Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1890)
I- 0111 THE BORDER. By WALTEH EES ANT. "Mv dear he continued. " knew not tlint Hi- world contained so much tress lire ,,-rV'l tins rujah is but a Ktty prince ! jwiJ''h wealth ik as not 1 1 1 1 1 t-tiifitimii :'jpwitb Ihat of oitinv others There were -oiumouus ill ougs norm, wunsn worm I kjiew not unit diamonds m ring sword hate es mid women gauds there were rutin" inueralds sapphires, turquoises, opals ami all Kind of precious stones strung rudely on common string a If they were bill pebbles There were also gold and silver vessels of all kinds, ami there were casks full of gold coins As I took mm a handful I saw that umny of them wiv ancient, with lireek characters, per liar left 111 this country by tlmt great ttolilier Alexander When I had surveyed these wonders t thanked In in and said tlmt I should not pmsiituo to take ho much as a single gold coin from his trcua lira but thul if It idiotild please his high iess lo offer me u present I should accept it with grant lido, prtivuicl it wits not tun rostly lie laughed at then' words and when we cau if aw y I wan no loaded with gold tlitit I fancied myself already u rich man 'Since this event It tint h pleased Lord Olive to issue an onlcr which prohibit othcers from accepting henceforth any pi twins at all fi-um the native princes I cannot but, fee.1 umlt-f ul that the order was not issued belorv my own gissl for tune Uublle.s his excellency liuth pxsi reasons foi this oixiel which places the military service at m disadvantage com ami with the writers, who have great opportunities of making fortunes, and I cannot but think that it in a more noble thing to win a toitune at the point of the sword than ti v such art at are d.ilv prac ticed by the wntfiK and civil servants of the company Ther are many Kuglish men. and many French men as well hut we are driving them out of the einintry who have Lwcoine rich in the military service ol the Indian princes, yet J shall not exchange my present masters mi lung as the merchant who think uothiug of glory or of this country, yet a great deal of their dividends perceive that it is for their safety, a weH as for their credit, to extend their power, and I have a reason able hope that the good fortune which hath hitherto attended me may continue, so that I may return to my native conn try if only in my old age amply pro vided As regards the climate I have as yet experienced no ((reat intxinveniclice from the beat Tho natives have learned to fear an Englishman, rather tbau to love him, which is. oiethinks. the thing we should most desire when we have to rule over people aa ignorant of the Christian virtue, although not UarUimus. like the naked blacks, but a most ingenious, dex terous and skillful people and of subtle intellect, yet slothful of body, lovers of rest, deceiver regardless of truth, for ever scheming plots and contriving sub tleties. and more cruel to prisoners than .the Spanish Inquisition The best among them are followers of Mohammed who make faithful servants and good soldiers It is a country where the ambition and jealousy of prtiiwsareeontiniially causing fresh wars lo be undertaken, ami where a European may lead, a life of adventure to his heart's content " I was reading as I have said, this letter aloud in presence of my two faithful friends Now when I spoke of the drill onboard i;ul tho sergeant's rattan, and the regiui' ntal supplejack, tho fugleman drew bini- if upright and shouldered the garden -,'tdo. because there was no pike at hand and when I read of the boVu's rope's end. and the ship's cat o" nine tails. Sailor Nan cicked her hat and stood with feet a;irt and hands upon her hips, and began Out In a whi.ier. to murmur strange -a oaths, and when I read the account of the fight in which Ralphs courage saved this grateful rajah it was a most dreadful battle, in which hundreds of brave fellows and treacherous Hindoos were killed, so that to read it made one's heart cease to beat the fugleman, car ried beyoud himse's , executed capers with u 3.. lJ Executed caprri Mh the npade, the spade which signified little to my Ig norant eyes, but which were. I beli"ve, tho movements with which the trained soldier attacks with the bayonet, and the old sailor with a mop stick cut down her thousands mighty curttes rolling softly from her lips like distant thunder If the beginning of the letter was de Ughtful, Judge how beautiful was the end. "I have now, my dear, told you all that concerns myself. I suppose yon have long since left Warkworth and gone to live with your parents, to whom I beg to convey my resjects and best wishes If, r 1 amoi your rich friends and the gay et tea ol the fashion the 'gayotleal' you have found lovers (as to be sun you must) and a husband, or one whom you have iliMtinguiNlied with your favor and ni 11 I'd. you wilt remember thai I shall ever lie to you as a brother, for. lover or brother. I can never cease to love"- "A good lad'" said the fugleman. "As ever litul the deck!" said the sailor "do on. Miss lrusy ' "And I am sure that you have grown up as tall ami as litviuiltiil as hii aiigol " "She hiis. " mi id the fugleman "Taller, ye luhlair." said tho sailor, 'and more beautiful an auge.l than ever I clapped eves on nor never a IVy nor a lull at Mlieeniehs or IVptford or the Com mon Hard to show a caudle alongside i,f her What's even a frigate In full sail compared with a lovely woman?" This enthusiasm lor tho loveliness of her own sex (unusual mold women). I put down to her naval exjierieuces and famll ntrity with sailot talk, and went on quickly, because, if llalpli loved to flatter mo. I ought not to let these people follow his example An angel' l-tt men are mm They cannot give enough, they lavish their praises as they Invmh the very fruits of their labors usni tho wometi they lovo VV wnuieu measure our gifts except to our Ijoyn I is over, there fee. the fond words of a lover about blue eyes and curly hair, and nymphs In cool grots, and soft smiles and other Imaginary gifts and graces, all of which my listeners applauded, nodding their heads. Oh I be could say what he pleased, he could imag ino all the perfection, so that be con tinned to tell me. as he did In this tetter, how he thought of me dally, and loved me always more and more "As for tho address of this letter." he said. "1 know not where in Loudon or elsewhere your father may now reside, therefore I forward it to the care of tho fuglemuu. with niue-t that ho will send It to you at the earliest opportunity, and by a safe hand Will you. in return, in form him of my continued esteem and fnendshipf " 'biteetn and friendship.'" repeated the fugleman "Tins from a captain! Was ever such a boy1?" "And If you Bud an opportunity, tell Sailor Nan that half her iortune has come true " She replied that at her time of life It was old If she couldn't tell the fortune of a boy and as for the present cruise. It was bound to be a fair weather voyage. Finally, my brivo lover Ix-gginl ma to write to him and tel! him all that had happened since his departure and sub scribed himself, with much iove, Ralph Embleton When we had read the letter twice, which took us all the afternoon, and cost me three hours' sewing we took counsel together First they were both for tell ing it about the town, and having bon fire, with the ringing of the church bells in a triple bob major, but I was of opinion that it would be best to keep our own counsel for awhile Therefore 1 bound them both to secrecy and silence. I would let Matbow alouo and watch lie should not know anything, not even that Ralph was alive and prosperous, and had 1 kept this resolution, because my two friends were loyal and secret as the grave, It would have been better in the end f r us all. and much better for Mathew But. as the wim! man aid. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." CHAPTER VIL MATIIKW'S r-MIKNDI.V OVVUK. This letter made mo. frutn one of the most unhappy of girls, tbi most Joyous The Immediate prospect of poverty f r the dame declined daily the hard work which began at daylight and ended at bedtime, the certain knowledge that Ma thew was not satisfied with a simple re fusal these things, whi-h had before filled my mind with terror, now appeared like the imaginary specters of tho night, which cease to alarm when the day has dawned To me it was more than the dawn of day; t was the uprising of a plorious sun of love and hope Ralph loved me. Ralph was well, prosperous and In high esteem, Ralph was already wealthy; Ralph would come, and all things would bo well, whatever might happen at the moment. Vet this I could not tell to any Mathew was not to know; my poor old grandmother was too uld n ,w, and too failing of mind and body, to caw for earthly things, my father bad clean forgotten the boy: my mother would not greatly care to know; nor would It sooths her ansieties to feel that we had a protec tor separated from us by the rolling seas atid by a voyage of ten months or n're What good would bo bis far off treasures to us. she would have asked, when what we want la beef for the pot, and bread f r tho board? As for my father's madness, it increased every day, so that now our cottage was a palace Indeed, every meal was a banquet, and the small beer of my brewing was champagne, port, Malaga, or Imperial Tokay But Mathew was too much with him, and it made me uneasy to observe bow ho complimented my father on his wisdom, his resolution and his wonderful success "In all respects, madam." he said to my mother. "I find your husband most sensl b'M and full of sound judgment. 1 have Uk n his counsel of I at in many private matters of importance." "Then the Lord help youl" said my mother, sharply. "What If he does exaggerate his private fortune?" Mathew went on. "It Is a fail ing with many persons concerned in trade." "If you mean this In kindness, sir," said my mother, "1 thank you humbly for your good opinion of my poor, distraught husband. If you mean it in mockery, you are a most cruel muii ' "Indeed, tnaduui," he replied, bowing, "pray believe that I nienn It In kindness " Ho had no Unduiwa ut all In his iiuture. Ho designed theso words to cover his In iiittoits purpose So ho continued in come and go. mid to rail? witli my father In the gulden, and what ever wild things my father said he would accept gravely as if they were In deed words of wisdom No one exrept myself suspected him of sinister designs Slid my tut her disclosed to 1 1 1 lit the whole prodigious extent ol his madness, so that I could have rned wnti shame and hu mllialion, .Mathew knowing well, as all the world knew by this tune, that he was little belter than the piKirual tu Un parish. "The world, sir," tho pour gentle mini would say with a lofty air 'has yet to foam how great a benefactor a Kimple U1111I011 citizen may lie Tlieit have been many twiirtlactor I ncknowl edge their greatness But wail, sir. until my will Is opened , and read To vmi. friend Mathew I have tieqneiuhi'd a piHir JJIO.(KII) 110 more " "till, sir" lie bowed and spread his hands "This la Indeed goodness " "It Is the duty of a rich cillen to ills cover merit and reward It the plain duty I am a Ixuidon citizen ami am Hrhaps move proud of this position than liermnes ,1 Christian The bulk of my fortune I have left to my daughter, whom I design in marrtage for some great nobleman But I have not forgotten the poor of mv native tiartah. .Mathew no. no and yon will find, when my will Is read, that schools, hospitals, marriage portions for tho girls, and apprentice money for the bovn. will attest my remembrance of this place " "Sir," said Mathew with a grin of con tent, "you ili t a benefactor Indeed " Now. before I answered Ralph's letter. whi-h I k.'pt for moiv tlinii a month in my bosom, reading It every day when I rouhl snatch a moment. .Mathew came to me. and after a little p.iuihle. of which I am going to tell you. reojiened the ills itMernl subject of courtship I was in the garden, gathering herim for a mint iulep. when I saw him standing at the garden gate lie looked so jocund, he smiled so pleasantly, and he wore so self tuitisiied an air. that I was quite certain some evil thing hud Impeded I "Umsilia. ho said. "I have heard cor tain intelligence. Von may disnd upon us truth, which Is confirmed In every ir tifiilar I think that you should lie the lirst to hear of It. sad though It be, yet wh it I could not but expect." "I suppose." I said with a laugh, be canoe I knew tlmt he was alsmt to invent some wicked falsehood. "I suppose you have got something to tell me alsmt Ralph, whom your cruel conduct drove mil into the world?" "Nay." he replied, looking darkly, yet with a smll-j. "you may say what you please, you cannot offend me I have just comu from Alnwick, where I sold four fat beasts At the inn I fell in with a stroll ing player, and talked with him over a glass about his wandering life Presently I asked him whether he had seen any where upon his travels. esiscially In places whtre actors like himself, with profligates and thieves resort, such a lad as Ralph It is wonderful to relate tlmt he rememliered seeing tin boy at a place called tiriiiuiiam It was alsmt six or seven ytars ago The reprobate lad was making lovo to a young actress When my informal:' came across the party again llalpli had left them " At first I concluded that this was sheer fabrication, but afterward gleaned that it was to a certain extent true, that is. that llalpli had made, the Ncquuintiince of the actress and her family on his way to Lon don, but there was no love milking How could there Is), when he was already in iove with me? And what follows was pure and clumsy invention "lie wandered alsmt with them playing and acting," Mathew went on. "for four or five years Then he deserted them, or 'as turned out in disgrace It mutters aot which ami. I am ashamed to say- but he looked delighted "took to the road, where ho Is now known everywhere as Black Ralph or Bloody llalpli " "Are you quite sure of whut you sayT" "As sure as I am that he will bo bunged as soon as he Is caught " I know not by wTmt reasons Mathew persuaded himself, If Indeed he did per suado himself, that Black Ralph, who was S notorious highwayman about this time, and practiced his wicked calling on the York road, was Ralph Km blot on Vet he mode so certain of i! that he told under strict promise of secrecy the barber, who told everybody, also under promise of secrecy, and It was noised abroad that the distinction of giving birth to the most bloodthirsty vllluin in England belonged to Warkworth. and many people advised Mathew to go armed and to provide his house with a loaded blunderbuss, a bull dog and a few man traps, because his cousin would probably visit him with In tent to murder as well as rob. "I suppose." Mathow went on to me. "that you will now give up thinking of that young vagabond A pretty girl like you should throw your thoughts higher Why. though your father's a beggar, as on) may say" "lie is not a beggar 30 long. as my grand mother lives " "Perhaps that will not be much longer," lie replied with an ugly grin "Now Driislllu. listen to me You know that I've set my luncy upon yon I've been waiting just till you grew up. and then for for one or two little things to ripen which have now ripened and turned out pretty well Now that everything is roudy. there Is no reason to wait any longer Rulh bein 11 hlghwuyuiuu and certain to bo hanged" V "Thou. Mathew," I ropllnd. "1 will wait until lie Is bunged, and then yoieriin talk to me again If you like Now, go away, and letive mo to my work. " , Ilo wont away for tho tlr.to. ami, nnxt morning his sister Barbara runin. She tras at first mysterious iilsmt sudden changes of forf uno, unexpected reverses, mid the judgments of angered heaven These things I did not then consider as pertaining to myself, because I knew not how I had esecially angered heaven, more, that is. than thoughtless youth may do ul any time, and yet obtulii 'for giveness by dully prayer She also added a certain exhortation to kiss the nut. which I pass over Then she launched Into pi'iilte of her brother lie was most Industrious, she said up early and to ivork Is'foro duyhivuk he whs full of re llgiou. which surprised me very tniifh to hear he was thrifty uiiii lind nlninly saved a large sum of money this! I found ufterwurd. was false lie eimlif provide a comfortable homo, and liiliV indeed she added, would tin the woitjfin on whom his choice should fall Adde(l to this that be was no longer yoimu iiml scatter brained, but arrived at the holier ago of three er tour hiiiI thirty, and that Malliew s wile would have the advantage of hei own society, help, example uud sdui'itiiiioii I told her that Mathew hud got his answei. and that I thought It liurd that u woman could 1. I ls supixwed to know her own 111 1 ml in no iuiMirtanl a mutter "Whui is your answer, then?" sho asked "I will talk to Mathew on tho subject agnlii." I replied, "when Ralph Is hanged, since this is a thing which both you and lie desire so vehemently " Two days afterward Mathew himself met me as I was on my wy tu the castle He begged me to give him uliother lienr lug uud. as I could not refuse so simple n thing I led It t in by the path below the cuslle to the bank of tho river, where ho could talk at his ease and unheard First it was the saine story Would 1 forget llio young villain and marry himf Ilo was so much in lovo with 1110, that he would not say as some men not so rich, mind you, as himself would say. tlmt I might go hung myself In my gurters for aught he cared lie would forgive my disrespect and impudence, he would for get tho post altogether. ople should sihi that he was of a truly noble uud forgiving disMMitiou. ho would give 1110 another chance, so great was his generosity Very well. then, would I marry him? I replied very gravely, that he had al ready received his answer When Itulph was hanged, and not before. I would listen to him Then I asked him seriously why he thought so meanly of me as to try this lruiiied up story about plav actors and higliwavmeii iisui me, and reminded him of what a truly wicked dlsMsltlou he must Im thus in glory and delight In the aupissted wickedness of ins cousin, whose guardian he had been, uud whose lands ho now occupied lie grew angry al this plain spcokiiig. and began to sweai . as Is tho wont of such men If kindness would not move me. he said something el. so should bo tried I thought I was free oud independ ent of him. dnt I? I should see what power was In his hands, and what mis chief hr could do me I was young and Imprudent It chilled mo to hear that ho. and such a mini as he. could do me harm as if tho meanest wretch who ever lived cannot do harm and I told him what I ought to have kept a secret, tlmt so long as Ralph lived I should not want a pro tector, and, that, so far from his being a highwayman. I know certainly that ho was s proMMmtiB gentleman, already held In great houoi, and respected by nil. He was so staggered by this Intelli gence that I thought he was going to have some kind of lit. Consider how much it meant to him; ho would certainly have to give up the mill, and to render a strict account of all his doings; ho would be reduced to the station of a poor small fanner; he would be robbed of Ids re venge; and he would bo convicted as n slanderer and culuminous iwraou, If tlmt mattered aught. First be blustered and threatened. I dared, did I. to reproach him; very good, I should see whut things he could do; I should laugh the other sldo of my mouth. Did I refuse this offer? Very well, then. I should find out what his displeasure Firtt hn btu$tred and threatened. meant. And, perhaps, before long, 1 should be sorry for tho Insult I hail of fered him and the proposul I had refused. He then flung away, becoming at this point speechless, and Indeed ho looked so angry that I was afraid he would have thrown mo Into tho stream. 1 went home, und said nothing to any body about tho business; but I was troubled In my mlud, and greatly afraid that the man would do some dreadful mis chief If he could. Well, ho camo again a third time to me. It was three days later., if I was dis quieted, I could see that ho was' more so. t, His red cfineks weru bwumo pule, mill his 1 eyes were rml Ilo was qtliot In his milli ner, uud hold out Ids I m 1 id , "Hnmlllu," ho suld. "I was wrong tho other day You won't iimrry 1110? Very well, then Never iiilml. some 0110 else will, ir I wuiit What mutters one wo mini more t him itiiothor, If you nonm to llillik ulioiit It? Wlm! hurt tun llinut wusn't your refusal, which I don't euro fur not one bmss luiulilug, but you saving that I wanted Ralph to go bud That was cruel to such u cousin und giiurdiiin ,is 1 was to tlmt Iwiy " "Well, Mutliew," I said. "If I wiw wrong. I pray you to forgive mo." "5 should like to know. on the coiitrury. ; that he was becoming u t'redlt to htH fam ily I say." ho udded. "I should like to liiiow II, If you I'un osHiiro nie of tin) fact." TO UK r0NTINI!!!l), PRECOCIOUS CHILDREN. Tanilnnny In Moilnrn Kdiirntliin Whlote Should lie ('becked. There Is at, present a tonrtnticy to un natural mental development In chit- I droit. The whole sohomo of tho public- school Bystom is uuapieu 10 tuo extra ordinary Insteuil of the ordlnury Intolll gonco. Kvory jaisslhlo moans Is resorted to by which the slow mind limy bo un naturally qulokoned, while tho abnor mally bright tiro pushed forward like horses spurred along a roco coiirso. The pupils of the public shools uro In a state of continual nervous apprehen sion, fearful lest tholr per cont.may full imiIow tho required standurd, or that they may full to pass tho dreaded xm ination. They have lsicamn burdimod with cares that should not bo Imposed upon tlieni, and tho llghthfnrtlmHi and naturalness of untrsmnieled child IiimsI are llk ly to hi-coino more tradi tions. I'retertiatiirttlly aged boys and girls in spectacles are now so common that they ceuso to attruct notico, and reputable pliys'-luns testify that nerv ous disorders among tho young are ominously on the increaso. hlsduetotlin pernicious cramming of which they aro tho luilpless victims, and the unnatural hurry and worry that are a part of tho modern school regimen. Tho parents of bright children aro generally vain of their precocity. T hoy toll with what avidity Iinimu takes to history; how much of Shiikespearo Oeorgo had road at ten, and how John would rathor remain curled up on tho sofa, devouring books indiscriminately, than take part In tho most fascinating gamo that was over Invented. The pre cocity of f-'olorldgo and I Qulncy is re called and tun children in question it is thought, will provo purullol cases. It is wholly forgotten that in 01111 instance whom the mind contlnuos to develop in ninety-nino il weakens and fails undor tho forcing process. Poor Mr. Toots is n illustration of what tho llllmlor sys tem occasionally does, and if tho exam ples are only occasional no parent wishes to furnish tho subject In their own child. Precocious children, as a general thing, uro insufforublo llttlo prig. They have not tho wlnsomonoss and in nocence of childhood, nor tho wisdom that comes only with years and ex perience. Instead of making out 1 courses of reudlng, offering lndueomont J and reward for siipernuturul aehlovy niohts, parents would much bettor lock book-case and take tho text books away from such children, and turn thorn out, Bgnratlvely spwiklng, like young ani mals to craze Tho mind will ttiko care of itself and keep on growing; but tho body, suffers from luck of cxorolso, snd disordered nerves and digestion will handicap tho genius in la to years. The precocious, snnsatlvo, imaginative 3hlld, above all others, should Iw made to run, jump, climb and pluy in tho open air. Ho should grow tanned and ragged out of doors, instead of dreaming over myths, or pondering weighty questions about which ho should nut think for y oars to como. Tho modern Idea of education Is un natural; and its oxlravaganco will eventually culminate in a complete revolution. Moro and more is it all work and no play, when play is noces iary as work is inducing to good health and good tnorals.Chicago Intor-Occan. Orlifln of the Word " Chestnut." Mr. Joseph Jofforson somo time ago gave this as tho origin of the word "chestnut:" "In an old melodrama by Wllliom Dillon, called The Urokon Sword.' ore two ports Count Xuvior and his servant Pablo. Tho Count is a sort of Munchausen, fond of tolling stories of his exploits. Ho tolls ono: 'Onco I entorod tho forests of Colloway when suddenly from tho boughs of a cork troo' ,. "Chestnut, Count,' inter rupted Pablo. 'Cork treo,' said tho Count. 'A chestnut,' roitorntod Pablo; 'I should know as well as you, fori have heard you tell the story twenty soven titnos.' Tho lato William War ron, who had played Pablo of ion, was at a men's dlnnor onco, when a gontloman told a story whoso ago and originality wore fur beyond any doubt. 'Chestnut,' murmured Warren; 'I should know as well as you, for I have hoard you tell it twonty-sovon times.' The guests took up tho expression, and from that," says Mr. Jefferson, "I boliovo tho expression really comes. "--N, Y. Sun. I.lknlr to Inspire CorHdniic. Customer How much? Druggist Sovonty-livo cents. By the way, 1 wish you would tell mo, next Y tlme you happen in, whothor this helps your bronchitis or .not. I filled tho same prescription lust week for a man whose corns were troubling him Chi. uugo Tribune. 1 A.-
