The Van Buren press., 1859-07-06
g1llsfellalrp.
THE TROUBLESOME NIECE.
Or Opening a Hardened He--

a. A-I---rr.~ UwSa Is coming neTe y
saId Absalon Burr to 'i,iInselt, as be paced
to and fro in bis small, dingy apartment
'' Why don't she get married "nd go about
her business 4 Ils5ue on her. say
Just because 10y sister chose to marry Jim
Owe. a.ed then die. ard leave this girl
sehili, / must take the thing and provide
for it What a fool | was ever to tell nv
sister I'd see to her child. Why, here will
be M. house turned topsy turvy, and every
thing like peace fly out of the windows.
And then | suppose the first thing I'll find
her Spending money Not a penny, no,
not on. She saws She can sew, and she
shall BY the host, she don't touch a
pennyof mine. And if she stays here she
will dc my sewing, to pay for house room,
and do my cooking and washing, to pay
for her. victuals. y plague on the poor
nieces -
Thus spoke Absalom, and then he sat
down AID stuck his feet close up to the fire
Absaloni Burr was a perfect miser His
face was deeply furrowed by the hand Of
passing time, and its lines were hard and
cold. His clothes were old and patched.
mendina.
II" Cttu nltatu Di winter was Close NJ
hand, AM vet the only fuel he had was such
as he hat been able to pick up by the road
side, and the edge of the pond. The house
in which he lived, was but poor hovcl
with only two rooms, and with furniture
more fit for firewood than anything else.
There wer- four windows in the house, and
every spar rag of clothing he owned, was
in use for tie replacing OF broken panes
And We. Absalom Burr was worth S5o,-
coo, though he contrived II be taxed for
$4,000 which W as invested in houses in
the town. lie was never known to bestow
a penny in charity, though many poor
and suffering tellowcreature had begged for
assistance at his hands Alone he had lived
for many a bng year, and his heart was all
hardened ant closed up against every kindly
feeling. He spent his time in attending to
MS rents. pirking Up wood and rags by the
wayside, ano counting his money at home.
On Monday evening, near the last of No
vember, the stage stopped in front of Absa-
lom's hut, AMI young lady was helped out
by tie driver, and a trunk and bandbox put
down after he. The old man had not seen
her for ten years, but he remembered how
his sister had looked when she was girl,
and here was her exact image. Kate S
mother was the only sister he ever had, and
thus Kate was the only near relative he had
living. The giTl hel ,,ed carry her own
trunk in. :ad as soon as she removed hef
bonnet, she threw her arms about his neck
and kissed him. He started back at this,
and severe look passed over his face
Kate Owen was a pretty girl, and she
had left behind her not one acquaintance
who did not love her. She was short
plump, laughter loving being, with brown
hair and hazel eve,. and when she laughes
7 the dimples deepened in her cheeks and
chin, and the dark curls shook about hel
fair temples. liz fact, one look at her face
was as good medicine for the blues, and
the ring of her merry laugh was contagious
.s.My dear uncle" she said. after she had
seated herself at the FIRE, :. are you moi
glad Eve come
/ Well-yes shouldn't want You tc
be without a home. But mind-vou at,
to help me. You won't lie an expense tc
me-
"Of course ] wont. Why, I'll retT,rl
YOU ten-fold How snug and happy VI
,yiil I've this winter You won't be her,