A homely proverb recognises the existence of a troublesome class ofpersons who, having an inch conceded them, will take an ell. Notto quote the illustrious examples of those heroic scourges ofmankind, whose amiable path in life has been from birth to deaththrough blood, and fire, and ruin, and who would seem to haveexisted for no better purpose than to teach mankind that as theabsence of pain is pleasure, so the earth, purged of theirpresence, may be deemed a blessed place--not to quote such mightyinstances, it will be sufficient to refer to old John Willet.
Old John having long encroached a good standard inch, full measure,on the liberty of Joe, and having snipped off a Flemish ell in thematter of the parole, grew so despotic and so great, that histhirst for conquest knew no bounds. The more young Joe submitted,the more absolute old John became. The ell soon faded intonothing. Yards, furlongs, miles arose; and on went old John in thepleasantest manner possible, trimming off an exuberance in thisplace, shearing away some liberty of speech or action in that, andconducting himself in his small way with as much high mightinessand majesty, as the most glorious tyrant that ever had his statuereared in the public ways, of ancient or of modern times.
As great men are urged on to the abuse of power (when they needurging, which is not often), by their flatterers and dependents, soold John was impelled to these exercises of authority by theapplause and admiration of his Maypole cronies, who, in theintervals of their nightly pipes and pots, would shake their headsand say that Mr Willet was a father of the good old English sort;that there were no new-fangled notions or modern ways in him; thathe put them in mind of what their fathers were when they were boys;that there was no mistake about him; that it would be well for thecountry if there were more like him, and more was the pity thatthere were not; with many other original remarks of that nature.
Then they would condescendingly give Joe to understand that it wasall for his good, and he would be thankful for it one day; and inparticular, Mr Cobb would acquaint him, that when he was his age,his father thought no more of giving him a parental kick, or a boxon the ears, or a cuff on the head, or some little admonition ofthat sort, than he did of any other ordinary duty of life; and hewould further remark, with looks of great significance, that butfor this judicious bringing up, he might have never been the man hewas at that present speaking; which was probable enough, as he was,beyond all question, the dullest dog of the party. In short,between old John and old John"s friends, there never was anunfortunate young fellow so bullied, badgered, worried, fretted,and brow-beaten; so constantly beset, or made so tired of his life,as poor Joe Willet.
This had come to be the recognised and established state of things;but as John was very anxious to flourish his supremacy before theeyes of Mr Chester, he did that day exceed himself, and did sogoad and chafe his son and heir, that but for Joe"s having made asolemn vow to keep his hands in his pockets when they were nototherwise engaged, it is impossible to say what he might have donewith them. But the longest day has an end, and at length MrChester came downstairs to mount his horse, which was ready at thedoor.
As old John was not in the way at the moment, Joe, who was sittingin the bar ruminating on his dismal fate and the manifoldperfections of Dolly Varden, ran out to hold the guest"s stirrupand assist him to mount. Mr Chester was scarcely in the saddle,and Joe was in the very act of making him a graceful bow, when oldJohn came diving out of the porch, and collared him.
"None of that, sir," said John, "none of that, sir. No breaking ofpatroles. How dare you come out of the door, sir, without leave?
You"re trying to get away, sir, are you, and to make a traitor ofyourself again? What do you mean, sir?"
"Let me go, father," said Joe, imploringly, as he marked the smileupon their visitor"s face, and observed the pleasure his disgraceafforded him. "This is too bad. Who wants to get away?"