The Monikins

ousand a year, and I make no doubt I should have spent my time much as other young men had it not been for the peculiarity of my birth, which I now began to

so it would seem the mind's eye has also need of something smoky to look steadily at truth. But, while I avoided laying open the secret of my heart to Anna, I sought various opportunities to converse with Dr. Etherington and my father on those points which gave me the most concern. From the first, I heard principles which went to show that society was of necessity divided into orders; that it was not only impolitic but wicked to weaken the barriers by which they were separated; that Heaven had its seraphs and cherubs, its archangels and angels, its saints and its merely happy, and that, by obvio

-creatures. My own natural disposition was inclining to philanthropy, and as I was unwilling to admit the truth of theories that arrayed me in open hostility against so large a portion of mankind, I soon determined to set up one of my own, which, while i

s I attributed to the reserve and discretion that became the expanding reason and greater feeling of propriety that adorn young womanhood. With me she was always ingenuous and simpl

tangled by a vagary of the imagination. I felt at my heart's core what a blessing such a mentor would be, and how fortunate would be my lot could I succeed in securing her for life.

ned silent. "Your father says that every man who has an interest in the state should give it pledges"-here Anna smiled, but so covertly that her sweet mouth scarce betrayed the impulse-"and that none others can ever control it to advantage. I have thought of asking my father to buy a borough and a baronetcy, for with the first, and the influence that his money gives, he need not long wish for the last; but I never open my lips on any matter of the sort that he does not answer 'Fol lol der rol, Jack, with your knighthoods, and social order, and bishoprics, and boroughs-property is in danger!-loans and regiments, if thou wilt-give us more order "ORDER-order"-bayonets are what we want, boy, and good wholesome taxes, to accustom the nation to contribute to its own wants and to maintain its credit. Why, youngster, if the interest on the debt

irtues. If your father would consent to come into parliament and sustain government at this critical moment, his origin would be overlooked, and you would have pride in looking back on his acts. As it is, I fear his whole soul is occupied with the unworthy and debasing passion of mere gain. Money is a necessary auxiliary to rank, and without rank there can be no order, and without order no liberty; but when the love of money gets to occupy the place of respect for descent

exactly the same eyes as myself was clearly proved the very next day, for young Sir

id I wish (as it has since been expressed by the great captain of the age), that I had been my own grandson; for notwithstanding the probability that he who is nearest to the founder of a fortune is the most likely to share the largest in its accumulations, as he who is nearest in descent to the progenitor who has illustrated his race is the most likely to feel the influence of his character, I was not long in perceiving that in highly refined and intellectual communities the public sentiment, as it is connected with the respect and influence that are the meed of both, directly

resolve to take heart and to throw myself at the feet of Anna, and as often was I deterred by the apprehension that I had nothing to render me worthy of one so excellent, and especially of one who was the granddaughter of the seventh English baronet. I do not pretend to explain the connection between cause and effect, for I am neither physician nor metaphysician; but the tumult of spirits that resulted from so many doubts, hopes

of purpose on their part that was scarcely to be expected towards a patient who it was commonly believed was worth more than a million. My reception by the servants a

ped by the exercise of the more familiar charities of our existence had opened a breach between us that was not to be filled by the simple unaided fact of natural affinity. I say of natural affinity, for notwithstanding the doubts that cast their shadows on that branch of my genealogical tree by which I was connected with my mat

s existed between the father and son, the meeting on the present

aid my ancestor; "I was afraid,

r stood; and the admonishing picture of time passing into eternity was indelibly stamped on my memory. It was not only a death-bed scene, but it wa

e now any concern. It might have been better, perhaps, had I lived more with my kind-but thou wilt be t

unts with the world, although he had given the physician his last fee and sent the parson away

ll, my loss will be thy gain, bo

ed, and we were

illow, "and open the upper drawer of my secretary.

ibe-for it was neither worldly nor quite of an ethereal character, but a singular and fearful c

till I am out of

aciated hand of my father. He looked at me wistfully,

e fatherless, and I have lived childless by my own folly. Thy mother was a saint, I beli

aled and directed to myself in the handwriting of the dying man, was carefully secured under a good lock. I did not meet my father again but once under circumstances which admitted

e suddenly revived from a state approaching to stupor. It was the only

ons which had been selected by himself. "Thou seest, lad, the wall itself was of jasper and the city was of pure gold-I shall not need money in my new habitation-ha! it will not be wanted there!-I am

lancholy truth was fairly established, and remained several minutes alone with the body. The countenance was set in death. The eyes, still open, had that revolting glare of frenzied delight with which the spirit had depa

re was much cornering, much talking in an undertone, and looking at me that I did not understand, and gradually the number of regular visitors increased until it amounted to about twenty. Among them were the parson of the parish, the trustees of several notorious char

nd finally I was summoned to meet these ill-timed guests in the room which had been the sanctum sanctorum of the late owner of the dwelling. As I entered among twenty strange

onger neglect his final pleasure, but that we should proceed at once to open his will, in order that we may take prompt measures for its execution. It would have been more regular had we done this before he was i

What Sir Joseph Job, or any one but myself, had to do with the will of my ancestor did not strike

eceased," I said, "I do not well see, gentlemen, how this sub

smiling; "but you ought to know, young gentleman, that if there

mewhere imbibed an opinion that the latter

Joseph Job, that my late father has

nreasonable to suppose that a man of his great caution and prudence should suffer his money to go to the heir-at-law, that heir being a youth only in his twenty-third year, ignorant of business, not over-gifted with experience, and having

s more than impossible!" exclaimed th

most of the substantial names on 'Change, and p

d, smiled, stroked his chin,

ot. If there is a will, it is as much my interest to know it as it can pos

ged, every paper opened, and many a curious glance was cast at the contents of the latter, in order to get some clew to the probable amount of the assets of the deceased. Consternation and uneasiness very evidently increased among most of the spectators as the fruitless

he suspected more than he wished just then to express; "Mr. Goldencalf is largely

bringing with me the bundle that ha

his seal and especially addressed to me in his own handwriting, and it is not violent to suppose that the contents concern me only. Still, as you take so great

he seals and exposed the contents of the envelope. Within it there were several smaller packets, each sealed with the seal of the deceased, and each addressed to me in his own handwriting like the externa

the sum indorsed on its back greatly exceeded a million. "No. 2. Certificates of Bank of England stock." This sum was several hundred thousands of pounds. "No. 3. South Sea Annuiti

is in danger!" Sir Joseph turned pale, but he beckoned to m

elf, which from its very nature I perceived was an abo

quired Sir Joseph, wit

ng myself, and with which

sir-if you refuse to exhibit the p

and which can affect me only? But here is the paper, gentlemen, that you so much desire to see. 'No. 7. The

Sir Joseph Job, eagerly extending his h

that all present might see it, "is especially addressed to myself, and it sh

knew that he had been a man of very peculiar opinions as well as habits. The will was all in his

arish of Bow, in the city of London, do publish and de

oldencalf, all my real estate in the parish of Bow and city of London, af

sort and description whatever of which I may die possessed, including bonds and mortgages, public debt, b

testament, counselling him not to confide in any of those who may profess to have been my friends; and particularly

was witnessed by the nurse, his co

I dryly remarked, as I gathered toget

entlemen!" cried the knight in

nquired. "With or without the will my title to m

e appeared to be strangely agitated, withdrew. The next week his failure was announced, in consequence of some extravagant r

uld not help exclaiming ment

h Job balanced his account with