Heaven I am not a handsome man. The gift of beauty might have been a curse to me.

The house was lonely after my mother's death. My father walked gloomily about the rooms and in the garden, or passed hours in looking at the portrait of his wife which hung in the parlor. He left his business for some months entirely to me, and remained at home. He muttered a great deal to himself, and sat for long periods with Nancy's hand pressed in his. Once, when I was about to enter the sitting-room, I heard him say 'My wife, my dear, dear wife! come to me again!' or words of a similar purport; and on entering the room, I saw tears rolling down his cheeks. Sometimes I found him reading the Bible; sometimes Nancy would read to him, sometimes Tom. I never did, for he never asked me to do so: but I regretted that a man of his age could not bear up with more fortitude under affliction. When he again appeared at the office, his step was slow, and his eye, once so clear and searching, had a dreamy look, which denoted his thoughts were far away. Gradually I became the principal man in the business, and soon all was given up to me. My father now failed rapidly. He gave away handsome sums of money to divers charities, which vexed me; for what right had an old man, broken down by trouble, to throw away the property which would otherwise descend to his children, merely to ease his heart? I remonstrated with him. He gave me a cold smile.

‘Joshua,' said he, 'charity is a thing you know nothing about. Permit me, while yet I live, to do some little good with my surplus funds. Fear not for yourself, for I know you well enough to say, that you will never want for money.'

I had, indeed, no hopes of aid from Tom; still I thought it my duty to mention this matter to him, and beg his influence to induce my father to desist from this course. Tom also smiled at me.

'Do you think,' said he,' that for any such reasons as you urge, I would prevent father from enjoying, in any way, the decline of his life? You ought to have known me better.'

I ought, certainly: he was right there.

'Poor father!' continued he; he will not be here long. Do you not notice how rapidly he fails?'

'I do indeed, Tom,' answered I: 'he should n't mope so.'

'Mope!' cried he. Joshua, you are as cold-blooded as a fish!' He was evidently in a rage, and so I parted from him.

Tom was right, though, about the health of my father. One bright summer evening, three years after mother died, the old man, who had been ailing for some weeks, and had been for a few days confined to his bed, passed away from us. It was a melancholy event; but it seems in the course of nature for parents to go before their children, and I soon reconciled myself to this dispensation. Necessary preliminaries being arranged, I was appointed to settle the estate. The business left by my father had been under my sole direction so long that I considered it as a matter of my own. I regarded it as my private property. To be sure, some mention was made by meddling relatives about giving Tom a share in it. But I immediately came forward and liberally offered to give up the entire business to him, while I established myself elsewhere,

stating that I was determined to get my living alone, or not at all. After this, Tom cheerfully abandoned the thing, and said no more about it.

My father left a will, dated some years back, by which he divided his property equally between us. This property consisted of fifteen thousand dollars, which was five thousand dollars for each of us. But I had succeeded in collecting in private business at different periods about ten thousand dollars, which was well invested. This additional sum to be received from the estate would fall into my hands in good season, for it exactly made up an amount necessary for a beautiful operation in which I intended to engage.

A day or two after my father's death, I found in his desk the following note addressed to me:

'MY DEAR BOY: Feeling that I have not long to live, I have collected sufficient strength to write this, my dying-request, to you.

'Five years since, when my will was made, I was in possession of a handsome property, but now I shall scarcely leave fifteen thousand dollars. This, my son, is but a small matter with three, but will afford an ample income for your sister Nancy. Tom and you can support yourselves. I have no fear on that point, and therefore I would prefer that your sister should have what little I may leave. But I wish to be just, and so desire you to mention this matter to Tom, and trust you will both agree to settle the whole amount which I leave upon her.

'For obvious reasons, I take this mode of informing you of my wishes, and shall rest in my grave believing that my sons will cheerfully comply with the last wish of their father.'

This was a strange letter. Not satisfied with giving away much of the property before his death, my father wished Tom and me to throw away the balance of our shares now; and I was the person selected to induce poor Tom to sign away his rights. I felt hurt, for it did not seem to me to be quite the thing. It was not what I expected from so honorable a man as my father. We were to give up to Nancy. Why? Probably because she chanced to be a girl. Could we help that? Of course not; it was her misfortune. Beside, she was young and very pretty; there was no doubt that some time some body would marry her. Even if no gentleman proposed to her, she could, by a little management, throw herself in the way of some rich old widower, and then the affair would soon be settled. I thought a long time over this matter. I slept uneasily the night succeeding my first perusal of it. I read it over a number of times, and tried to put some other construction upon it. I was anxious, as I have been in all instances, to pursue the proper course, and I finally decided, as I thought, honestly. In fact, I determined to destroy the letter. Now I did this, principally, from regard for Tom and Nancy, and not from any selfish motive; for, in the first place, I knew Tom would accede to my father's request the moment he heard it; thereby, from a sentiment of false generosity, cheating himself out of five thousand dollars. In the second place, the whole amount was too much money to be given to a girl; the possession of such a sum would fill Nancy with vanity; perhaps plant a certain independence in her character which might be disagreeable. These unhappy results I could prevent by keeping the letter a secret. In the third place- and I really do not think that this last consideration exerted so large an influence upon my mind as those just mentioned — with my share of the property,

I should be able to enter into the speculation before alluded to. Satisfied, then, that I was right, I burnt my father's letter.

To divide the property, I thought it necessary to sell the house, and told them so. They begged me to postpone the sale. Nancy cried bitterly, and Tom said he could not give up the place where he had been born, and where he had lived so long, until it was absolutely necessary. But it was a matter of business, and I was inexorable. They gave in at last. Sister Nancy went into the country while the new owner razed the house, but Tom remained in town, as sullen as a bear. He hardly spoke to me for weeks-to me, who was doing every thing I could for his advantage!

One evening, after tea, a day or two subsequent to the division of the estate, Tom called Nancy to him, and handing her a package of documents, said: "There, Nancy, dear; take these certificates of stock for five thousand dollars or thereabouts, which brother Joshua handed me to-day, for my share of the estate. I have had them all transferred to you, and this amount with yours will, I trust, always enable you to live comfortably.'

O Tom!' cried Nancy, a tear or two rolling down her cheeks; 'I cannot accept

'Hush, Nancy,' replied Tom, smiling; 'you know nothing about these things. I insist, and you must even submit. You know I get a good salary, and have plenty of money for all my wants; and I feel so happy in doing this, that you ought to be ashamed of yourself to make the slightest motion of refusing; beside, I really think, from a hint or two of father's, that he in some sort expected me to do this.'

So Nancy sat down, laughing through her tears, saying: 'Bless you, Tom; you were always so good and kind! I'll do any thing you wish, and keep this money in trust for you, you know, against a rainy day.'

They did not notice me all this time, but appeared perfectly happy with each other. Quite a stranger to the family, as usual, they made of Joshua! I experienced a strange sensation during the progress of their conversation, and don't know to what to attribute it. I believe I blushed. At any rate, I snatched up my hat and left the house, and passed the evening in walking about the city. I had been a great deal confined to the office for a week before, and was probably nervous. I did not sleep quietly that night, and in my dreams my father visited me, and bent over me with a sorrowful face. However, in a few days I recovered the tone of my mind, and was as well in body and spirits as my dyspepsia ever allowed me to be at that period.

Time passed on. I was thirty-five years of age. It was proper I should marry. Moreover, I had seen a young lady who pleased me. I did not fall in love, for I never fell into any thing; but I fancied the girl, and was content to risk with her that portion of my happiness which might be dependent upon a woman. Her father was rich, of course, or I should not have looked at her twice. He was a merchant with whom I had dealings, and I purposely came in contact with him so often in a business way that he invited me to his house. I dined with him. Although Sarah was polite, she did not seem to be pleased with me. After this, I went frequently to the house, and at different times solicited

her company to places of public resort, but these invitations she never accepted. She was indifferent, certainly, but I entertained so good an opinion of myself, that I thought I could win a queen if I chose. My liking for her increased the more I was in her society. Had my nature been ardent, I should have been deeply in love, but I never allowed my passions to get the better of my reason.

My business increased, and I was already worth a handsome property. My position in the world made me almost sure of success. Every thing prospered with me, and at every turn I made money. The time was come when I thought it proper to bring affairs with Miss Sarah to a happy termination. Of her father I was sure. Devoted to the acquisition of money himself, he saw that I was one created to be rich. I mentioned my intentions to him only to receive his assent. Clasping me joyfully by the hand, he told me to consider the matter as settled; so from his counting-room I proceeded to his house to propose to Miss Sarah immediately. I asked the servant if she were at home. The man appeared embarrassed, and stammered 'Yes.' Feeling I had a right now to enter the house, I walked into the parlor, where there was rather an odd performance in progress. Seated on a couch, with a happy, beaming face, was Sarah, while over her was bending a gentleman kissing her fair hand as I entered. They both started and blushed as they beheld me. The gentleman was my brother Tom!

'Why, Joshua,' said he, with the old, good-humored smile upon his countenance, 'I was not aware that you neglected business so early in the day to call on the ladies.'

Sometimes, Tom,' answered I, coldly, 'such things come in the way of business.'

'Is it me, then, whom you wish to see?' said Sarah, with symptoms of agitation.

'It is indeed, Miss,' replied I; and as it is about a matter exclusively our own, I shall be pardoned if I request brother Tom to leave us, notwithstanding the pleasant time he seemed to be having of it when I so unexpectedly broke in upon you.'

An angry flush lighted up Tom's face, and an indignant glance came even from Sarah's beautiful eyes.

เ

'Nay,' said I, 'I meant no harm, Tom; but go now, to oblige me.' 'Oh, certainly,' said he, gaily, as he departed. we'll meet again to-night.'

Good-morning, Sarah;

The affair was a novel well out of it.

Both suspected my object, but what cared I? and exciting one to me, and I was anxious to be 'Miss Sarah,' said I, pointedly, 'you have no doubt observed the nature of my feelings toward you.'

'On the contrary,' answered the sarcastic girl, 'I did n't know you had any extraordinary feeling toward any one; and I certainly never troubled myself about you at all.'

"Then believe me when I say I love you; and I am come this morning to offer you my hand, my heart, and my—my

'Your fortune, no doubt,' said she: 'is that what you intend to say!' 'Yes,' replied I, determined not to be moved by her taunts. I offer

you all. I am rich. I shall be richer. Your father consents, and I am here to get your answer.'

'Then, Sir,' said she, in a pet, 'pardon me if I refuse the honor you offer.'

'Refuse me!' exclaimed I, with a faint feeling about the heart; 'and why, pray?'

Simply because I cannot marry you.'

'Perhaps,' said I, 'my brother Tom has been before me; that I am too late?'

'I will be plain with you,' said she; 'he has: this morning I pledged myself to marry him.'

Had Tom been present, I think I could have stabbed him. But disguising my feelings, I bade her good-morning, and left, with a plan of my own in my mind. Her father was a man of violent temper, and there was no mother, luckily, to intercede for her, so I knew she must submit in time. From the house I went to the store of her father, and told him I had been refused. While the counting-room shook with his oaths, he told me to rest satisfied that Sarah should be my wife, and swore that he would break down her spirit. I went back to my business satisfied.

That night brother Tom did not see the young lady according to their agreement, for her stubborn father locked her in her chamber. Tom requested an interview with him, and told him he wished to marry Sarah, but was heartily cursed, and ordered out of the house. Afterward Tom called upon me. He was very abusive, and demanded that I should resign all claim to the girl. I lost my temper, for by this time I hated him a little, and told him he was a fool. Then Nancy came with her pretty face pale with sorrow, grieving for the brother she loved so well. She begged me not to destroy the happiness of Tom and Sarah, but rather to use my influence with the father and obtain his consent for their marriage. I told her that she was a silly girl; that I did not believe in woman's love which she prated about; that Sarah would in time love me a great deal better than she now did Tom; that it would be wicked for her to lose a rich husband, and marry one who had nothing but his salary to depend on, for a childish whim; that I was no Bluebeard, formed to make wives miserable and then murder them, as some of my relatives appeared to think. Then Nancy, too, departed, and troubled me no more about the matter.

Sarah was forced to consent. Indeed, nothing could withstand the terrible rage of her father. When pressed to appoint the day for our marriage, she was sullen, and named one so distant that I knew she was trifling with me; but her father came to my assistance, and the following Saturday was fixed upon. Notwithstanding all this, a wicked conspiracy was even then on foot to deceive us all. Luckily I discovered it. As I left Sarah's residence, the day before the one chosen for the marriage, I detected Tom skulking about the door. Unabashed, the scoundrel looked me boldly in the face; yes, at the very moment when he was meditating a deadly blow at my happiness. With certain misgivings in my heart, I passed on. Remembering that the man-servant had presented a very