--loans and regiments,
if thou wilt--give us more order "ORDER--order"--bayonets are what
we want, boy, and good wholesome taxes, to accustom the nation to
contribute to its own wants and to maintain its credit. Why, youngster,
if the interest on the debt were to remain unpaid twenty-four hours,
your body corporate, as you call it, would die a natural death; and what
would then become of your knights--barro-knights?--and barren enough
some of them are getting to be by their wastefulness and extravagance.
Get thee married, Jack, and settle prudently. There is neighbor
Silverpenny has an only daughter of a suitable age; and a good hussy is
she in the bargain. The only daughter of Oliver Silverpenny will be a
suitable wife for the only son of Thomas Goldencalf; though I give thee
notice, boy, that thou wilt be cut off with a competency; so keep thy
head clear of extravagant castle-building, learn economy in season, and,
above all, make no debts.'" Anna laughed as I humorously imitated the
well-known intonations of Mr. Speaker Sutton, but a cloud darkened her
bright features when I concluded.

"Yesterday I mentioned the subject to your father," I resumed, "and he
thought with me that the idea of the borough and the baronetcy was a
good one. 'You would be the second of your line, Jack,' he said, 'and
that is always better than being the first; for there is no security for
a man's being a good member of society like that of his having presented
to his eyes the examples of those who have gone before him, and who have
been distinguished by their services or their virtues. If your father
would consent to come into parliament and sustain government at this
critical moment, his origin would be overlooked, and you would have
pride in looking back on his acts. As it is, I fear his whole soul is
occupied with the unworthy and debasing passion of mere gain. Money is a
necessary auxiliary to rank, and without rank there can be no order, and
without order no liberty; but when the love of money gets to occupy the
place of respect for descent and past actions, a community loses the
very sentiment on which all its noble exploits are bottomed.' So you
see, dear Anna, that our parents hold very different opinions on a very
grave question, and between natural affection and acquired veneration I
scarcely know which to receive. If I could find one sweet, and wise, and
beautiful as thou, and who could pity me, I would marry to-morrow, and
cast a