The Sea Lions | Page 8

in the management of his affairs; never cheating, in
a direct sense, but seldom conceding a cent to generous impulses, or to
the duties of kind. He was a widower, and childless, circumstances that
rendered his love of gain still less pardonable; for many a man who is
indifferent to money on his own account, will toil and save to lay up
hoards for those who are to come after him. The deacon had only a

niece to inherit his effects, unless he might choose to step beyond that
degree of consanguinity, and bestow a portion of his means on cousins.
The church--or, to be more literal, the 'meeting'--had an eye on his
resources, however; and it was whispered it had actually succeeded, by
means known to itself, in squeezing out of his tight grasp no less a sum
than one hundred dollars, as a donation to a certain theological college.
It was conjectured by some persons that this was only the beginning of
a religious liberality, and that the excellent and godly-minded deacon
would bestow most of his property in a similar way, when the moment
should come that it could be no longer of any use to himself. This
opinion was much in favour with divers devout females of the deacon's
congregation, who had daughters of their own, and who seldom failed
to conclude their observations on this interesting subject with some
such remark as, "Well, in that case, and it seems to me that every thing
points that way, Mary Pratt will get no more than any other poor man's
daughter."
Little did Mary, the only child of Israel Pratt, an elder brother of the
deacon, think of all this. She had been left an orphan in her tenth year,
both parents dying within a few months of each other, and had lived
beneath her uncle's roof for nearly ten more years, until use, and natural
affection, and the customs of the country, had made her feel absolutely
at home there. A less interested, or less selfish being than Mary Pratt,
never existed. In this respect she was the very antipodes of her uncle,
who often stealthily rebuked her for her charities and acts of
neighbourly kindness, which he was wont to term waste. But Mary kept
the even tenor of her way, seemingly not hearing such remarks, and
doing her duty quietly, and in all humility.
Suffolk was settled originally by emigrants from New England, and the
character of its people is, to this hour, of modified New England habits
and notions. Now, one of the marked peculiarities of Connecticut is an
indisposition to part with anything without a quid pro quo. Those little
services, offerings, and conveniences that are elsewhere parted with
without a thought of remuneration, go regularly upon the day-book, and
often reappear on a 'settlement,' years after they have been forgotten by
those who received the favours. Even the man who keeps a carriage

will let it out for hire; and the manner in which money is accepted, and
even asked for by persons in easy circumstances, and for things that
would be gratuitous in the Middle States, often causes disappointment,
and sometimes disgust. In this particular, Scottish and Swiss thrift, both
notorious, and the latter particularly so, are nearly equalled by New
England thrift; more especially in the close estimate of the value of
services rendered. So marked, indeed, is this practice of looking for
requitals, that even the language is infected with it. Thus, should a
person pass a few months by invitation with a friend, his visit is termed
'boarding;' it being regarded as a matter of course that he pays his way.
It would scarcely be safe, indeed, without the precaution of "passing
receipts" on quitting, for one to stay any time in a New England
dwelling, unless prepared to pay for his board. The free and frank
habits that prevail among relatives and friends elsewhere, are nearly
unknown there, every service having its price. These customs are
exceedingly repugnant to all who have been educated in different
notions; yet are they not without their redeeming qualities, that might
be pointed out to advantage, though our limits will not permit us, at this
moment, so to do.
Little did Mary Pratt suspect the truth; but habit, or covetousness, or
some vague expectation that the girl might yet contract a marriage that
would enable him to claim all his advances, had induced the deacon
never to bestow a cent on her education, or dress, or pleasures of any
sort, that the money was not regularly charged against her, in that
nefarious work that he called his "day-book." As for the self-respect,
and the feelings of caste, which prevent a gentleman from practising
any of these tradesmen's tricks, the deacon knew nothing