"I have applied to you, sir," he proceeded, "rather than to any other
of the neighboring gentlemen, because I think this friendless lad has a
peculiar claim upon any good offices you could render him."
"A claim upon me! How is that, Mr. O'Brien?"
"The boy, sir, is not a native of this province. His father was formerly
a tenant of yours, a man, as I have reason to believe, remarkable for
good conduct and industry. It appears that his circumstances, so long as
he was your tenant, were those of a comfortable independent farmer. If
the story which his son relates be true--and I, for one, believe it--his
family have been dealt with in a manner unusually cruel and iniquitous.
Your present agent, Colonel, who is known in his own neighborhood by the
nickname of Yellow Sam, thrust him out of hia farm, when his wife was
sick, for the purpose of putting into it a man who had married his
illegitimate daughter. If this be found a correct account of the
transaction, I have no hesitation in saying, that you, Colonel B------,
as a gentleman of honor and humanity, will investigate the conduct of
your agent, and see justice done to an honest man, who must have been
oppressed in your name, and under color of your authority."
"If my agent has dared to be unjust to a worthy tenant," said the
Colonel, "in order to provide for his bastard, by my sacred honor, he
shall cease to be an agent of mine! I admit, certainly, that from some
circumstances which transpired a few years ago, I have reason to suspect
his integrity.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126