Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 11 — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

oo, 2. —— — -— — — the weak, tyrants rise up and conquer—men combine to de wrong.” ** Not so, my dear father; I say it could not be main- ‘arned without the organization of each individual had hecn equalized, ond several other points established. Vorinstance, allov' '»thatevery man had, ‘ ab orizine,’ a certain portion «5 ound, He who was the strongest ov the cleverest \.cuid soon cause his to yield more (han the others would, and thus the equality be de- mtreyec, Acain, if one couple had ten children, and an- ‘ther had none, then again would equality be broken hi: upon, as the land that supports two in the one in- -tance, would have to feed twelve in the other. You .erceive, therefore, that without rapine or injustice, your equality could not be preserved.” “But Jack, allowing that there might be some diver- sity from such causes, that would be a very different thing from the present monstrous state of society, in which we have kings, and lords, and peo} le, rolling in wealth, while others are ina state of pauperism, and obliged to steal for their daily bread.”’ ‘*My dear father, I consider that it is to this inequal- | ify that society owes its firmest cementation—that we are enabled to live in peace and happiness, protected hy just laws, each doing his duty in that state of life to which ble is called, rising above or sinking in the scale ‘f society according as he has been intrusted with the five talents or the one equality can and does exist nowhere. We are told that it does not exist in heaven itself—how can it exist upon earth?” ** But this is only asserted, Jack, and it is not proof that it ought not to exist.” “Let us argue the point, father, coolly. Let us ex- ity. We're all equal in beauty, there would be no beauty, for beauty is only by comparison—were all equal in strength, conflicts would be inter- minable—were all equal in rank, and power, and ossessions, the greatest charms of existence would e destroyed—generosity, gratitude, and half the finer virtue, would be unknown. The first principle of our religion, charity, could not be practiced—pity would never be called forth—benevolence, your great organ, would be useless, and self-denial a blank letter. Were all equal in ability, there would be no Instruction, no talent, no genius—nothing to admire, nothing to copy, to respect—nothing to rouse emulation, or stimulate to praiseworthy ambition. Why, my dear father, what an idle, unprofitable, weary world would this be, if it were based on equality!” ‘But, allowing all that, Jack,” replied Mr. Easy, “and I will say you argue well in a bad cause, why should the inequalily be carried so far—kings and lords, for instance?” vad ‘The most lasting and imperishable form of building is that of the pyramid, which defies ages, and to that may the most perfect form of society be compared. It is based upon the many, and, rising by degrees, it be- comes less as wealth, talent and rank increase in the in- dividual, until it ends at the apex, or monarch, above all, is necessary for the preservation of the structure, and fulfills its duty in its allotted place. Could you prove that those at the summit possess the greatest share of happiness in this world, then, indeed, you have a posi- tion to argue on; but it is well known, that such is not the case; and provided he is of a contented mind, the vege is more happy than the king, surrounded as he latter is by cares and anxiety.” ; “Very well argued, indeed, my dear sir,’’ observed . Middleton. mak But, my dear boy, there are other states of society than monarchy; we have republics and despotisms.”’ “We have, bat how long do they last, compared to the first? There is a cycle in the changes which never varics. A monarchy may be overthrown by a revolu- tion, and republicanism succeed, but that is shortly fol- lowed by despotism, till, after a time, monarchy suc- ceeds again by unanimous consent, as the most legit- imate and equitable form of government; but in none of these do you find a single advance to equality. In a republic, those who govern are more powerful than the rulers in a restricted monarchy—a president is greater than a king, and next to a despot, whose will is law. Even in smal! societies you find that some will naturally take the lead and assume domination. We commence the system at school, when we are first thrown into so- ciety, and there we are taught systems of petty tyr- anny. There are some few points in which we can ob- tain equality in this world, aud that equality can only be obtained under a well-regulatec societ of justice and of laws, to which we have agreed to submit for the benefit of the whole—the equal riglit — to live and not to be permitted to starve, which has been obtained in this country. And when we are called to account we shall have equal justice. Now, ar father, you have my opinion.” mk a my Seat, this is all very well in the abstract: w does it work?” Play wore well, The luxury, the pampered state, the idleness—if you please, the wickedness—of the rich, all contribute fo the support, the megs yt and em- ployment of the poor, You may behold extrava- ance—it is a vice, but that very extravagance circn- fates money, and the vice of one contributes to the happiness of many. The only vice which is not re- deemed by producing commensurate good is avarice. If all were equal there would be no arts, no manufac- tures, no industry, no employment. As it is, the in- cqualit of the distribution of wealth may be compared to the heart, pouring forth the blood like a steam engine through the human frame, the same blood returning from the extremities by the veins, to be again propell- ed, and keep up a healthy and vigorous circulation. “Bravo, Jack!” said Dr. Middleton. ‘“ Have you any- thing to reply, sir?’ continued he, addressing Mr. Easy. * Toreply, sir’’’ replied Mr. Easy, with scorn; ‘‘ why, he has not given me half an argument yet: why that black barvaiit even laughs at him—look at him there showing his teeth. Can he forget the horrors of clavery? can he forget the base unfecling lash? No, cir, he has suffered, and he can estimate the divine right of equality. Ask him, now, ask him, if you dare, Jack, whether he admit the truth of your argument. “Well I'll ask bim,” replied, Jack, “and I tell you candidly that he was once ane ane disciples. Mesty, : rion of equ } wi tguality, basen Easy!’ replied Mesty, pulling up his cravat; “I say d—n equality, now I ma. or-omo, “The rascal deserves to be a slave all his life, “Truc, country. Massa Easy tell how -— “*Skolls—s kuils—-do you, know wri bs lime scicnce? Are you'a phrenologis many skulls I have.” amine a little what would be the effect if all was + eae | Yet each several stone from the apex to the base | form of | and consists in an equal administration | ed at this unfortunate and tragical end of his poor I ab been slave—but La prince in my own | ything of the sub- every one was anxious t Midshipman Easy. es “IT know man’s. skull very well in Ashantee country, anyhow.” “Then if you know that you must be one. I had no idea that the science had extended so far—maybe it was brought from thence. I will have some talk with vou to-morrow. This is very curious. Dr. Middleton, is it not?” “Very, indeed, Mr, Easy.”’ *T shall feel his head to-morrow after breakfast, and if there is anything wrong I shall correct it with my machine, By-the-by, I have quite forgot, gentlemen; you will excuse me, but I wish to see what the carpen- ter has done for me, and after that T shall attend the meeting of the society. Jack, my boy, won't you come and hear my speech?” * Thank you, sir, but I cannot wellleaye your friends.”’ Mr. Easy quitted the room. “Are you aware, my dearsir, that your father has opened his preserves to all the poachers?” said Mr. Hanson. ‘The devil he has!” ‘Yes, he has allowed several gangs of gipsies to lo- cate themselves in his woods, much to the annoyance of the neighborhood, who suffer from their depreda- tions,’ continued Dr. Middleton. ‘1 find, by the receipts and books, that there is nearly two years’ rental of the estate due; some tenants have aid up in full, others not for four years. I reckon ourteen thousand pounds still in arrear.”’ You will oblige me by taking immediate steps, Mr. Hanson, for the recovery of the sum due,” “Most certainly, Mr. John. I trust your father will not commit himself to-night as he has done lately.”’ When they rose to retire Dr. Middleton took our hero by the hand. “ You do not know, my dear fellow, what pleasure it gives me to find that, in spite of the doting of your mother and the madness of your father, you have turned out so well. It is very fortunate that you have come home; | trust yon will now give up the pro- fession.”’ ‘**T have given it up, sir; which, by-the-by, reminds me that I have not applied for either my discharge or that of my servant; but I cannot spare time yet, so I shall not report myself,” CHAPTER XXXVITI. IN WHICH OUR HERO FINDS HIMSELF AN ORPHAN, AND RE- SOLVES TO GO TO SEA AGAIN, WITHOUT THE SMALLEST IDEA OF EQUALITY, THE next morning, when they met at breakfast, Mr. Easy did not make his appearance, and Jack inquired of Mesty where he was, * They say down below that the old gentleman not come home last night.” ‘*“Did not come home!” said Dr, Middleton; “ this must be looked to.” ‘He great rascal, dat butler man,” said Mesty to J ack; * ut de old gentleman not sleep in his bed, dat for sure. ‘** Make inquiries when he went out,” said Jack, ‘I hope no accident has happened,’ observed Mr, Hanson; “but his company has lately been very strange.” wane see him go out, sar, last night,’ reported esty. ‘Very likely he is in his study,” observed Dr. Middle- ton; “he may have remained all night, fast asleep, by his wonderful invention.” ““T'll go and see,” replied Jack. ' Dr. Middleton accompanied him, and Mesty followed. The Spent the door, and beheld a spectacle which made them recoil with horror. There was Mr. Easy, with his head in the machine, the platform below fallen from under him, hanging, with his toes just touching the ground. Dr. Middleton hastened toward him, and, assisted by Mesty and our hero, took him out of the steel collar which was round his neck; but life had been extinct for many hours, and, on examination, it was found that the poor old gentleman's neck was dislo- cated, It was surmised that the accident must have taken lace the evening before, and it was easy to account for te. Mr, Easy, who had had the machine raised four feet higher, for the platform and steps to be placed under- neath, must have mounted on the frame modeled by the carpenter for his work, and have fixed his head in, for the knob was pressed on: his bump of benevolence. The frame-work, hastily put together with a few short ' nails, had given way with his weight, and the sudden fall bad dislocated his neck, Mr. Hanson led away our hero, who was much shock- father, while Dr. Middleton ordered the body to be taken up into a bedroom, and immediately dispatched & messenger to the coroner of the county. Poor Mr. Easy had told his son but the day before that he felt convinced that this wonderful invention would immor- talize him, and so it had, although not exactly in the sense that he anticipated. We must pass over the few days of sorrow and closed shutters, which always are given to these scenes. The coroner’s inquest and the funeral over, daylight was again admitted, our hero’s spirits revived, and he found himself in possession of a splendid property, and his own maser. Hewas not of age, it was true, for he wanted nine months: but on opening the will of his father he found that Dr. Middleton was his sole guardian. Myr. Hanson, on examining and collecting tiie pores which were in the greatest confusion, discovered ank-notes in different corners, and huddled up with blis and re- ceipts to the amount of two thousand pounds, and fur- ther, a check signed by Captain Wilson on his banker for the thousand pounds advanced by Mr. Easy, dated more than fifteen months back. Dr. Middleton wrote to the Admiralty, informing them that ray affairs necessitated Mr. John Easy, who had been left at sick quarters, to leave his Majcs- ty’s service, requesting his discharge from it forthwith. The Admiralty was graciously pleased to grant the re- quest, and lose the services of a Sean PTIAD, The Ad- miralty were also pleased to grant the discharge of Mesty, on the sum required for a substitute being paid in, The gipsies were routed out of their abodes and sent once more to wuider, The gamekeepers were re- stored, the preserves cleared of all poachers, and the gentry of the country were not a little pleased at Jack's succession, ior they had wished that Mr, Kasy’s neck | had been broken long ago, The societies were dis- solved, since now that Mr, Easy no longer d for the beer, there was nothing to meet for. Cards and com- _pliments were sent from,all parts of the country, and t our hero should come of . | age, as then he would be able te marry, to give dinners, - 3” subtcribe to the fox-hounds, and live as a gentleman ought to do. But during all these speculations Jack had made Dr. Middleton acquainted with the history of his amour with Agnes Robles, and ali particulars connected therewith, also with his determination to go out and bring her home as his wife. Dr. Middleton saw vo ob- jection to the match, and he perceived. that our hero | was sincere. And Jack had made inquiries when the — packet would sail for Malta, when Mesty, who stood behind his chair, observed: ‘* Packet bad vessel, Massa Easy. man-of-war?” “Very true,” replied Jack; ‘‘but you know, Mesty, that is not so easy.” “And den how come home, sar? Suppere you and Missy Agnes taken prisoner—put in prison?” “Very true,’ replied Jack; ‘and as for a passage home in a man-of-war, that will be more difficult still.” ‘Den I t’ink, sar, suppose you buy one tine vessel— plenty of guns—take out letter of marque—plenty of men, and bring Missy Agnes home like a lady. vom captain of your own ship.” * That deserves consideration, Mesty,” replied Jack, who thought of it during that night; und the next da resolved to follow Mesty’s advice,. The Portsmout vaper lay on the breakfast table. Jack took it wp, and his eye was caught by an adveit'’sement for the sale of the Joan d’Are, prize to H. M. ship Thetis, brigzautine of 278 tons, copper-bottomed, armed “‘en {ute,”’ with all her stores, spars. sails, running and standing rigging, | then lying io the harbor of Portsmouth, wiake p on the following Wednesday. Jack rung the bell, and ordered post-horees. * Where are you going, my Cear boy?’ inquired Dr, Middleton, “To Portsmouth, doctor.” “And pray what for, if not an impertinent ques- tion?” | Jack then gave Dr. Middleton an insight into his © plan, and requested that he would a:low him to doso, | as there was plenty of ready money. * But the expense will be enormous.” “It will be heavy, sir, 1 grant; but I have calculated — it pretty nearly, and I shall not spend at the rate of | more than my income, Besides, us jetter of marque, I shall have the right of capture; in fact, 1 mean to take out a privateer’s regular license.”’ ** But not to remain there and cruise?” ** No, upon my honor; I am too anxious to get home again, You must not refuse me, my dear gurdian.” “As a lady is in the case, I will not, my dear boy; but be careful what you are about,”’ “Never fear, sir, 1 will be back in four months, at the furthe:t; but I must now set off and ascertain if | the ve aioe the description given in the adver- | Lisemci t. ; Jack turcw himself into the chariot. Mesty mounted into the rumble, and in two hours they were at Ports- | mouth; went to the agent and viewed the vessel, which — proved to be a very fine fast-sailing craft, well found, © with six brass carronades on each side. The cabins — were handsoine, fitted up with bird's-eye maple, and gilt moldings. This will do, thought Jack; a couple of long brass nines, forty men and cix boys, and she will be just the thing we rcquire. So Mesiy and Jack.went on shore again, and returned to s‘orest Till to dinner, when he desired Mr. Ilanson to sct off for Portsmouth, and bid at the sale for the verse}, us bo wished to pure her. | This was Monday, and cn Wednesday Mr. Manson pur- | chased her, as she <toou, vor “1,700, Which was con- | sidered about haif her ruine, Dr. Middleton liad, in they meantime, been thinking — very seriously of Jack's project. He could see no ob- © age to if, provided that he was steady and prudent, ut in both chese <ualihes Jack Had not ex n tried. ile therefore determined to look out forsome | steacy naval licutenant, and malce ita “sine qua non” Why not go out in | | that our hero should be accourpanied by him, and | that Lhe should go out as sailing-inaster. Now that the vessel was purchased, he informed Jack Wish; indecd, as Dr. Middlcton observed, his duty as | guardian ceivanded this precaution, and our hero, who © iclt very grateful to Dr. Middleton, immediately ac- | quiesced, “And, by-the-by, doctor, sec that he is a good navi- _ gator; tor althouzh 1 can fudge a day’s work pretty well, Jatterly I have been out of practice.” { Every one was now busy; Jack and Mesty at Ports- mouth, titting ont the vessel, and olfering three guineas a head to the crimps for every good able seaman—Mr. Hanson obtaining the English register, and the letters — of license, and Dr Middleton in search of a good naval dry-nurse,. Jack found time to write to Don Philip and Agnes, apprising them of the death of his father, and his intentions, In about six weeks all was ready, and the Deeenne, which had taken out her Lritisu register and license under the name of the Rebicra, went out of harbor, ' and anchored at Spithead. Dr. Middleton had p : as he thought, a very fit person to sail with Jack, aot our hero and Mesty embarked, wishing the doctor and solicitor good-by, and leaving them nothing to do but to hay the bills, of an old friend of his, @ purser in the navy, who lived at Southsea, was a Lieutenant Oxbelly, who, with the ship’s company which had been collected, received our hero as their captain and owner upon his arrival on board, There certa.ily was no small contrast between our hero’s active slight figure and handsome person, set off with a blue coat, something like the present yacht-club uniform, and that of his second iis fae mand, who waddled to the side to receive him. He was a very short man, with an unconimon protuberance of stomach, with shoulders and arms too short for his body, and hands too large, more like the paws of a Polar bear than anything else. He wore trowsers, shoes, and buckles. On lis Lead was a foraging cap, which, when he took it off, siowed that he was quite — bald. His age might Le :Lout fifty-five or sixty; his complexion florid, no whusiters, and little beard, nose — straight, lips thin, teeth black with chewing, and al- ways a little brown dvibble ircm the left corner of his mouth (there was a leak there, he said). Aitopether his countenance was prepossessing, for it was honest and manly, but his waist wos preposteroas. \ “steady enough,” thouyiit Jack, as he returned Mr Oxbelly’s salute. “How do you do, sir?” said Jack; “I trust we shall be good shijmates,” for Jack had not seen him before, “Mr. Easy,” replied the lieutenant, ‘‘I never with any Ouw vacept (1 won't tell a story) with my wie,” | ae (E(O) (S| ON ONO) S54) a am ~— a Emm e