{"id":891,"date":"2010-04-25T23:02:10","date_gmt":"2010-04-26T06:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/?p=891"},"modified":"2012-06-18T12:05:28","modified_gmt":"2012-06-18T12:05:28","slug":"dick-and-i-chapter-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/891\/dick-and-i-chapter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Dick and I, Chapter 4, 19th Century Unpublished Book by S. B. McKenney"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dick<\/a>
Dick and I by Samuel Bartow McKenney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This manuscript was written before 1881 by Samuel Bartow McKenney. In the transcription I’ve not changed spellings or punctuation unless I absolutely must for coherence. There were no periods in the manuscript and I have added those.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chapter IV<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are things eternal only for the dead
\nls there for man no hope–but this which doomed
\nHis only lasting trophies to be tombs
\nYet so it is and the same thirst
\nFor something high and pure above
\nThis withering world which from the first<\/em><\/p>\n

– 15 –<\/p>\n

Make me drink deep of womans love
\nAs the one joy to heaven most near
\nOf all our hearts can meet with here
\nStill burns me up still keeps awake
\nA fever naught but death can slake<\/em>
\nMoon’s “Alciphron”<\/p>\n

“Let me see this is Sunday what shall we do with ourselves today
\nEtheridge,” said Rashboy on the Sunday following our adventure on
\nChapens Point. <\/p>\n

“Lets go to church at E —- and afterwards call on
\nthe Blanchards. It is now four days since we saw them. what Say
\nyou?”<\/p>\n

“I am at your service,” he replied.<\/p>\n

“But there is no wind and I dislike rowing it is so warm. What
\nshall we do – Wait for a breeze or pull?”<\/p>\n

“I dont think our case is without a remedy,” said he ringing the
\nbell. \u201cJohnnie,\u201d said he as a boy appeared in answer to his ring,
\n“run over and tell old Fritz Waxlebaum I want him to row me up to
\nE —- and tell him to come quick.”<\/p>\n

“Yas sur,” replied the boy moving slowly away.<\/p>\n

“Here,” said Dick tossing him a dime, “now skedaddle.”<\/p>\n

The boy grinned and all his apathy vanished in an instant. He
\ndisappeared like a flash and a moment afterwards we saw his white
\nhead bobbing up and down as he ran through a field of maize on his
\nerrand.<\/p>\n

“Wonderful magnetizer that little coin,” said Dick smiling. “It is
\nthe basis of all calculations here. A man measures out his goods
\nand chattels, his love for a friend or a sweetheart, ay even his
\nreligion by the same measure – money. For instance John Smith
\ncalculates to a penny how much he will gain by befriending Lord
\nBrown or how much love he can afford to bestow on Fedelia Jones
\nwho has only forty acres of land and three hundred dollars in bank
\nand indifferent prospects – He also calculates nicely how much of
\nHeaven he can afford to purchase when a collection is taken up in
\nchurch; and if all the audience is watching him will doubtless
\npurchase more shares than he would with pencil and paper before
\nhim in the privacy of his own office. Although when he gives a
\nbeggar twenty five cents he expects to realize twenty five cents
\nworth of heaven and then twenty five cents worth of hell thereby
\nmaking a hundred percent by the investment. It is wonderful how
\ndull and far below par celestial stock has become and how few
\ninvestments are made. It is really refreshing to see how
\nindifferent he is as to what branch of Celestial Stocks he makes
\nhis investment whether in the Great Hindu Mission Line or The
\nHome Mission Line or the Great Moody and Surckey Fillebusters Line.
\nHe thinks they all belong to the same company and has Heaven for
\nits termince. There is no compassion none of the better promptings
\nof his humanity in the act. All is profit and loss measured by the
\ndividend it will pay to self. Excuse my sermonizing Can,” said he
\nsmiling, “I did not wish to bore you.”<\/p>\n

“I am not bored in the least I assure you but I am sorry you have
\nsuch a poor opinion of the world.”<\/p>\n

– 16 –<\/p>\n

“I was not speaking of the world – only of the church and that in
\na general way. Particularly of its characteristic in the North and
\nEast But here comes Fritz.” <\/p>\n

“Grete Moryan, Meester Rashboy! Vat you vant mit old Fritz hey?”<\/p>\n

“Want you to row us up to E—?”<\/p>\n

“So–vell dees putty varm tay and dey don’t no got sum peer in
\ndot turn town! So?”<\/p>\n

“No – but they have church Fritz and that is just as good,” said
\nDick seating himself in the seat of the boat.<\/p>\n

“Vell – dots so fur der young fellers und die gels Aber ich gebe
\nnichts drum fur die madchen.”<\/p>\n

“Try this then,” said Dick handing him a small flask of spirits
\nthat he had provided for the occasion.<\/p>\n

“Ich thanke sir! Acht by golly dots besser als breachen.”<\/p>\n

“Why Fritz,” said I. “You shurely think that preaching and church is
\nmore important than a bottle of grog.”<\/p>\n

“Vell – dots so somedimes. Der Luteren Kirch was all right but der
\nudder kirche der Metodist der Paptist und der pescopal vas all tem
\nhumping vas gute for notting but der preachers und der young
\nfellers to git mit die gells.”<\/p>\n

“How are the other ministers benefitted more than the Lutherin
\nminister?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

“You know dot? Vare you lif ven you dont find dot out? Vell – I
\ntole you Der Metodist preachers don’t care for notting but shikens
\nund die vemmen der peescopal vant der geld und der paptist dey
\nvant der shikens die vimmen and auch der gelt all togedder py tam.”<\/p>\n

“And how about the Luthern,\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

“Oh. Dots a tifferent ding. Dey vas offel gute men. I vas Luthern
\nself.”<\/p>\n

“Oh! That settles it I suppose,” I replied laughing. “Is your wife
\na Lutheran too Fritz?”<\/p>\n

“Nein – She belong to der Bot tem Methodist. She go to meedin und
\nshout und bray und shout und talk about bein in Yesus poosorm Ven
\nshe say dot der breacher he kind yink mit von eye like he say
\n‘Dots me’ I tole you dey all go to hell togedder.”<\/p>\n

“Its the old story over again,” said Dick laughing. “The Methodist
\ndamns the Lutheran and the Lutheran damns the Methodist. The
\nEpiscopalian cusses the Catholic and Presbyterian and the Catholic
\ncusses them all and so on to the end of the chapter. The only
\ncharitable ones among all is the liberalist or infidels as the
\northadox term them who pities all but curses none.”<\/p>\n

The morning was lovely. The sunshine sparkled merrily on the
\ndancing water that was rippled by a gentle breeze from the<\/p>\n

– 17 –<\/p>\n

westward. As we neared the little rural village of E— the
\nchiming of the church bells warned us that we had no time to lose.
\nThrongs of gaily dressed people of all ages were winding their
\nway the crooked streets that were shaded numerous forest trees
\ntoward the church. All appeared by their subdued and quiet
\ndemeanor to be impresed by the solemn quiet beauty of the morning.<\/p>\n

“Dick don’t you think there is some good in fact a great deal of
\ngood in the people?” I ask as we reached the church door around
\nwhich were ( —- ) groups of ladies and gentelmen.<\/p>\n

“Certainly there is good in them. There is no one but what
\npossesses some goodness.”<\/p>\n

“But see their subdued solemn looks! How reverential and quiet
\nthey are as if afraid of desturbing the serene and holy quiet of
\nthe day. You will not tell me that this is all by hypocracy.”<\/p>\n

“No indeed Etheridge yet I think a little as the old german
\nproverb says ‘Jader gute mensch haszt Henchelei und Falschheit’.
\nEvery good person has (some) hypocracy and falshood. These people
\nhave been taught since infancy to rever the day. Yet Care how many
\nof them devotees have not their minds engraved at present with
\nthoughts of Self. How many do you think are pondering on that
\ninfinite here after or thinking of some way to make their loved
\nones happy.”<\/p>\n

“I should say rather,” I replied, “that they were thinking of him
\nwho through his great love died that they might live. See the
\npeaceful reverential expression on the face of that old gray
\nhaired patriarch what but religion could give such a look of
\npeace to a face that has saw the seasons come and go for so many
\nyears. Let us step nearer and judge by his conversation of what he
\nis thinking.<\/p>\n

We approached the group the gray haired old man was
\nspeaking in a hushed and subdued voice that was slightly tremulous
\nwith age.<\/p>\n

“I don’t know what my hogs will do,” said the patriarch solemnly.
\nThe tarnal frost killed all my corn. Things is gitten wors and
\nwors every year. My wheat didn\u2019t go mor’n twelve bushel to the
\nacre this year and No 1 is worth a dollar fifteen.”<\/p>\n

“Hey year done yer thrashing yet Deacon,” asked one.<\/p>\n

“Yes nigh a fortnight ago.”<\/p>\n

“Who thrashed for you Deacon?”<\/p>\n

“Tom Mahoney.”<\/p>\n

“Yew don’t say! That Catholic chap?”<\/p>\n

“Coundn\u2019t help it,” replied the patriarch. “He took his pay in them
\nJinny Lind potatoes at forty cents a bushel and they wont wurth a
\nshilling.”<\/p>\n

Here they all joined in a solemn chuckle. I moved away utterly
\ndisgusted and entered the church just as the first notes from a
\ndeep toned organ swelled forth in grand solemn cadence a hymn of
\npraise and thanksgiving to the great Creator. Every one turned to<\/p>\n

– 18 –<\/p>\n

look at us even the choir and the organist cast hurried glances
\nfrom their music at us as we walked up the aisle I wondered what
\nbreach of church etiquette I had been guilty of and took the first
\noccasion to ask Rashboy what we had done that was amiss that every
\none should stare at us so.<\/p>\n

“The minister is the only person in the house I vesibly believe
\nbut what is staring at us at this moment. Why is it Dick?”<\/p>\n

“Curiosity — the customs of the people here — nothing more. There
\nis not a tongue present but what will have something to say
\nconcerning us our manners, our dress, everything about us will be
\ncriticised and Judgment passed because we are strangers. You are
\nat least and I presumed I am to them although they are not all so
\nto me. It has been twelve years since I was in this church before.”<\/p>\n

The minister, an intellectual noble looking man whom aged I should
\njudge was about 55, now arose and read the morning lesson the 24th
\nChapter of Joshua. His enunciation pronounced him a scholor while
\nthe massive forehead strangely marked by hard and deep lines
\nshowed a noble intellect and one that had wrestled hard and long
\nwith many a knotty problem. Lines that perchance that were records
\nof many a hard fought battle in which he had striven to chain down
\nhis intellect to the stern dark dogmas of his creed. There were
\nmarks of sufferings too about a mouth that large and firm almost
\nto sternness. Another hymn was sung and then that impressive
\nsilence which denotes expectation prevailed and was only broken by
\nan occasional ‘ahem’ or cough of some pompous old deacon whos
\nfeatures were as solemn and santified as if he were in attendance
\non his grandmothers funeral. The text was a part of the fifteenth
\nverse of the twenty fourth chapter of Joshua, “Choose you this day
\nwhom ye shall serve,” which was read twice in a solemn and
\nimpressive manner. The minister proceeded to show the favors that
\nGod had shown to his people commencing with Noah in the time of
\nthe deluge. He spoke of Abraham and the Lords promise to him of
\nIsaac and Jacob and of his children the lsralites of their
\ncaptivity in Egypt of the plague and pestilence sent up on the
\nEgyptian the slaughter of the first born. Of their escape from
\nbondage of the Egyptian persuit after them and their (the Egyptian)
\ndestruction and of all the care that the Lord had taken of them
\nand of the favor that he had confirred on them from the deluge up
\nto the time of Joshua assembling them together at shechem. He then
\nspoke of the manner in which the isralite had gone astray into all
\nmanner of wickedness. How they had erected images and become
\nidolators and so on. He further spoke of the more modern evils and
\nidolations into which mankind was prown to enter at the present.
\nHow we continually forget God and think only of ourselves. After
\nshowing them their standing he spoke of Gods love and mercy and
\nhis willingness to forgive and receive all them who would turn to
\nhim. He admonished them before chosing whom they should rever to
\nlook well to when their choice would bring them. The sermon was
\nan able one well and forcibly delivered and I noticed that Rashboy
\nhad paid the closest attention to it.<\/p>\n

After church was over Rashboy proposed calling on our friends the
\nBlanchards. As we strolled along toward the Lake House I
\nexperienced a tumult of strange and varied emotions that were
\nutterly unknown to me before I was thinking of her by whom I had
\nbeen haunted in my dreams as well as in my waking hours ever since
\nI had first beheld her I was about to see her and converse with<\/p>\n

– 19 –<\/p>\n

her — How would she receive me? I was a stranger to her — a
\nvery slight acquaintance at most. The service rendered in finding
\nthe child was accomplished almost entirely by Rashboy and if not
\nwhat other I was but the merest act – humanity that the most
\ninsignificant clodhopper in Christendom could and would have done.
\nBeautiful perhaps rich surrounded doubtless by a host of admiring
\nwealthy and distinguished sutors and adventurers would she care to
\ncultivate the acquaintance of such a humble person as myself. What
\nan egregrious fool I had been in allowing myself to think of her
\nso much. Perhaps she was betrothed already perhaps —–<\/p>\n

“”Come Etheridge,” said my friend regarding me with a quiet smile.
\n“Don’t look so savage man. We are not about to storm a fortress
\nnor negotiate a war. Smooth out some of those wrinkles or the
\nladies will think you have a bit of indigestion or contemplate
\nsuicide. Seriously Con, dont let your fancies run away with your
\nreason and self possession. If you would conquer others conquer
\nyourself first.”<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Dick! for the hint,” I replied as we entered the Hotel.
\n“I will try and keep my face straight.”<\/p>\n

We sent up our cards and waited for the return of the servant in a
\nsmall parlor that had a bay window over looking the bay. The
\nsciene displayed was one indicative of peace and quiet. The water
\nglittered and sparkled in the sunlight and was dotted with
\nnumerous white sail some of them mere specks in the distance. A
\nsmall island about eight miles in circumference and about 2 miles
\nlong lay opposite to the village while beyond the upper end we
\ncould see the main land not over five miles distant. How quiet and
\npeaceful everything looked! Who would think that a world so
\nbright and serene could contain aught but peace and content what
\ncause could there be for war and strife; for emmnity and revenge
\nand all those heartburnings that are caused by petty animosities
\nand selfish deeds. A light step on the carpet and the rustle of a
\nladies garments caused me to turn round with a start. Miss Hope
\nBlanchard had entered the room. My face must have shown something
\nof disappointment in not seeing Inez accompanied by her sister for
\nshe said with a smile as she gave me her hand, “You must excuse
\nsister Inez we have company and could not both leave. Walk up
\nstairs gentlemen. Father will be really glad to see you.”<\/p>\n

“No. Excuse us Miss Blanchard,” I replied. We have no desire to
\nforce our acquaintance on you and your friends simply because we
\nwere fortunate enough to be of a slight service to you once. We
\nsimply called to learn how Mr. Blanchard was and to see if we
\ncould be of any service to you or him.”<\/p>\n

“Father is much better but is not yet able to go out. He will be
\ngrevious I fear when he learns that you refused to see him. He has
\nasked every day whether you called. Under the circumstances I
\npresume he would not wish to put himself under any further
\nobligations to you.”<\/p>\n

“My dear lady,” I replied scarcely able to repress a smile at the
\nwoebegon expression of Dicks face. “You have entirely
\nmisapprehended my friends meaning. Nothing would give either of us
\ngreater pleasure than to be your friends if we thought you would
\nreally desire it independently of any feelings of gratitude that
\nyou may imagine is due us.” <\/p>\n

– 20 –<\/p>\n

“Gentlemen I take you at your word,” replied she smiling, “and if
\nyour acquaintance ever becomes intrusome I shall tell you so in
\nplain English. For the present I shall insist on you both
\nremaining to dinner.”<\/p>\n

“l am your most devoted subject Miss Blanchard,” I replied, “and as
\nlong as your commands incur nothing more difficult than remaining
\nto a good dinner I think you may rely on my loyalty.”<\/p>\n

“It may prove to be a more severe test than you imagine. Allow me
\nto conduct you to our parlor.”<\/p>\n

The company present consisted of the minister the Rev. Timothy
\nHughes and his daughter Irene, Miss Ursula Whipple relict of the
\nlate Deacon Whipple, a young lady Miss Viva Joyce a ( —– ) yankee,
\nMiss Aleve Mayer a southern girl of spanish descent, two gentlemen,
\nMr Phineas Smythe and exquisitely dressed young gentleman with a
\nprofusion of jewelry, and Mr Alvan Adams a dark haired man about
\nthirty whom I instinctively disliked. My dislike may have been
\nhightened by the fact of his being seated near Inez Blanchard and
\nconversing with her in a low tone. She came forward, however as
\nsoon as l had paid my respects to her father who was seated in a
\nlarge arm chair and I imagined appeared to be glad of an excuse to
\nleave Adams. She took my arm and resented me to the ladies present
\nwhile her sister did a like office for my friend.<\/p>\n

“Shall I introduce you to the gentlemen Mr. Etheridge.”<\/p>\n

“To the minister only I will not trouble you to an introduction
\nto the others.”<\/p>\n

She cast a quick inqusitive glance into my face but said nothing.<\/p>\n

“Do you find these indian summer days in Minnesota as pleasant as
\nthe climate in the Sunny South,” I asked seating her in the alcove
\nof a window that offered a fine view down the lake.<\/p>\n

“I think they are delightful but I have not been able to enjoy
\nthem much since Papas illness.”<\/p>\n

“I am sorry: This weather is of short duration here and one
\nought to be able to enjoy while it lasts.”<\/p>\n

“Papa is nearly well now and I trust will be quite recovered by
\nWednesday when we are to have and excursion to Crane Island. Will
\nyou join us Mr Etheridge?”<\/p>\n

“With pleasure,” I replied “if —-”<\/p>\n

“If! We can admit of no ‘if\u2018s’!” said she.<\/p>\n

“The remedy lies in your hands.”<\/p>\n

“Tell me how to apply it and I will remove that ‘if’.”<\/p>\n

“By accepting a seat in my yacht and confirring on me the honor
\nof being your especial escort guide and guardian on that day,” I
\nreplied.<\/p>\n

– 21 –<\/p>\n

“Certainly Sir if you consider it an honor to be encumbered with
\nsuch a bundle of responsibility.”<\/p>\n

“Treason!” exclaimed Miss Hope who leaning on Rashboys arm had
\napproched us unobserved. “Is this your boasted loyalty sir?”<\/p>\n

“When the sovereign forgets the subject it is only fair that the
\nsubject should offer his allegiance elsewhere,” I replied.<\/p>\n

“And how long before you will foreswear your lost allegiance,” she
\nasked smiling.<\/p>\n

“Never!” I answered so solemnly Miss Inez raised her dark eyes to
\nmy face while a soft blush stone into her cheaks.<\/p>\n

“Not if the soveregn forgets the subject?”<\/p>\n

“No. My allegiance is final and,” I continued only loud enough for
\nInez to hear, “I trust my soveregn will never forget her subject.”<\/p>\n

“She never will,” she replied in the same low tone while Dick and
\nMiss Hope passed on.<\/p>\n

“Nor never allow another to hold to a higher place in her esteem?”
\nI asked.<\/p>\n

“Never,” she rep1ied.<\/p>\n

Her hand lay at her side on the sofa. I clasped it in mine and the
\nlittle soft fingers gave back a faint pressure to my clasp.
\nPrudish maids and fastidious maidens will doubtless feel shocked
\nat a young couple having loved and tacitly acknowledged their love
\nthe second time they ever met – but I cannot help it. The only
\nexcuse I have to offer is that what I have related is truth. And
\nas the truth is or should be what we are all seeking after, my
\napology ought to suffice. Moreover I can not so sure but what we
\nwould all marry more hapily if we would consult those fine
\nintuative feelings of our nature more and our pecuniary interests
\nless.<\/p>\n

Be that as it may I know that I have never regretted the
\nconversation recorded above.<\/p>\n

– 22 –<\/p>\n

Go to Table of Contents for “Dick and I”<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This manuscript was written before 1881 by Samuel Bartow McKenney. In the transcription I’ve not changed spellings or punctuation unless I absolutely must for coherence. There were no periods in the manuscript and I have added those. Chapter IV Are things eternal only for the dead ls there for man no hope–but this which doomed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1],"tags":[192,686],"class_list":["post-891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mckenney-family","category-uncategorized","tag-dick-and-i","tag-samuel-bartow-mckenney"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evermore.imagedjinn.com\/blg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}