The Monikins

certainly one of the richest subjects of Europe. I say subjects, for sovereigns frequently have a way of appropriating the effects of others that would render a pretension

bit of any sort. Of houses, horses, hounds, packs, and menials, there were none to vex or perplex me. In every particular save one I was completely my own master. That one was the near, dear, cherished sentiment that rendered Anna in my eyes an angel (

h that time can never eradicate. The history of its accumulation was ever present to mar the pleasure of its possession. I do not mean that I suspected what by the world's convention is deemed dishonesty-of that there had been no necessity-but simply that the heartless and estranged existence, the waste of energies, the blunted

difficult to persuade myself that he who dwelt in the confusion of a town in order to transfer gold from the pocket of his neighbor to his own had mistaken the objects of his being. My poor ancestor who had never quitted London stood before me with his dying

e intelligence and patriotism of the constituency had occurred in consequence of the late incumbent having taken office. The new minister, for he was a member of the cabinet, had just ended his canvass, and he was ab

amation of political affinity. Here then, thought I, is an example of the heavenly charities I The candidate himself, the son and heir of a peer, feels that he is truly of the same flesh and blood as his constituents; how amiably he smiles!-how bland are his manners!-and with what cordia

xclaimed, in a burst of patriotic and constitutional fervor, "whether under the roses or the lilies-the Tudors, the Stuarts, or the illustrious house of Brunswick, this glorious structure has resisted the storms of faction, has been able to receive under its sheltering roof the most opposite elements of domestic strife, affording protection, warmth, aye, and food and raiment"-(here the orator happily laid his hand on the shoulder of a butcher, who wore a frieze overcoat that made him look not unlike a stall-fed beast)-"yes, food and raiment, victuals and drink, to the meanest

termed the most freeborn understanding of its rights and privileges. This loyal and judicious borough had never been known to waste its favors on those who had not a stake in the community. It understood that fundamental principle of good government which lays down the axiom that none were to be trusted but those who had a visible and an extended interest in the country; for without these pledges of honesty and independence what had the elec

agent of the owner of the independent borough in question. He told me that he had came down with the expectation of disposing of the whole property to Lord Pledge, the ministerial candidate named; but the means

ne what is handsome; and there can be no more doubt of his electi

erty now open fo

is power of attorney to make the preliminary bargain. 'Tis a thousand pities that

I will be th

He had transacted too much business of this nature, how

ndred and twenty-five thousand pound

lf: by accompanying me to town

ly son and heir of the late Th

ther has not bee

advances, and another time he will know better than to fail of keeping his promises. What is a borough good for if a nobleman's word is not sacred? You will find the electors, in particular, every way worthy of your favor. They are as frank,

to me to read; filled the blanks; and affixing his name, called the waiters as witnesses, and presented me the paper with a promptitude and respect that I found really delightful. So much, thought I, for having given pledges to

andlord presented himself and begged I would do him the honor to take possession of his family parlor, there being

R. GOLD

ur late excellent and most loyal father justifies my claiming you for a friend, and I waive all ceremony (officia

r. Gold

faithfully a

EDG

NCALF,

ay ev

He made a hundred handsome inquiries after my dead ancestor; spoke feelingly of his regret at not having been summoned

ust at this particular moment to conclude my own arrangement-but it is a good thing. Thre

twenty-five thous

ive thousand as a fine-a circumstance which accounted for the promptitude of th

to sit,

the next general election; but at present

Mr. Gol

morning were so very proper, so exceedingly statesmanlike, so truly English, that I shall feel infini

What you have just remarked is true, very true, only too true, true to a hair-a-a-a-I mean, my dear Mr. Goldencalf, most especially those senti

immense fortune, without rank, name, or connections, nothing is easier than for one of my years to be led

and virtuous of this happy isle-unluckily I can propose nothi

rd Pledge; although I scarcely dare execute my own wishes. There are o

for I verily believe he thought I was about to ask for something better. "Your affair shall be arranged by

timents of yours, concerning the stake we should al

kward sort of an intensity, drew his hand across

dog, and he that is little better than a dog usually has nothing. Again. What distinguishes the savage from the civilized man? Why, civilization to be sure. Now, what is civilization? The arts of life. What feeds, nourishes, sustains the arts of life? Money or property. By consequence, civilization is property, and property is civilization. If the control of a country is in the hands of those who possess the p

. P

n, you will recollect, he was the immediate representativ

. F

reason as you will, we shall always arrive at the same results. You will, of course,

ud of being your co

ases (though high-breeding rarely exhibits all its finer qualities pending an election), but-a man of the world, and one of a class whose main business it is to put the suaviter in mod

utworks of the place. That night the attorney arrived from town with the title-deeds all properly executed (they had been some time in preparation for Lord Pledge), and the following morning early the tenants were served with the usual notices, with a handsome

bove mortality, than when we met, a week after I had quitted

said, extending her hand with the simple cordiality of an

at your feet, and tell you how much and what I fe

emples, she drew away the hand I was foolishly pressing against my heart. "Let us go to

of tea from fingers that were rosy as the morn, "I f

led girl, turning pale and then flushi

rry you, and then, I fear, worship you,

ughed f

the sin of idolatry?" she a

society-of-in short, of becoming as useless to my fellows as my poor, poor father, and of making an end as miserab

t, apprehension, affection, and anguish were all beaming in her eyes; but the unnatural brightness of th

s to shut out every generous sentiment in favor of others. I have a fearful responsibility on my shoulders-wealth, gold; gold beyond limits; and to save my very soul I must extend not narrow my interest in my fellow-creatures. Were

stole timidly to my side of the table, as woman approaches when she feels most, placed her velvet-like h

f the morning. As for myself, I was constantly brooding over the danger of concentrating interests, and of the excellence of the social-stake system. "Your spir

appy as man was never happy before! But I mu

happy. But here comes Francis with yesterday morning

xclamation of pleasure and surprise escaped the sweet girl. On r

that seems to give y

an eager and tremulous vo

ouseholder Hall, in the county of Dorset, and of Cheapside, Esquire, to the

the delighted girl, brightening like the dawn, and wetting her pouting lip with liquo

a very good grace, and then hurried into

ld that society has on you, whate

some sense of gratitude (although he afterward took occasion to intimate that I ow

ot have an awkward sound

; but not as applied to a hundred." Anna laughed,

distresses her-she is unequal to its discussion, and it is unmanly and improper in me to treat it in this manner. I must be true to my cha

e at the rectory. When I had made my adieus to the father, I went, with a sorrowful heart, in quest of the daughter. She was still in the little breakfast-parlor-that parlor so loved! I found her pale, timid, sensitive, bland, but serene. Little could ever disturb that heavenly quality in the dear girl; if she laughed

kindly and without the affectation of an indifference she did not

nce, but, although she struggled hard fo

may so express it, 'human nature is abroad.' I go to quicken my sympathies, to open my h

you should travel; and so adieu, with a thousand-nay, millions of good wishes for your

would have been giving the death-blow to the development of that sublime principle on which I was bent, and which I had already decided was to make me worthy of my fortune and the ornamen

she half whispered, as her hand wa

r did it entirely desert me-putting my constancy to a severe proof, and threatening at each remove to contract the lengthening chain that still bound me to thee, thy fireside, and thy altars! But I triumphed, and went abroad upon the ear