gery imaginable, to which his wife added many feminine
touches, which combined to make a very comfortable whole
indeed. In this den Mr. Richard growled away his day,
longing for the evening when he could repair to his brother's
pleasant fireside. In vain his relations urged him to dine
with them daily, but he chose Sunday, and to that day ad-
hered religiously.

Somehow his experience of his cherished theoiy, that man
could live alone, was sufficient to himself, and dependent on
no extraneous circumstances for enjoyment, was a failure ;
it was the last thing in the world to be acknowledged, but so
it was. To this melancholy fact he endeavored to blind
himself, by holding forth, on all possible and impossible
occasions, and expending a vast deal of time and breath on
his favorite topic, but in his heart of hearts he doubted, and
that dubiousness made him all the more obstinately vehe-
ment. This theory was a constant source of discussion
between himself and his relatives, who desired most sin-
cerely to behold the happiness of the being whom they
tenderly loved ; they were thoroughly convinced he was the
man to marry, for, assuredly, he was miserable alone, and
could fare none the worse whh a companion, and the grand
experiment was worth trying in such a desperate case.
5*



54 THE BARCLAYS

Mr. Richard had passed through the bachelor's inevitable
ordeal of being crossed in love, a perilous passage ever,
because a man always thinks to his dying day, that if he had
married the woman he should have been happier and better.
Perhaps, in this gentlemen's case, this view of the subject
might have proved correct. From the fatal epoch of his
'cross' our bachelor had eschewed womankind, and was
evermore showering on the devoted heads of the fair sex a
quantity of objurgations frightful to hear; he disliked bread-
and-bulter girls, thought unmarried ladies of a certain age
detestable, and had no words wherewith to express his abhor-
rence of widows, all and several. A sensible and agreeable
matron was then his last and sole resource, and there being
no fair mischiefs amongst this class in virtuous America,
Mr. Richard led a very respectable life ; and yet it often
happens that a man may be extremely respectable and very
much hated, and this was the gentleman's unhappy plight.

Now Mr. Egerton despised womankind quite as much as
his enemy, but then his contempt was too concentrated and
condensed for mere words ; ho contented himself, when he
met any of the trio of categories above-mentioned, to hold
his white head so monstrously high that he never saw them,
and as he never went any where, the world of women was
spared his private opinions, nobody but his poor sister being
made aware of them, and even to her he was very mono-
syllabic.

Mr. Richard could not hold his peace equally well, and
though he accused the sex of evermore chattering, he was
nowise behindhand in this feminine accomplishment. It
has been before hinted, that these two worthies never met
if they had, dire would have been the consequences, and
great the shock thereof ; so they had no means of compar-
ing notes, and there is small doubt but they would have
agreed to disagree even upon this, their mutually favorite
topic.



OF BOSTON. 55

As in the case of Mrs. Barclay her brother made an ex-
ception in her favor, even so with her children he deviated
from his rules, or rather with her daughters ; he perfectly-
idolized them, and was perpetually lavishing upon them all
manner of pretty things, adapted to their various tastes
and pursuits. It seemed to be an outpouring of all the pent-
up treasures of his garnered affections upon their young
heads.

Mrs. Barclay was incessantly entreating him not to waste
so much money in extravagant purchases, but all in vain.
With regard to little Johnny, Mr. Richard declared that no
father ever saw his son when he was young, except when he
was hungry and when he grew older, except when he
wanted money. This Mrs. Barclaj^ considered truly shock-
ing. The brother, however, left the urchin to his own trap
and ball devices, and contented himself with jerking quarters
of dollars to him for candies and marbles. And Johnny did
not particularly admire his uncle, and habitually shirked his
awful presence when he met him in the streets, by dodging
round corners and down by-lanes to avoid him ; so there was
no love lost between them.

The daughters compensated for this absence of affection
on the part of the only son, by lavishing caresses on their
relative. They thought him, to be sure, rough, and lament-
ed it ; but they loved him, nevertheless, with all the fervor
and freshness of young hearts, and this, with the devotion of
his brother and sister, formed the one green spot in the
desert of existence, which the wilfully obstinate man had
carefully made for himself.

Nothing is more true than the oft-repeated assertion, that
we carve out our destinies with our own hands. The world
being our oyster, how do we open it .'' Awkwardly enough.

Mr. Richard would have been inexpressibly shocked, had
he been informed that he in nowise followed the sacred book
to which he habitually gave a portion of his time and at-
tention. The fact was, he perused it without digesting its



56 THE BARCLAYS

blessed contents, and satisfying himself by so doing, the mere
act became in his eyes devotional. In this, as well as in
other things, he formed a most striking contrast to his excel-
lent brother, who, reading the Bible, acted out and followed
its precepts in his daily walk of life, and beautifully illustra-
ted, in his own proper person, the ennobling and revivifying
effects of his healthful draughts at the Fountain of all light
and life.

If Mr. Richard had any particular favorite amidst his
brother's three daughters, Kate had the best chance ; he,
however, was rather unwilling to acknowledge this even to
himself. Georgiana and Grace every one lauded and praised,
but the romp was not, by any means, so much admired as
her sisters, and this state of things rather inclined her uncle
to show a peculiar degree of graciousness towards her, for
him. He had, from some whim, bestowed upon Kate the
thle of Dolly, at which the whole family, at first, rebelled,
and finished by adopting it, the young thing sturdily setting
the example by never calling herself any thing else. She
was passionately attached to her father, following him every
where, like his shadow, sitting always on his knee, and con-
stantly caressing him, her eyes ever seeking the direction
of his, and she gave her undivided attention to every word
he uttered. In fact, the only time she could ever be declar-
ed quiet, was when she was listening to her father. She
resembled Mr. Richard in the strength of her prejudices,
and her open expression of them, and her impulsiveness was
a source of constant apprehension to her mother, who foresaw
much trial and suffering in store for her child, if her super-
abounding energies should be misdirected, and felicitous re-
sults in the event of their being led by judicious means into
proper channels. She knew that she must be the counter-
balancing medium between the father and daughter. It was
a hard thing for Mr. Barclay to utter the monosyllable ' No'
to his daughters ; with his son he was very firm and resolute.



OF BOSTON. 57

With Georgy and Grace coersion was a thing unknown, be-
cause unrequired, but the Dolly was perpetually demanding
restrictions, as she reserved to her little exacting self a great
degree of latitude in both her actions and opinions. It may
seem absurd to mention the opinions of such a young thing,
but they were as firmly rooted as if many more years than she
called her own, had passed over her head. An indomitable
spirit was lying in her little person, and not dormant either,
but ever ready to burst forth upon the slightest occasion, so
that maternal checks were constantly in requisition. Indeed,
Mrs. Barclay was often assailed with the fear that the alfec-
tions of her daughter might become estranged from her by
the obligation imposed upon her of constantly quelling the
ebullitions of sensibility and high spirit developed by her
child. But no such calamitous result seemed to accrue.
Kate Barclay received her mother's admonitory counsels,
offered as they were, gently, tenderly, with profound re-
spect and obedience, and just so long as she remembered
them they fully answered their intended good purpose ; but
the difficulty laid in their being very, very often forgotten.
She was penitence itself when reminded of her aberrations,
and always hoped she might amend, but never could be per-
suaded to make any promises, declaring she could not trust
herself, being perfectly convinced of her own weakness and
backwardness in well-doing. Altogether she was a creature
to excite constant and incessant attention, for no one knew
what she would say or do, and an outbreak might be antici-
pated at any moment.

.lohnny Barclay was her favorite companion and playmate,
and during his vacations the nursery was thronged with his
friends, a legion, and Kate was constituted mistress of the
revels, all their sports and games and plans emanating from
her. She openly avowed her decided preference for the
society of boys, and thought girls excessively tame and Hat,
was the proprietor of a sledge, and owned a pair of skates.



58 THE BARCLAYS

Kate Barclay's life was April-hucd, sunshine and showers
of tears ; she was always regretting her misdemeanors, and
committing fresh ones ; hut then she enjoyed existence with
such an intense zest, and entered with unbounded delight
and enthusiasm into every species of pleasure ; come what
would, she was supremely happy for the nonce.



OF BOSTON. 59



CHAPTER VII.



' 0, happiest he -whose ripei- years retain
The hopes of youtli, unsullied by a stain !
His eve of life in calm content shall glide
Like the still streamlet to the ocean tide.'

J. T. Fields.

It has already been narrated that Mr. John Barclay had,
at a very early period of his life, accumulated a large fortune
by prosperous commercial enterprise, Avhich he firmly re-
solved to enjoy; and, as he could have no pleasure in any
thing unshared with his fellow-creatures, it naturally followed
that many hearts were gladdened by his prosperity. He
purchased a quantity of land and built for himself a most
comfortable dwelling, and, at the same time, laid out a
pretty square, and filled it with excellent houses, which he
rented to his friends, and thus had a small colony of pleasant
persons around him, with whom he lived in great harmony,
and the most genial, social intercourse, as far as his own
efforts could avail towards producing such a desired result.

Mr. Barclay was a good neighbor, in the full acceptation of
the term, and was old-fashioned enough in his views to take
a proper pride in being so designated ; he always declared
that, as every one worked in America, no man could be at
leisure in the mornings, but his evenings might, with great
profit and satisfaction to himself and others, be given to his
family and friends. From the first days of their marriage,
Mr. and Mrs, Barclay were always at home in the evening.



60 THE BARCLAYS

cheerful and happy, and delighted to see pleasant faces
around them. This being perfectly understood, and, also
from its great rarity, extremely appreciated, there was no
lack of visitors. Indeed, no one can exaggerate the value
of such a house as theirs had always been in a community
where so few are opened in the same way. They conferred
a great social blessing on many, who, having no ties of
kindred, looked upon their fireside as an oasis in the desert ;
their house was, also, a resource for strangers ; they re-
ceived all the notabilities who passed through the city, and
thereby derived a very signal advantage from foreign
intercourse, which does a vast deal, in America, towards
rubbing off the rust collected by describing, diurnally, the
same circle of opinions and feelings. The house itself was
a large, square, unpretending bit of architecture, built more
for comfort than show ; the first floor contained a spacious
dining-room, and a small office where Mr. Barclay received
all persons who came on business errands. The hall was
large and spacious, and a handsome flight of stairs led to
a small ante-room, which opened into a charming parlor
fitted up with great taste ; the furniture graceful and solid,
the paper-hangings and draperies all undertoned in order
to bring out an excellent collection of pictures, with which
the walls were covered ; the dining-room and hall both
being decorated in the same manner. These pictures were
capital copies of the old masters, by capable hands and
originals of the first European and American artists. For
talent of any kind Mr. Barclay had a thoroughly appreciative
and kindly spirit, and was habitually doing all that laid in
his power to foster and encourage it, his house being the
cherished resort of his countrymen, who ever found a
gracious welcome in it.

This above-described apartment opened into a very large
and commodious library, the panelling and book-cases of
black walnut, the shelves of the latter being filled with
the most beautiful editions of valuable works, unsurpassed



OF BOSTON. 61

in their finish of type and binding; the owner of these
treasures always declaring that in them centred his sole
extravagance. The book-cases, reaching within five feet
of the ceiling, their tops were covered with busts, Spanish
and Chinese jars, old armor, and weapons of various kinds.
Several niches in the library contained beautiful pieces of
statuary, and its furniture abounding in lounges, divans,
sofas and easy chairs, was pleasant to behold ; a variety of
tables, covered with books and engravings, completed the
arrangement of this delightful room. Large plate-glass
folding-doors connected the library with a conservatory filled
with rare plants, and even shrubs, at the end of which was
an aviary and fountain. These three rooms laid to the
south, and a sort of midsummer dreamland was thus con-
jured up, even in the aspect of a northern climate. j\Irs.
Barclay was extravagantly fond of flowers, and devoted much
time to their cultivation, assisted by her daughters ; her hus-
band encouraged this taste in every way by procuring her
every rare novelty in the floral kingdom.

This was a spot in which happiness might seem to
dwell, and truly did, to such an extent, that its possessors,
when they reflected upon the manifold blessings they enjoy-
ed, declared they trembled for their endurance. There are
no such happy persons in the world as those who are
constantly contributing to the well-being of others, the
absence of all selfish considerations being one of the purest
elements of a well-spent existence. In this respect the
dwellers in this home were beyond reproach. Every thing
was in daily use in Mrs, Barclay's home ; she had no one
article of table equipage that was better than another, and
this saved a world of trouble, time and temper, the two latter
of dominant importance in all households ; for, if there is a
bit of porcelain that excels another, it is sure never to be
forthcoming, in an American establishment, when it is most
required. Her dinners were excellent, and served unpre-
tendingly, she having no desire to ape foreign fashions with
6



62 ' THE BARCLAYS

a few servants, and to adopt the affectation of forcing three
waiters to perform the service of thirty. If any short-
comings occurred, they were never perceived, or commented
upon, simply because there was no ostentatious pretension.

Mr. Barclay, being eminently hospitable, invited his
friends freely ; his wife gave them a gracious welcome, and
he a hearty one ; and their guests were not confined to the
prosperous and those who revelled in luxuries, but embraced
poor scholars, artists and others, to whom a well appointed
repast was a boon indeed, and the charm of social inter-
course, a greater one still. Mr. Barclay's was no debtor
and creditor account with feasts ; he disliked dining out,
and avoided as much as possible all formal entertainments.

Mr. Barclay, from early habit, rose at daybreak, made his
own fire, and read a couple of hours before breakfast, but
was in nowise bigoted as to the observance of this rule by
the rest of his family ; he had seen so much positive discom-
fort produced by the rigid enforcement of over-early rising
amongst his friends, that he resolved not to be too strict in
his own regulations. It was sufficient for him that his family
was punctual at dinner, and probably there never was one
more regular in attendance at morning prayers and repasts
than his. Flis breakfast finished, he went to his ofiice, and
remained until two o'clock, rode or walked a few hours, and
dined at five. Of his brother, Mr. Richard, he saw very
little in the morning, but looked forward with great pleasure
to his appearance at his fireside in the evening. The con-
trast between the two brothers was indeed remarkable, the
one so handsome, the other so ugly ; J\Ir. John's manners so
pleasing, Mr. Richard's exactly the reverse ; the one looking
at the world through rose-colored spectacles, the other
through darkest green ; Mr. John contented, Mr. Richard
discontented, and yet how they loved each other ! Knitted
together by the most tender ties, they lived most harmo-
niously, despite the great difference in their characters. Mr.
Richard positively adored his brother and all his belongings,



OF BOSTON. 63

and even looked upon 'John's dog with -a more gracious
aspect than he regarded many human beings. There was,
however, a certain indefinable fascination about this grum-
bler, and even his ugliness was quite irresistible. If there is
no such phrase as a handsome-ugly person, there should be
one manufactured, for such was he. His grumbling was
ever amusing from its variety of subject, and his very inef-
fectual attempts at keeping out of sight the sensibility which
he was ever endeavoring to conceal, were interesting, and
perpetually demanding the attention of his friends. If Mr.
Richard was absent from his brother's house for a day, the
family lamented his non-appearance, and even the guests
could hardly dispense with his presence, he being their
sauce piquante.

A certain Mrs. Ashley was his pet dislike, the children's
ball-giving friend. On this lady, a very pretty, well-dressed
and pleasing person, by the bye, Mi'. Richard lavished a vast
deal of criticism when she was present and when she was
not. The lady, being very amiable, seemed totally to disre-
gard all the bachelor's hints, innuendoes and objurgations, and
paid no attention whatever to them, which was very pro-
voking indeed.

Mr. Richard had also a second pet dislike, Miss Serena
Tidmarsh, who did not bear her martyr's crown with like
equanimity, and repaid him with many a cat-like hit in a
very low-toned voice, but none the less stringent for that.
She was a neighbor of Mr. Barclay's, and her father had
been an old friend of his.

\Vhh Miss Jane Redmond, another neighbor, Mr. Richard
was always at daggers drawn ; they quarrelled famously.
She was an overt enemy, unlike her dear friend, Miss Se-
rena ; Jane was open-mouthed, and with a voice in alto
answered her opponent fiercely, and gave him no quarter.
He rather liked her the better for her candor, if any liking
there could be between the discordant pair.

The evening succeedine; the children's ball found Mr.



64 THE BARCLAYS

Barclay in his beautiful library by the side of a bright fire,
the Dolly on his knee and surrounded by his family, a per-
fect picture of content and happiness. The Dolly was told,
every day of her life, that she was altogether too tall and too
old to sit on her father's knee ; but she declared that there
were too many good things attached to the position of ' baby
of the family' to be readily renounced, and that, until he
sent her away, there she should remain, a thing he was very
unlikely to do. Georgy and Gracy were not very animated,
the ball having sadly fatigued them ; they, however, played
a duet or two for their mother, and then threw themselves
rather listlessly upon a sofa, and were nearly half asleep
when they were aroused by the entrance of Mrs. Ashley.
This lady, ever bright and cheerful, entered into a pleasant
chat immediately, inquiring of her young friends how they
had enjoyed her little party.

'Oh!' answered Gracy, 'immensely, dear aunty, nothing
was ever so charming, so delightful ; but I do feel so very
good for nothing to-night.'

' The natural consequence of unnatural dissipation,'
sneered Mr. Richard.

' You cannot propose,' said Mrs. Ashley, ' to feel as bril-
liant as common, my dear little girl ; you danced the whole
of last evening.'

' And will lose the whole of this,' said Mr. Richard.

' Oh no, uncle mine, I do not intend to do any such thing,
I confess to feeling a tiny bit fatigued, but Mrs. Ashley will
set me all right, as she always does.'

' I do not approve of children's balls,' said Mr. Richard.

' Nor I, either,' said [Mrs. Barclay, ' but my friend here,
with her all-persuasive powers, conquered and carried off my
daughters, and it appears they enjoyed their evening heartily;
it had all tlie charm of novelty certainly.'

' Yes,' said the Dolly, ' Mary Redmond told me to-day at
school, that Jane declared that Georg\' and Grace were the
little queens of the night, but, in her opinion, they never



OF BOSTON.. 65

looked so ill, and were very untastefully dressed. I was
dreadfully angry at this, and told her that her sister was
always saying spiteful and disagreeable things, and I should
like to know what was a dress for young girls if white book-
muslin were not. Upon this she said that Jane thought me
the most ugly and disagreeable child in all Christendom ;
upon which I told her I didn't care a rush for herself or Jane
either ; that Jane was getting quite old, and never having
any admirers, was jealous of every one that had.'

' My dear child,' exclaimed Mrs. Barclay, ' pray stop such
a torrent of words and listen to me ; this was all very im-
proper, indeed. Have I not enforced upon you, time and
again, that you must never indulge in personalities of any
kind ? '

' Well, dear mother, I will try not to do so, but you must
let me tell you the whole. I should hke to promise solemnly
that I would never again reply when Mary repeats what her
hateful sister, oh, dear me ! I forgot, iNIiss Jane Redmond,
says. You can't think, mother, how saucy she was. Mary
told me, besides, that I was an impertinent girl, and had no
manners, which was easily accounted for, as my mother
always kept a pet bear in the house. Oh! I screamed, What
a horrid fib ! Why, my father has only dear old Nero,
Georgy a mocking-bird, Gracy a canary, I a kitten, and
Johnny his dandy terrier ; the dogs are all kept in the stable,
and there is not a bear in the house. " I don't care," said
Mary, "you have got a bear, and it's your uncle Dick.
Jane heard one old gentleman at table to-day call him so ;
another said he was Ursa 3Iajor, and another Snarleyou,
and Jane laughed and declared his motto should be the
Baron of Bradwardines, ' Bewar the Bar.' " Upon this, I
was in a perfect fury, boxed Mary's ears soundly for calling
my dear, dear uncle such abominable names, and was shut
up in a dark closet two hours, with a horrid big mouse
scampering about all the time, because I would not confess
I was sorry for what I had done.'



66 THE BARCLAYS

Having completed this oration, the excited young creature
burst into tears. Mrs. Barclay begged her to go to bed and
compose herself, and just as she was preparing to obey
her mother, Mr. Richard arose and tenderly embraced his
champion.

When she had departed, Mrs. Barclay avowed that she
had, for a long time, dubitated as to the expediency of
sending Kate to a daily school. She was entirely different
from her sisters, being remarkably impulsive and veiy
excitable, and the event of this evening had fortified her
in her half-formed resolve of retaining her at home and
procuring a governess for her. She had perceived no ill
effects arising from the course she had pursued with her
elder daughters, but this one seemed to require a change.

Uncle Richard, who had always opposed the system of
sending girls to daily schools, very much approved of this
plan ; he had always thought that his nieces should be shut
up precisely as were the children in France, and deprecated
excessively the custom of allowing them ' to run about the