords of the soul-melting lute. No, as Skimpit would say, she flounces down at the piano and pounds, while the agi- tated lover turns the wrong leaf of the music and makes a mess of the robust melody. What pathos or passion is suggested by a mo- dern young lady sitting at a piano ! Juliet discovered by the light of a moonbeam play- ing the lute, or burning Sappho in the isles of Greece waking to ecstasy the living lyre are fit subjects for Anacreon and the Irish bard who sang of love and wine and song. Our barque, with flowing sail, is no longer on the sea ; the chaste Dianas of Belgravia grace not chariots drawn by prancing steeds ; nor is the melodious horn of the post-boy heard on the king's high- way. Times are changed. Juliet goes to the ball in an unpoptical carriage, while Romeo rattles down tojhesea behind a shrieking, rush- ing locomotive, and takes a panting snorting steamer like a Leviathan or Behemoth of flesh and blood, to plow the watery main. What poetry or romance is therefore left in the age of machines ! Even love itself has become a mechanical assort- ment of the sexes to meet the demand of the matrimonial market. True, people do elope nowadays, but in the majority of instances such elopements are not from, opposition of relations, but from notions of economy. The hero comes riding along in a buggy, snatches up the heroine in travelling dress, and gets married by the nearest parson without any flowers or flummery. Sensible way ! as there will be fewer remarks, several years afterwards, when the divorce comes, then if there had been a grand wedding and a grand display. People even in this prosaic age, when disap- pointed in love, presumably commit suicide, but the scientist says this is merely a specimen of emotional insanity and cannot be relied on as an exact science, not being reducible to this mathe- matical formula : — Given two lovers, one a jilt the other infatuated ; result suicide. The infatuated, contrary to all the approved rules of romance, instead of his own life, takes another woman to wife and laughs at his former passion as a sickly sentiment. This is indeed an era of india rubber hearts so elastic that no trace of a past impression is left. It is hard to break such organs, and though broken they brokenly live on. Douglas was not melodramatic and Florence was a lovely, healthy specimen of womanhood, not " too bright and good for human nature's daily food." He paid her no compliments in the Chesterfieldian style of the days of the Regency, when Turveydrop was master of ceremonies and manners were as fine as morals were coa»se. Like all her sex she no doubt appreciated sighs, but doted on suppers, silks, and other superflu- ities, and, all things being equal, would marry where her vantage lay. As he turned the leaves of the album she re- marked, "What an extraordinary person this Mr. Skimpit is. So very practical, so shrewd in busi- ness, and so very pious." " Oh, very ! but his interest will never be sac- rificed to piety or principle." " You are not an admirer of poor Mr. Skim- pit?" ''Yes, I admire him for what he seems to be." "That is rather an ambiguous answer." " Like the sphynx, one must speak in riddles when we speak of appearances." " Miss Screws told me you were in her father's employ. Perhaps you were jealous of Mr. Skim- pit ? " she said laughingly. "Yes, I was in her father's employ. But our arithmetics were at fault. He preached long and practised short measure. One day he asked me with a cunning look if I understood addi- tion, division and silence. I guessed at his meaning, and told him I coiiid but would not understand it. He pretended to be very angry at the insinuation, and intimated that my services would be no longer required." " I don't quite understand you." " It is better that you should not, nor shall I be more explicit, provided the Screws family let my reputation alone." The Rev. Jeremiah Rose at this moment en- tered the drawing-room and observed the young man, whom he usually received in a very gra- cious manner, as Douglas was a favorite with Mrs. Rose. On this occasion his greeting was far less cordial and much constrained. Turn- ing to his daughter, he said in a tone of dis- pleasure, " Go to your mother, my dear ; she desires to see you." After the young lady left there was an awk. ward pause. The silence was at length broken by the reverend gentleman. " Mr. Douglas," he said, " I regret to say that at a meeting of the school trustees held at Solo- mon Screws' store this afternoon a change was deemed necessary, and at the end of this term your connection with the school closes." " You surprise me. Most of the trustees ex- pressed perfect satisfaction, and only yester- day one of them spoke of increasing my sal- ary." "That is just the point. A friend of Mr. Screws, a gentleman from Scotland, has offered 26 to teach for less salary than you are now getting, and you know Mr. Screws is a man of great in- fluence in the conamunity. Besides, he offered to repair the school-house at his own expense, and the least the Board could do would be to ap- point his friend, which they accordingly did. I am sorry to lose you, but Mr. Screws says that, if you will accept it, he can almost guar- antee you a similar position in Upper Canada." " Mr. Screws is very kind,'' replied the young man, with a mingled haughtiness and bitterness, " but I am not reduced so low yet as to be in- debted to Mr. Screws for a livelihood." " Richard I Richard ! You shouldn't speak in that way of this excellent man. He is very much respected." •' Mr. Rose, you are entided to your opinion, what you choose to assert. I prefer to remain silent as to my opinion regarding Mr. Screws. He is a man of influence, I am but a school- teacher and a poor law student ; but the time may come when my asserted opinion will out- weigh his influence. I hope, however, that our pleasant relations may remain unchanged? " " Well, Richard," replied the minister in a hesitating, embarrassed voice, "you see, Mr. Screws is very influential, and— well, he is the leading elder of the church, and I am under many obligations to him. He has been very kind, and, though there was no vacancy, he made a position for my son in his establishment, and " " That is quite enough, I shall not place you under the disagreeable necessity of being too explicit. It is very evident to m'- that further friendship would be intiusive, therefore — "O, dear, no ! As a member of my congregation it is my duty to welcome you to the manse, and—" " Pray don't explain," said the young man, bowing and approaching the door, " time will justify me in your estimation, but until then I must refrain from considering myself more than a mere memher of your congregation." When Douglas left,, the Rev.' Mr. Rose gave a sigh of relief, and was positively thankful that the young man had intuitively perceived that further acquaintanceship would be prejudicial tc the Rose interest. Screws was the satrap in tliat district and Screws must be obeyed. To offend him was to draw down on the culprit's head a surly vindictiveness that would stoop to the lowest meanness to accomplish its object. He sought his wife and daughter, whom he found in earnest converse, and was delighted to find the young lady so resigned. BLfore the advent of her husband Mrs. Rose had explained how matters stood. Screws had much influence, and, in fact, could compel ft change of ministerf , were he so disposed. He had taken a violent prejudice against Douglas, and evidently desired to drive the young man out of the village. She was fully aware that an attachment between her daughter and Richard existed, and she en- couraged it j for with a woman's keenperception, they being better judges often oi the other sex than men are of each other, she saw that he possessed latent power that would one day lead on to fame and fortune, but at present without opportunity he was as seed without soil. She permitted her daughter, in the event of Richard accepting a position in Upper Canada, to cor- respond, and hoped that the future would bring them freedom from the influence of Screws. " My dear," said the minister on entering, " the interview was less painful than I thought, but I was grieved to find the young man would not accept Mr. Screws, kind offer. I felt like telling him it was very ungrateful." " Did he give any reason? " " No, but he as much as inferred that he would not stoop to be under any compliment to such a man as Screws." " Did he say what his future intentions were ? " " No, but I suppose he will leave the village and find employment elsewhere, or return to the farm ; but I hard' / tiiink he will do that, as his fatiier has too many mouths now to feed." '' This "is very awkward. I hope, Florence, you will be discreet and give no cause for further comment." The young lady bowed, blushed, and remained silent. The parents then discussed Frederick's pros- perity in Screws' employ The mother, with a woman's pride, was desirous that her son should study a profession, but they could ill afford '.->• send him to college. She had to forego her desire, and in due time Frederick entered Screws' store, where he measured tape, the narrowest piece of which was broader than his employer's mind, though he was considered a Solomon on commercial matters. CHAPTER IX. She brought me hope, and joy, and wild ambition ; She taught my h. art new prayers, my li|)snew songs. To all my thoughts she gave that glad fruition Which wins the plaudits of the earth's great throngs. DkWitt Van Bvrbn. Why come not spirits from the realms of glory To visit earth, as in the days of old — The times of ancient writ and sacred story 1 Is heaven more distant t or has earth grown cold ! " Hallo, Douglas ! " The 'person addressed was walking along moodily, after leaving the Manse, and had just 27 iken a violent dently desired village. She t between her and she en- ;n perception, oi the other \e saw that he d one day lead resent without out soil. She nt of Richard nada, to cor- ro would bring 3f Screws. on entering, an I thought, ig man would ;r. I felt like iferred that he compliment to are intentions ,ve the village )r return to the do that, as his to feed." lope, Florence, ;ause for further 1, and remained ederick's pros- mother, with a ; her son should d ill afford '.«■ to forego her entered Screws' , the narrowest his employer's a Solomon on Id ambition ; ay lips new songs. fruition h's great throngs. rx Van Burem. alms of glory r old- red story I earth grown cold ! walking along >e, and had just commenced to realize how much his position had changed in a few hours. He turned, and was soon joined by Squills, the editor of the Consumption Clarion, a weekly paper, devoted to Freedom, Liberty, and the latest gossip. " I say," began Squills, who never wasted words, but talked as if he were telegraphing across the ocean, and had to pay the heavy tolls out of his own pocket, " you are just the man I wanted to see. Here, I've got a letter from my brother away out in California, and he wants me to come on without delay, as he has been sick for some time and don't expect to recover. You've done 8ome writing for me. Will you take charge of the paper while I am away ? I like your dashing style." " Yes, I should like it, but first I must tell you that I am no longer connected with the school, and I must work to eat." " Country papers, you know, are not Eldo- rados, but if you choose, I will give you a small salary, and as much as you can make over run- ning ex]>enses." Squills named the salary, Douglas accepted, and next day the editor was on his way to the Far West, and Richard reigned in his stead. The Rose and Screws families were quite surprised at this sudden change, and, no doubt, if Screws had known that^ Douglas could have so opportunely dropped on his feet, he would have found a method to prevent it. A journal creates popular opinion, and an intrinsically had man fears popular prejudice, the most for- midable, because it is the least tangible oppo- nent a man has to encounter. Screws felt this and dreaded the impalpable touch that can direct public opinion, without seeming to lead it. The Cardinal in Bulwer Lytton's "Richelieu," exclaims when the courtiers come to demand Julia De Mauprat in the name of the King — " Aye, is it so ! Then wakes that power which, in the age of iron, Biu^t forth to curb the great and raise the low. Mark where she stands ; around her form I draw The awful circle of our solemu church. Set but a foot within its bounds, and on Thy head — aye, thotigh it wear a crown — I launch the thunders of the Church of Rome. What the Church was in mediaeval ages the Press is to-day, in curbing the great and raising the low. That is to say, when it is untram- melled, and not in the leash of King Corpora- tion, who has his collar around the servile necks of too many editors in Canada, whose pens are directed by railroad magnates, who corrupt legislatures and tyrannize over the people. Douglas took to his new duties kindly ; the work \vas congenial, and gave him anipk? time to pursue his legal studies ; and between irim- self and Mr. Pettysham there sprang up a wa-m friendship, as both were students in the same office. He had neither seen Florence nor heard from her, and as time advanced, his imeasiness, de- spite the absorbing nature of his labors, grew apace. He was now going through the agony of Love's Mount of Olives, and in such mo- ments even the most stoical pagan deems the gods too prodigal in dealing out evil to mortals, and too stingy of good. On Sunday, however, he would at least see her, and that was some consolation, Sunday came ; she was not in her accustomed place. The family, however, were very atfable. Fred ran up, on the way home, to tell him the good news that Florence was on a visit to an aunt in Montreal, where she would probably stay for a long time, as the old lady was very rich and wanted a companion. " It will be so much pleasanter for poor Flo ; there is no society, nor any one she cares about here, but in Montreal she will have a chance to enjoy herself going to balls, sleighing parties, and the skating rink. My aunt entertains a great deal, and the officers are fond of her society." Poor Douglas ! The thoughtless boy's pratde fell on his heavy heart like molten lead and he felt a sickening sense of despondency and deso- lation stealing over him. A strong ge- nuine early attacii.nent is «he best safe- guard for a young man, and during the period he had known Florence the world was bright and hopeful, but now life in his loneliness de- void of all attraction stood before him with the brutal justice of a photograph. Come what may he was determined to face the world man- fully and seek in hard and unremitting toil the only panacea for the pilgrim of love. In those bright brief days just closed he found in his grand passion as grand an incentive to am- bition, and under the fostering light of woman's laughing eyes and lovely lips his labors attained to a happy joyous fruition, but now labor would press its heavy weight on his equally heavy heart. As he sat at his desk, her love-ensnaring face was ever present, and seemed to guide his pen to nobler thoughts and loftier sentiments, and bade him nurture his mind at the spring of knowledge. He would become a lawyer by profession — a gentleman by practice ; and should he attain to political power would make moral suasion the only proper way of governing men. Heigh ! ho ! What grand resolves young lovers make on the threshold of a career I Mr. Pettysham often listened to the newly hatched young editor, with fragments of the shell still clinging to him, giving an opinion on ^*w 28 W\ $ men and things with all the dogmatism of a ve- teran scribbler. He had yet to learn the vast difference between theory and practice even in editing a newspaper. " How do you propose to run this paper, Douglas ?" inquired his visitor. "I intend to follow James Gordon Bennett's advice, and never be more than a day in advance of the people. In fact, to hold my hand on the public pulse, write as it indicates and thus seem to lead, where in reality I only follow public opinion." " That course is well enough for an independ- ent paper, but I am afraid you would never make a party man, and the Clarion is a Con- servative paper." " How so ? Cannot a party man be at least truthful ?'' " No, because you will find that when the party pulse is at the lowest, the party organ will be expected to crow loudest." " But that would be partisanship, not journal- ism." " No party journal can be truthful at all times and under all circumstances. The status of any party is best ascertained by the independent press. Its friends over estimate its virtues, its enemies exaggerate its faults." " Why use the phrase enemies ? It seems to me that the perpetuation of personal friendship i • not incompatible with political antagonism." " But you must assert your opinion." " Decidedly I It is the duty of every public man to enforce his convictions with energy and persistency." " Then you may expect to be bitterly assailed and if you can go through the crucible of vitu- peration and calumny, yet still preserve friend- ship for traducers you will be a phenomenon in the journalistic world. Take my advice, keep within the party lines, but still, at least, be in- dependent of the politicians. Let them have no hold on you for politicians " who seem to see the thing they do not" spoil everything they lay their hands on. They make use of the press. See that you are no crossing sweeper to this class who forget to throw a copper for past services and are only grateful for favors to come. — Hallo ! I who is that stranger passing with old Bob Buchan?" exclaimed Pcttysham breaking the thread of his sermonette. " Oh ! that is his son Thomas !" responded Douglas. " He is on a visit from Boston. A creaky notional spiritualist, rather amusing at intervals but a terrible bore. Shall I call him over to inflict you with some of the mysteries of the Summer Land as they term their para- dise." By all means do so. I like such characters. I make them either afford me amusement or pay tribute to my stock of information." The young editor then opened the window, hailed the Buchans and beckoned them over to the editorial looms. As they approached, Pettysham, a shrewd observer, noticed that the spiritualist had mild peculiar grey eyes that fieemed to be looking far away into the future, and light colored hair indicative of a sanguine temperament. The majority of spiritualists, and the late Judge Edmonds declared there were eleven millions in tlie United States and Eng- land have these peculiar traits which are also common to persons of an emotional poetical temperament. The finer higher organization of Americans, especially in the New England States, a land of refinement and high mental training, is more susceptible to such hallucin- ations. One is rather startled to find there so many who have a firm belief in mediums and supernatural manifestations. A heavy tramp on the stairs, a shuffling, and the two Buchans appeared in the flesh. " Ho ! Douglas, lad, dindyou Mr. Pettysham, how's a' wee ye ? " " Brawly, brawly, Mr. Buchan," responded Douglas, using a favourite expression of the old Highlander, who added : " Gentlemen, this is my son Tam, frae Bos- ton. Tarn, yon is Mr. Pettysham, the laird o' Hardscrabble, and this is the laddie we ca'd 'wee Dick Douglas,' but it's lang syne he was wee Dick ! " " How do, how do, gentlemen," said Tam, with a sharp New England accent. " Most pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Petty- sham. Mr. Douglas and I have had the plea- sure of a previous introduction." To this Douglas gave a bow of acquiescence, full of nerve-torturing recollections, and know- ing by experience that a long siderunt would ensue, bade the visitors be seated. The seige then commenced. " Tam O'Shan/^/-/^," as Prudhomme, the no- tary, nicknamed the spiritualist, from his fami- liarity with supernatural beings, soon turned the reconnoitering conversation into a general engagement, and enlightened his hearers on his peculiar religious views, which views were clothed in very vague but tropically luxuriant, grandiloquent language. " How do you define Spiritualism.? " inquired Douglas, who wished to give a direction to Buchan's rambling eloquence. " Spiritualism, sir," responded Thomas, with solemn impressive pomposity, " is to-day a light, a voice, a power from Heaven rolling away the stone of doubt from the door of a long en- tombed humanity. It is Paradise Regained ! ii '»» 29 lusement or pay ion." [nsd the window, ^ed them over to ley approached, noticed that the grey eyes that into the future, ^e of a sanguine JspirituaHsts, and llared there were States and Eng- ts which are also notional poetical Ir organization of New England ind high mental |o such hallucin- to find there so in mediums and , a shuffling, and lie flesh. I Mr. Pettysham, lan,' responded ession of the old \ Tam, frae Bos- ham, the laird o' laddie we ca'd lang syne he nen," said Tam, accent. " Most :ance, Mr. Petty- -ve had the plea- of acquiescence, ;ions, and know- siderunt would ed. Ihomme, the no- , from his fami- gs, soon turned 1 into a general his hearers on lich views were ically luxuriant, lisQii? " inquired a direction to d Thomas, with is to-day a light, •olHng away the of a long en- iise Regained I It is Harmoniai Philosophy ! It is the Univer- sal religion of the future ! It is eclectic and assimilates the essences of all past creeds ! Of Mammon and Moloch, Belial and Baal, Isis and Osiris, Jupiter and Minerva, Thor and Odin, and that of the Nazarene. All have con- tributed to its advancement, and before it the dark idolatries of alienated Judah must dissolve, for the Anglo-Saxon deluge is over the world, and it is difficult to Jerusalemize an Anglo- Saxon." " Very," ejaculated Douglas, smiling; "but proceed." " Sir, it is folly maddened by bigotry," em- phasized the Spiritualist, with knit brow, " to ask the thinkers of the nineteenth century to hold the flag-staffs of the ancients over desert- ed forts. All religions must have their day and lie on one another like the strata of a geo- logical formation. Each one of us should be his own authority. Jehovah speaks to us just as frequently and just as fatherly as he did to Jewish seers." " Oh, I see," suggested Pettysham. " Every one should be a seeker after the truth on his own account, as the man remarked when he fell down the well." " Yes, let them seek the truth at the bottom of a well or on the top of a steeple, and there find the divine afflatus from celestial hosts, submerg- ing and suffusing our natures in a measureless ocean of purity and wisdom." ^ " Yes, yes, but what is Spiritualism?" "Spiritualism, sir, grasps the highest concep- tion of the infinite, incarnate life principle of the Universe. It discards tlie mouldy crumbs ' that fall from the oily lips of ordained Rip Van Winkles, who 'say' their prayers instead of doing them, and 'profess' instead o'i possess the Divine principles of absolute religion." "Just so, just so, but light, more light," de- manded Pettysham petulantly. "Now what are the principles, tenets, dogmas, doctrines, of Spiritualism '?" " Tut, tut, man," responded the fervid irras cible Thomas at what he supposed to be Petty sham's dense stupidity, " have I not been telling you all along what Spiritualism is? Can't you understand that the conscious human spirit, as the innermost of man, is an essential portion of the Infinite, pure and eternal, a celestial compa.ss witlf an infinitude of points bearing fixed relations when in conjunction with grosser matter, to time past, present, and future ? Do you comprehend ?" " I can't say that I seize your ideas at the first bound. 1 shall have to reflect. But is not Spiritualism of very modern origin, dating only from the Rochester Rappings in 1850 ?" " Bless you, no ! Modern Spirituali-sm n certainly of modern origin. Three mighty waves have loomed up ou the ocean of tiie ages, ancient, mediaeval, and modern. The first shed its kindling glories in India, Egypt and China, and iMuniinated the world down to the birth of the Nazarene." "Indeed, do you maintain that the Saviour was a Spiritualist?" " Most assuredly, mediaeval Spiritualism dates from the advent of Christ, that eminent Judean Spiritualist. It lasted for nearly twenty centuries, until the Rochester Rappings.'" " ^Vere the Patriarchs gifted in that way." "Certainly! Moses was a medium. But the magii of Egypt were his superiors. They turned theii rods into serpents, water into blood, and produced the frogs also, with seemingly the same ease and celerity that Moses and Aaron did, but when the Lord through Moses, com- manded Aaron to "stretch out his rod" and go to manufacturing " lice" the magicians begged to be excused ; it was too small business — utterly beneath the magii of proud old classic Egypt. They would not thus degrade the sacred mysteries !" "Lucky they drew the line at 'lice,' they might have got to grasshoppers and Canada thistles," ejaculated Doyle, laughingly. "Do you think Socrates, Plato, Demosthenes and snarling Diogenes were spiritualists ?" •^ Yes, every one of them. All the heathen divinities were only different representatives of decea.sod progenitors ; Gods and demons of the mythological ages were the good and heroic of earth's immortalized, yet giving oracles to the living." " How fortunate spirits are not quite so socia- ble novv-a-days," remarked Pettysham. " II would be very awkward, for example, if paternal spirits could appear to spendthrift sons." " Spirits come not to tell us pleasant things Ccfisar's spirit came to Brutus and said, ' 1 shali meet thee at Phillippi,' and at Phillippi Brutu* fell." " The St. Francois-Xavier street brokers should retain the services of a spiritualist." " The spirits never gamble. Yet presentiments, spirit voices, portents, bodings, visions, dreams and shadowy warnings here, frequt ntly precede individual, and almost uniformly national dis- asters." " Does the dog no see specrits when lie howls," queried old Bob Buchan getting interested in his son's discourse. " Tut, tut, father, that is all bib and rattle superstition, only fit for babies and dotards." "I'm no sae sure o' that,'" growled the nettled old man. " Yon fash ye hae been telling us is no 30 gospel I'm vera sure. I've ta'en a scunner at a' yer speerit dirt. Hae ye the impudence, man, to tell me the Lord was ane o' yer lang- haired, loony bodies ye ca' mediums ?" " Of a surety," almost screamed Tam ris.iig to his feet. " Did not Gabriel, the j)rophet's angel, hail Mary, 'Blessed art thou among women.' Did not a host of angels, appearing K) the shep- herds, sing at his birth, " Glory to God in the highest ; on earth peace and good will towards men.' In the temple, when a mere lad, under the heavenly ministering, he confounds the Rabbis. At his baptism the spirit descends in form of a dove and voices his conversation, as it has to other mediums." •• Fudge, havers," growled the old man. The spiritualist took no notice of the inter- ruption but proceeded:—" At his temptation, when famishing with hunger, angels came and ministered unto him. Under spirit influence he healed the diseases of the people. Inspired by a Sampson he drives out the money changers of the Temple. Moved by,his mighty guards, in- dignant at religious corruption, he utters words that call down upon him the anathemas of all the priesthood — a true sign of the faithful iconoclast. Is he not traasii£;iired before the Apostles. Upheld by spirit hands he walks upon the sea of Tiberias. In Geth- semane an angel appeared strengthening him. At his crucifixion, the electrn-spirit batteries are strong enough to rend the rocks, and the veil of the Templefrom top to bottom." ' ' Oh, my, my, did ye iver hear sich a daft loon. Tam you've been to see the widow Barbotte. I kent it weel ?" fairly roared the old man. " Nonsense father let the poor old woman alone. She can't hurt anybody." " She's put Beelzebub into you. I'll no stand it. I'll make her rue this, noo see if I don't !" Douglas and Pettysham, after considerable difficulty quieted the pair and the latter, finding that further questioning at present, would not enable him to see further into the spiritualistic Millstone suggested that Thomas should relate some of his personal experience and manifest- ations instead of giving such gorgeous and ab- .struse definitions that raised the r'erriment of mortals and caused the infinite sorrow of angels. The old man sat down and glared at Tam who gave the loUowing sample of his exper- ience. " Two nights before I left Boston I attended a seance. We all stood around and I held out my hands. In a few minutes a pair of soft hands were placed in mine. I pressed them and knew they were the beloved hands of my dear wife, who has gone before me to the Summer Land. Skeptics said I must be mistaken, so next day I drove out to Cambridge wh«re my wife's sister resides. I said to her,'' " Susan, take my hands." " Yes," says she, " I wilt Thomas." " Susan, were your hands not like my dear wife Kate's } " " They w»re, Thomas," she replied. " Now, gentlemen, was that not extraordin- ary ? " The spiritualist looked around with the air of one who has adduced incontrovertible, infallible proof. Pettysham, in a gay spirit of levity, thought he would match this story, and exclaimed : " Yes, most extraordinary ; I had a similar experience in Montreal last winter, at a circle. I felt a number of smart tappings on my back, and next day I went to my aunt, and said to her : " Aunt, was your foot not like mother's ?" " Yes, Peter," says she, " we used to wear each other's shoes." " Aunt," said I, " take off your slipper ? " " Y'es, Peter," says she ; " I will." " Now," said I, " spank hard." " She did, and it felt just like mother's slip- per. Mother died when I was a boy." " Now, gentlemen, was that not extraordina- ry ? " and Pettysham, imitating ITiomas, looked around with a convincing air. Douglas, who had moved out of sight of the spiritualist, shook with laughter, and was so intent on listening to these extraordinary mani- festations, that he failed to notice the entrance of Solomon Screws, and Prudhomme the notary, who listened in astonishment to Pettysham's spiritualistic experience. CHAPTER X. " A man may cry, Church, Church at every word, With no more piety than other people, A daw's not reckoned a religious bird Because he keeps a cawing from the steeple." Religions toleration well practised and well under- stood is one of the noblest conquests of the human mind, and this is the conquest of Hi^nry IV. Thiers. " Skimpit ! Take this note over to Prud- homme and tell him to come immediately." Solomon Screws, hastily applying his lips to the envelope, handed the missive to the waiting clerk. Now Samuel was ostensibly deeply religiou :, but as no mention has been made in the muial code regarding the surreptitious reading of other people's letters, he, without compunction, moistened the envelope, took out the note and perused its contents. This was merely a breach of etiquette, a social I 31 i:e wh«re ray nas." like my dear ied. >t extraordin- nth the air of Me, infallible vity, thought laimed : ad a similar r, at a circle, on my back, and said to other's ? " ised to wear slipper?" nother's slip* oy." extraordina- )mas, looked sight of the and was so dinary inani- the entrance le the notary, Pettysham's every word, lie, 1 steeple." d well under- human mind, TlIIEIU. ■ to Prud- liately." his lips to the waiting « ly religiou ■, in the muial ling of other impunction, t the note ;tte, a social sin from which vulgar piety considers itself morally absolved. The wordly religion of honor, not being a matter of faith with a certain oleaginous, emotional class, whose sole salva- tion is by a Faiih much handicapped by works, is deemed no obstacle in the way of self-in- terest. Sanuiel, therefore, scaled the note, and conscience gave no rebuke. The notary read it, threw it carelessly on the table, and taking up his hat, told the clerk he would be with his employer in a few minutes. Skimpit, watching an opportunity when the notary's clerk was not observing him, slipped the note into his pocket and hastened to deliver the answer. Jfcs Scripta Manet. The thing written re- mains and the shiewdest men write the fewest and the shortest letters. " If you want to give or get information from a politician," said a crafty statesiuan, " walk ten miles to see your man rather than write him a letter.'' "The thing written remains " ought to be placed over the door of the Divorce Court, but then the public would be deprived of many a good laugh if none of " his letters were put in evidence." Skimpit had it in black and white, and it might be useful some day. .Screws received the message with a silent nod, and while awaiting the notary stood jing- ling the coin in his pocket with an air of self- conscious infallibility. The coin had a harsh sound and Screws smiled cynically at its clink which echoed so well his own harsh metallic voice. The notary, who had gone to make a lew touches to his toilette, appeared from bc- hmd a pile of boxes. " Ready for Hardscrabble, Prudhomme ?" inquired Screws, in what he meant to be a cheer- ful tone. " Yes, Monsieur, all ready." "Then let us be off at once. Saw old Bob Buchan a moment ago. He says Pettysham is in the village, so wc can have an uninterrupted interview with the lady." " Mortgage, eh !" "Yes, mere matter of form, low rate of inter- est, long time to run." " Madame is one vere smart woman." •*Yes,very, but very proud and very ambi- tious," " Pride pay de fiddler, de no proud man he dance at Pride's (.xpcnsc, eh !" " You're not proud, Prudhomme." "Oh no, when we poor we makede grand bow, we vere polite. Mais, Mon Dieu, when we vere rio now and again shouting out a little compliment to the sagacity and unselfishness of his host. Pet- tysham looked on almost silently, now smiling, then appearing quizzed, but gener-i.lly acqui- escent. But the two keenest observers were Douglas and Skimpit. Neither uttered asyl- 8 M lable, but both watched intently. The former, however, was rather the gloomier of the twain, and as his interest waxed stronger, he set aside the glasses thAt were pushed before him. Skimpit was in far lighter spirits, sucking in his breath occasionally as if in the enjoyment of something particular delectable, and toss- ing off his liquor with edifying regularity. A message came from the ladies at length, •reminding the company of the late hour. Screws glanced at his watch and exclaimed : " Nigh on to twelve, I declare. How time flies when we enjoy ourselves. And the best of it is, our work is done. Well, it's all agreed upon, isn't it ? What do you say, Mr. Petty- sham." " Oh, all right," was the off-hand reply. " Certainly, it is correct and the plan is ex- cellent," said Mons. Prudhomme. Rev. Jeremiah Rose was profuse in his ex- pressions of approval and admiration, and Screws appeared particularly pleased at be- ing thus backed by the pastor. " And you, D Mi^las," he continued " of course we can t ■ 'v you. "You can count on me, sir, sea . ,; / my friend Mr. Pettysham every when md always," said Douglas rising and speaking m slow deliberate tones. Screws and Prudhomme apparently took no notice of his manner, however, and nodded as if it were all a matter of course. Skimpit's advice was not asked nor was his adhesion challenged. But he was " all there" nevertheless, and the way in which he rubbed his hands, as if performing an ablution, was significant of an interest in the plot, which no one present suspected, except, perhaps, the vigilant Douglas. All moved away from the table, and joined the ladies. Mrs, Pettysham and Mrs. Rose were already dressed for departure. A mo- ment later they had taken their leave and were on their way homeward. The old notary slipped away, almost without being observed. As they stood together on the threshold, Screws slapped his big hand on the shoulder of Douglas, and said laughingly : "Well, my boy, I rely on you. Now is your chance. We will need your services both in your paper and on the platform. This thing will be the making of you, if you are smart enough to make use of it, Mind, I want no fooling. I am willing to be your friend. Good-night." He dismissed the young man before the latter had time to edge in a word. It was as well, perhaps, that the reply was not given, as, judging from Douglas' hard-set features and the lambent fire in his eye, his words mi^ht have given rise to provocation. He walked along moodily for awhile, but as he turned in- to a flowery lane leading to his humble quarters, he stopped a moment to take in the beautiful scene spread out before him. The crescent moon gleamed in the blue, unclouded heavens, like a Turkish scimitar, and the golden stars twinkled like laughing mymphs. The tranquil air of night was sweetened by the perfume of stately field -plants, and afar he heard the music of hidden springs. The heart of the youth was moved by the influ- ences of the time and place. He moved on with lighter step, and a smile played upon his handsome face. The memory of Florence was wafted to him like a benison, and he took it in, crooning the fragment of an old love song. For a few brief moments Douglas for- got all his troubles, and he was very happy. But as he reached his home, the illusion was suddenly dispelled. He was only a few steps from the door, when a dark shadow passed rapidly across his path, " Hello, Douglas." "Hello." " Don't you know me ?" " No. Who are you ?" There was a low chuckle, and the figure passed on. Douglas stood looking at the receding form. " Oh, I see," he muttered, striking his forehead with his open palm. " That's Skim- pit. But what the deuce is he doing around here at this hour, a full mile from his house ?" Douglas said no more and went up to his room. Within a quarter of an hour, he was fast asleep, sweetly dreaming of Florence Rose. CHAPTER XIV. The next morning at breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Pettysham talked over the situation. The lady disclosed, in fuller detail than she had thought fit to do before, the different points of her interview with Screws in regard to raising the ways and means to carry on the duties of her husband. Pettysham also gave an account of what took place at the dinner the evening previous. Then the twain went more directly to the heart of the subject, with the viewof reaching a definite conclusion. " Have you really set your heart upon this thing?" queried Pettysham. The wife balanced her spoon on the edge of the coffee- cup acy pos! It dea the }\ n features and words mi^ht He walked he turned in- his humble take in the him. The e, unclouded ar, and the ng myraphs. t^eetened by ■s, and afar rings. The y the influ- s moved on ed upon his 5f Florence and he took an old love 'ouglas for- very happy, llusion was a few steps dow passed the figure ting at the itriking his lat's Skim- ng around lis house .>" t up to his ur, he was Florence :> Mr. and situation. I than she : different in regard rry on the also gave he dinner 'ain went ■ subject, •nclusion. ipon this 'he wife le coffee- cup, and smiled with that seductive diplom- acy of which clever women of the world alone possess the secret. " Well, I would hardly go that far, my dear," she replied. " It's you that is to be the candidate, not I, you know " "Oh, yes, I know. But ihere is such a thing as the power behind the shiine, and in many cases, it is really men's wives that are elected to Parliament." '' I have no such ambition, I assure you. To be very candid, however, I must confess that I should be proud to see you in public life." " And you would also be proud to go to Ottawa yourself." " Of course. You and I could hold our own there, I think." "It's rather expensive business, remember." " Yes, but you forget the sessional allow- ance." "A mere globule in a bucket of water. And there is the expense preliminary to the election. Don't forget that." " I don't forget it, that's the very point we have undertaken to decide, if I mistake not." " Yes, the very point. And. let us come to it at once. Shall we risk the mortgage?" " Risk, Peter ! I see no risk. It is a mere formality." " This property is our all in life." • " For the present, yes. But we shall have more. You are young, you are talented, and...." " You are ambitious," bowing to his beau- tiful wife with a pleasant smile. " Very well, then let me communicate some of my ambitions to you." " AH right. Here goes. I will be a candi- date ; I will be elected ; I will be a great Par- liamentary Orator ; I will wield large territor- ial influence ; I will become a Minister of the Crown ; I will shine as a Privy Councillor. . . and.... what next ?" " That's quite enough, my dear. My am- bition is satisfied. Do all this and I shall be content." It was through the thin gauze of this inno- cent badinage that the pair viewed the case of the mortgage, on which the destiny of their lives depended. Whatever misgivings Petty- sham may have had were now dispelled, and as to Mrs. Pettysham, the future spread out before her poetic imagination in rosete hues. When Screws was informed of the success of his scheme, up to this important point, he was delighted, and at once set his wits to work with the object of making assurance doubly sure. He found a ready and skilful coadjutor in Mons. Prudhomme. These two worthies set their heads together to carry out all the details of the campaign, in such wise that there would be no possibility of a hitch. Douglas was by no means adverse to the advancement of his friend, and when he learned all the conditions entered into be- tween Pettysham and Screws, he manifested less hesitation than might have been expected from his manner of acting at the dinner. He had all the buoyancy and sanguine expectation of youth, and not being a business man, did not comprehend thoroughly the risk which Pettysham was incurring. Besides that, his mind was made up to secure the election of Mr. Pettysham. " Here is the chance for me," he thought, " and I'm going to improve it. I will see that this whole business is done squarely, and if all turns out right, why — perhaps — who knows — I may ultimately benefit by it my- self." Nomination day came on at length. Ac- cording to the time-honored custom, the stand was erected in front of the Parish Church, where the usual formalities were gone through, and there the candidates were expected to address the free and independent electors. It goes without saying that nearly the whole parish was in attendance on the interesting occasion, for besides that country folks are in general very eager to hear political dis- cussion, and will go a great way to indulge their curiosity, in the present case, it was Saturday, or market day as well, so that not only the farmers, but also their wives and children trooped to the village. Three candidates were put up, the old member, who was a Liberal ; Mr. Pettysham, as Conservative, and Mr. Screws, as Indepen- dent. The feeling of the County was Liberal, and although Pettysham engaged a large de- gree of personal popularity, it was necessary to bring in certain influences from the Liberal side, in order to ensure his election. This Screws promised to furnish by splitting the Liberal vote. An election meeting in an unknown French parish is a sight worth seeing. For the nonce, the speaker is transformed into a superior being, and whatever falls from his lips is oracular. No matter if he is only an understrapper, an unfledged little lawyer from the city, engaged for this work at four or five dollars a day and his expenses, the good simple folks will listen to him with reverential awe, as if he were a superior being. When he reads passages frrri that dt-lectable well of light literature, the Blue Hook, they say t?ie orator is profound. When he soars off on the wings of imagination, astride of some preposterous figure of rhetoric, which he cannot handle properly, they exclaim that he is sublime. When he reviews some worn- out old joke, that has done campaign service for years throughout the Province, or trots out a superannuated anecdote, of enigmatical humor and still more dubious morality, there is a universal titter, and they rub their hands, declaring that it is really too funny for any- thing. On the present occasion, the Liberal candi- date was listened to with all the respect and attention due to his long services in Parlia- ment, and much party enthusiasm was evoked. Mr Pettysham also made a favorable impres- sion, his evident superiority not escaping even those obtuse bumpkins. Screws had rather a harder road to travel. He was called upon to explain why he stood up between and against the otJier two. He did this, however, with an air of candor and a show of plausibil- ity that carried con\'^'ction to many of his honest, single-minded hearers. As he got through, Douglas, who had been an attentive listener throughout, u'^der ood the exact nature of the game that was about to be played. He was still further confirmed in his suspicions when Mons. Prudhomme was called upon to hold forth to the French portion of the audience. The wily old notary had a subtle role to perform, but he did it admirably. It would not do to go too openly for Screws, or too openly against Pettysham, and, in consequence, he so nicely balanced the measure of blame and praise between them as to leave his audience in a state of happy uncertainty, without, however, stirring any passion. The result was that Screws gained considerable ground in the estimation of the French electors, while Pettysham would appear to require a little closer looking into. Douglas determined that the case should be thoroughly looked into, and he set about this immediately after the meeting. There was no time to be lost. The election took place only eight days after the nomination^ and a week was barely sufficient to baffle the machinations of the enemy. He published several extras of his paper, in which he came out squarely and strongly in favor of Pettysham, without even so much as one good word for Screws. This put the latter on the alert, and he sought out an inter- view with the independent young editor. "I am surprised, Douglas." " Surprised at what .<•" " At your not sticking to your word ?" " What do you mean ?" " Did you not say you would work with me in this thing ?" " I said I would work with you, so long as it was not against Mr. Pettysham." " But am I working against him ?" " You know best." " I know this, that unless you change your tone in the very next number of the paper, you will not only injure Pettysham, but ruin yourself." " You want to see Pettysham defeated then ?" " I don't want to be defeated myself." " That amounts to the same thing." " No, it doesn't. When I put myself for- ward, it was to break up the liberals and help Pettysham. But now I find that I have a chance against both the other candidates, I don't see why I shouldn't snap at it." " Snap away, but a bargain is a bargain. I will stand by Pettysham and care nothing for the consequences." " Beware, young man." " I'll take care of myself, Mr. Screws. I have felt the effects of your good will, before, you know, and am still alive." Saying which Douglas turned scornfully in his chair, and resumed the working of a slashing editorial, on the conduct of the elec- tion. Screws betrayed no undue excitement, as he turned down the narrow stairway into the village street, but there was a fire in his eye that betokened mischief. After Screws, Douglas had to have an en- counter with Mons. Prudhomme, The oc- casion soon presented itself. It was at a com- mittee meeting where final instructions were to be delivered to the different agents for the final day of battle. The room was lighted by a single lamp, leaving all the corners in darkness. It was also densely packed, so that Douglas stood on the outer edge quite unob- served. The old notary sat at the head of the narrow table, detailing his instructions with a skill and shrewdness worthy of a Talleyrand. At length, in speaking of the measures to be taken to secure Screw's elec- tion beyond a peradventure, he said : — "My friends, here is the coup de grace." The audience listened very attentively. '• Mr. Pettysham is a spiritualist !" " A spiritualist.?" was the general cry. " Yes, a spiritualis." "What is that?" ?" |with nje long as fge your paper, fut ruin lefeated If." lelf for- nd help have a dates, I am. I ing for ews. I before, ifully in g of a ^e elec- tement, ay into in his an en- le oc- acom- t'ere to )r the ghted Jrs in that iinob- ad of tions of a f the elec- arr