Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/152

144

" go straight to Mr. Beckwith's," thought Aikin, as he left Finley's; "it is late, to be sure, but never too late nor too early with him to do a kind act." Mr. Beckwith was one of a very rich firm, who employed Aikin as their carman. He rung at the door, and was admitted by Jacob, a coloured man, who had grown gray in Mr. Beckwith's service.

"Walk in, sir," said he, civilly, leading the way to the drawing-room, where Mrs. Beckwith, with her cloak on, was sitting beside her eldest daughter, warming her feet, while her two eldest sons sat at the table drawings As Aikin entered, Mrs. Beckwith saluted him civilly, as she would any other stranger; and, while one of the young men rose to set a chair for him, she made some courteous remarks upon the weather and walking; and then, after Jacob had returned, and said Mr. Beckwith would be down directly, she resumed the conversation with her daughter, which Aikin's entrance had interrupted.

"Did you find Madame Felix very ill, mother?" asked the young lady.

"Very ill, Susan, and wanting every thing: no wood, no comforts of any sort. The poor man has money due to him, but he says he cannot get it."