The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-01-16

young ladies are so fond of, was AYERS
to mustaches, disliked the opera, though
the ballet immoral, and consideret
waltZing indelicate. Perhaps his goo,
looks compensated for other defeien
cies, or perhaps her horror of dying il
state of single blessedness induced
her to conntenance the only young MAJ
| Uncle Bill was ever known to tolerate
One evening Bittles screwed up hi
courage 10 the task of addressing the
old man on the subject nearest to hi!
| heart.
"Mr. Grifin,o said he, GIVE hat
something here for long time, and he
made up horrible face, and placed his
hand somewhere near his heart.
Dyspepsia 2" said the old man.
"Your daughter gasped the young
one.
"Well, what about herao asked In
Gle Bill, sharpishly.
';Pm in love with her," said the un-
happy clerk.
Humbugm said Uncle Bill.
.Factw reioined Bittles.
"Wha's your income y inquired
Griffin.
Eight hundred, y answered the sup
plicant.
at won't do, my boy,n said Griffin,
shaking his grim locks. " No man on
salary shall marry my da1ghter.-
Why she's the finest girl in Boston, and
it takes capital to marry fine girl
When you have $4,000 toibegin with
you may come and talk to meo
Bittles disappeared. Six months af-
ter that, Miss Mary Griffin received a
letter with an endorsement of Uncle
Sam, acknowledging the receipt Of forty
cents. 1t ran thus:
SAN Francisco, Cal, 1S49.
Dearest Mary Enclosed, You viii find
specimen Of Californian gold which please hand
your father and oblige. Have to advise you Of
my return to Boston. Please inform your father
that have made $4,000 atthe mines, and shall,
wind and weather permitting, soon call upon
m to talk over that matter, and arrange terms
Of partnership. Yours to command,
SAMPSON BITTLEs.
Mary, as in duty bound, handed the
epistle to her father, who was overjoy-
ed. Some weeks elapsed, and the re-
tarn of the steamer to New York was
telegraphed. Griffin was on the qua
CiUe to see his future son-in-law. On
the day of his expected arrival he met
a Californian. who came home in the
same ship.
Whefe's Bittles ~ he inquired.
"Oh, ho! you'll see him before a
great while,n replied the Californian.
Has he been lucky 2"
Yes-S50, 900 at the lowest calcula-
tion. But he's going to try a game
over you. He means to tell you that
he's been robbed of all his gold on his
way home, to see if you have any gen.
erosity and disinterestedness-to see
you'd give your daughter to
him, gold or no gold.p
"Sly boy p chuckled old GFiffin-
I" I'm much obliged to you for the hint.
Iii act accordingly. Good morning."
Now it happened that the Cali
fornian was good friend of Bittfes,
and that the story of Bittles's misfortune
was absolutely true, he having been
robbed of every ounce of his hard
earned gold dust on his way home. So
It may be supposed he called on Grif-
fin with a very lugubrious and woe-be-
gone air. y
"My dear boy,n said Uncle Bill, 81
am delighted to see you, and pleased
10 hear OF your luck. | welcome you
as my son-in-law. But what the deuce
is the matter with yon %
sk - 9., ssT IL
$50. 900 at the mines
Very hard luckn interrupted the
Did gentleman, chuckling.
. But on my way home was rob-
bed of every ounce-and now how can
| claim your daughters handm
"Sampson Bittles,a said Uncle Bill,
very cunningly "if you haven't got
S50, 900 you deserve to have it-you've
worked hard enough to get it. You
hall have my daughter, and the mar
-iage shall be celebrated tomorrow
night. In anticipation of your return,
have had you published. And while
you're talking with Mary, I'll draw
,heck for $50, 600, so that you may go
nto partnership with a sufficient CAPT
al.u
.But, sir, Pm beggarn
$50 much the berter-you'll work
harder to increase your fortune.n
!" My dear sir, how can thank youm
By making my girl good hus-
oand. There-go-go-and tell Mary
he newsn
Bittles did tell her the news. and they
we're married. He went into business
IN the $4,000 furnished him by his
and was so extraordinary
that Uncle Bill was more
than ever that the story was
regular Munchausen Once or twice
etried to repeat it, but the old gentle
nan always cut il short with;
ssI know all about it. Had it put in
he papers, too, eh2 Oh, it was a terri
lie affair. Lost your all Poor fel- |
ow! Well, I made it up to you-and
low won't hear anothefwofd about it.n
When Uncle Bill departed this life,
lis immense property was found to be
equally divided between his daughter
Lud son-in-law. the testator bequeathed
o the latter his share, to compensate
n 4