The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-01-23
UN CL e BILL.


Uncle Bill Griffin, or Uncle Bill, as he
was commonly called, with an irreverent
disregard of his patronymic, did not retire
from the shipchandlery business till he was
worth something more than plum. Not
being blessed with son 10 continue his
name and inherit his fortune, he lavished all
his tenderness and all his care upon his
daughter. Sweet Molly Griffin, thou vert as
unlikea bulldog. His face was as hard as
a Dutch nut cracker-thine as soft as re Sc
leaf. He was the veriest miser in all crea-
tion--thouoldest spend thy pocke, money
as literally as a prince of Wales. = In his
household management Uncle tBll was a
consumate skin.flint; tfahlidon says that he
used to soak the back-logs in the cisiern, and
was after the lamp oil and he was aided and
abetted in all his niggarjly schemes by a
vinegar,faced housekeeper, who was the
4 sworn enemy of all godd cheer, and stinted
from pure love of meanness. Yet pretty
Mary had no reason 10 complain of her
fathers penuriousness, as far as she was
concerned. He sent her 10 the best schools,
and gave her carte blanche en- the mos,
expensive milliners, and when she walked
Washington street on sunny day, there
was not more gaiy bedecked damsel from
Cornhll to Essex street.
OF course, several very nice young men
in vanished leather and white kids, fell
over head and ears in love with her, and
there was larger number of whiskers col
lected outside of the meeting she attended
on Sunday then darkened the door of any
other metropolitan church.
Yet cold was The maid, and tho legions ad-
| vanced,
AL drilled in Ovidian,
Though they languished and ogled, protested
| and danced
Like shadows, they came, and like shadows
they glanced,
From the pure polished ice of her heart.
Besides, Uncle Bill was a formidable guar
dian 10 his attractive daughter. Did he not
fire charge of rock-salt into the inexpres
ibles of Tom Billkins. when be came seren-
aiding with cracked guitar? Didn't he
threaten 10 kick Towle for leaving valen.
tine at his door. Wasn't he capable of uh.
heard of atrocities? The suffers of pretty
Mary were all frightened off the course by
her ogre of father, except steady young
fellow who rejoiccd in>the name of Samp.
son -8iitlos, and Tlo was, ,addistea 10 hook
keeping in whosesale grocery store in
Commercial street. The old gentleman re.
ally liked Biules; he was SO staid, so quiet
and so full of information. He was a regu.
lar price current, and no man on Change
was better acquainted with the value oi
stocks. Why Mary liked him, il is more
difficult to conjecture, forhe was very def
cient in the small talk that young ladias are
SO fond OF, was averse 10 moustaches, dis
liked the opera, thought the ballet immoral
and considered waltz ing indelicate. Per.
haps his good looks compensated for othel
DEFICIENCIES, or perhaps her horror of dying
in state of single blessedhess induced hel
TO counlenance the only young man Uncle
Bill was ever known 10 tolerate.
One evening Bittles screwed up his cour
age to the task OF addressing the old man
on the subject nearest TO his heart.
"Mr. Griffin" said he, "l've had some
thing here for long lime" and he made ur
a horrible face, and placed his hand some
where near his heart
Dyspepsia o. said the old man.
''Your daughter" gasped the young one
"Well what about her ?' asked Uncle Bill
sharpishly'
"I'm in love with her," said the unhapp,
clerk.
"Humbug!" said Uncle Bill
"Fac: !" rejoined Bit,les.
"What's yourincome 2" inquired Griffin.
"Eight hundred," answered the suppl
cant.
at won't do, my boy" said Griffin, sha
king his grim locks, ''No man OIL a salary
shall marry my daughter. Why, she's III
finest girl in Boston, and it takes capital t,
marry fine girl When you have thirt,
thousand dollars to begin with, you ma,
: come and talk with me.o
Biules disappeared. Six months after ths
Miss Mary Griffin received lett er, with Al
r endorsement of Uncle Sam, acknowledge
the the receipt of forty cents. # ran thus:
SAN FRANCISCO, California, 1s49.
Dearest Mary.-Enclosed, you will find
s specimen Of California gold, which pleas
hand your father, and obIige. Have 10 ad
wise you of my return TO Boston. Please te
your father that have made fifty thousan
0 dollars at the mines, and shall, wind an
weather permitting, soon call upon him I