England -- Fiction; Socialism -- Fiction; Socialists -- Fiction
Richard Mutimer regarded with detestation the principles to which Henry
had sacrificed his life. From childhood he was staid, earnest, and
iron-willed; to whatsoever he put his hand, he did it thoroughly, and it
was his pride to receive aid from no man. Intensely practical, he early
discerned the truth that a man’s first object must be to secure himself
a competency, seeing that to one who lacks money the world is but
a great debtors’ prison. To make money, therefore, was his aim, and
anything that interfered with the interests of commerce and industry
from the capitalist’s point of view he deemed unmitigated evil. When
his brother Henry was leading processions and preaching the People’s
Charter, Richard enrolled himself as a special constable, cursing the
tumults which drew him from business, but determined, if he got the
opportunity, to strike a good hard blow in defence of law and order.
Already he was well on the way to possess a solid stake in the country,
and the native conservatism of his temperament grew stronger as
circumstances bent themselves to his will; a proletarian conquering
wealth and influence naturally prizes these things in proportion to the
effort their acquisition has cost him. When he heard of his brother’s
death, he could in conscience say nothing more than ‘Serve him right!’
For all that, he paid the funeral expenses of the Chartist--angrily
declining an offer from Henry’s co-zealots, who would have buried the
martyr at their common charges--and proceeded to inquire after the widow
and son. Joseph Mutimer, already one- or two-and-twenty, was in no need
of help; he and his mother, naturally prejudiced against the thriving
uncle, declared themselves satisfied with their lot, and desired no
further connection with a relative who was practically a stranger to
them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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