Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-01-19
Uncle RiII.

WAS commonly called, with an irreyerent
disregard of his patronmic, did not re-
tire from the ship chandlery business till
he was worth something more than a
plum. Not being blessed with son to
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 unlike thy papa as a
canary bird is unlike = bull dog. His
face was a. hard as Dutch nut cracker,
thine as rose-leaf. He was the veriest
miser in all creation-thou didst spend thv
pocket money as prince of Wales. In
his household management Uncle Bill
was consummate skiu-flint tradition
says that he used to soak the back-logs in
the cistern, and water the lamp oil, and
he was aided and abetted in all his MIG
gardly schemes by n yinegar-faced house
keeper, who was the sworn enemy of all
good cheer, and stinted from a pure love
of meanness. Yet pretty Mary had no
reason to complain of her fathers penuri-
BUSINESS, as far as she was concerned
He sent her to the best schools, and gave
her a carte blanch on the most expensive
mlliners. and hen she walked Washing
ton street on = sunny day, there was not
more gaily bedecked damsel from Corn
hill 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 whis-
kers collected outside of the meeting she
attended on Sunday. than darkened the
door of any other metropolitan church.
Yet cold was the naid AMI though logions advan-
ced,
Al. drilled in ON edian art,
Though they languished and "gleti, protested and
danced,
Like shadows they came, and like shadows they
glanced,
From the pure polished ice of her heart.
Besides. Uncle Bill WAS formidable
guardian to his attractive daughter. Did
he not fire charge of rock, salt into the
inexpres$ibIes OF Thomas Biikins. when
he came serenading with cracked quit
arr Didn't he threaten to kick Tuwle
for leaving valentine at his door .
Wasn't he capable of unheared atrocities?
The suitors of pretty Mary were all
frightened of the course by her ogre of Il
father, except steady young fellow who
reioiced in the name OF Sampson Blttlcs,
and who was addicted to bookkeeping
in = wholesale grocery store in CONNER
eiaI street. The old gentleman really
liked Bittles: he was so staid, so quiet,
and SO full of information. He was a
regular price current, and no man on
charge was better acquainted with the
value of stocks. Why Mary liked him, it
is more difficult to conjecture. for he was
very deficient in the small talk that young
ladies are so fond OF, was avsrse to NOUS
taches. disliked the opera, and thought
the ballet immoral, and considered waltz
ing iudelicate. Perhaps his good looks
compensated for other deficiencies, or per-
haps her horrors of dying in a state of
single bIessedness, induced her TO counte-
nance the only young man Uncle Bill
was ever known to tolerate.
One evening Bittles screwed up his
courage to the task of addressing the old
man on the subject nearest his heart.
"Ar. Griffin" said he, ''Ive had
something here for long time,' and he
made up horrible face. and placed his
hand somewhat near his heart.
Dyspepsia ?" said the old man.
Your daughter" gasped the young
"Well, what about her 90 asked Uncle
Bill sharpishly.
I'm in love with her." said the un-
happy clerk.
Humbug!'' said Uncle Bill.
Fact" rejoined Bittles.
What's your incomc?" inquired Grit
I'm.
Eight hundred" answered the sup
plant.
1t Won't do" my boy" said Griffin
shaking his grim locks. y" No man on q
salary shall marry my daughter. Why
she's the finest girl in Boston, and i
takes capital to marry fine girl
When you have thirty Thousand dollars tc
begin with, you may come and talk tc
me-"
Bittles disappeared. Six months afte
that, Miss Mary Griffin received letter
with an endorsement of Uncle Sam, ack
aowledging the receipt of forty cents l
ran thus: -.....
'.SAH Francisco. California. 184s.
OeGrsGt Mary- .-
Enclosed, you will find a specimen o
California gold. which please hand t
your father, and oblige. Have to advis'
you of my return to Boston. Please tel
your father that have made fifty thou
Aud dollars at the mines. and shall VIM
anS4eather permit. soon call upon him t
tax S.r that matter, and arrange term
e.hip.
oui>'o oammand.
e---psos B1rrrrs."