Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1896 — Family Pride. [ARTICLE]

Family Pride.

The following story is told of the visit of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, to the West when he was a lad. The royal party of tourists were entertained by Mr. Blank on his ranch. He was naturally anxious that they should fully enjoy the sport of the neighborhood, A fishing excursion was arranged for one day, and a gruff old farmer promised that his nephew would provide bait for “the Englishmen,” of whose rank he was Ignorant. ’ Mr. Blank, it is said, sent for him the previous evening, and anxiously inquired: “Has your nephew brought the bait?” “No.” “We want it by daylight.” “You’ll hev it,” calmly replied the old man. “This is a matter of great Importance. Are you sure that we shall have it?” “Didn’t Jabez give you his word?” “But how do I know he’ll keep It?” said the uneasy host. “How do ye know?” said the farmer, sternly. “Because he’s a Pratt. None of the Pratts ever was known to tell a lie, an’ I reckon Jabez isn’t a-goin’ to break the record,” and he tramped off. “You must pardon the old man, your Grace,” Mr. Blank said, turning to the Duke of Newcastle, who was standing near by. “He does not know who you are.” “Pardon him? I call that very fine) Why should not the Pratts be proud ot their honest blood, as well as the Pel-ham-Clintons?” (his own family). The daylight brought Jabez and tha bait. In one of the noble houses of England a delicate glass vase, called “the Luck of Eden-hall,” has been preserved with scrupulous care for centuries in consequence of a legend that when it is broken the family to which it belongs will perish also from among men. If every American family cherished, like the Pratts, a faith in the truth, oi honesty, or piety of their ancestors with a resolve like Jabez, “never to break the record,” what a lightening and up< lifting of our social life would follow!