Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-10-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
UNCLE PAUL;
Or. The Up. and Down. Of Lie.

day. We are content 10 80 TO work again
until the glorious Fourth. passing over un-
observed the twelfth day Of Christmas. which
is festival not only IN holilay.loving Ec.
rope. hu, in solemn trading England even.
Few OF our citizens. however. neglect thi,
day. Ii was nj the home II one Of these.
on Twelfth Night, more years ago than |
care TO remember. that I chanced 20 WIT.
ness the following incident. and hear the
curious narniiv, which I shall try TO relate
as nearly as possible as IL fell from the re.
laior.
The gentleman refer to, my irienl NJ.
dc Vinchy. was one Of the tc,eral brothers
who lett Franco az the Revolution. the fam.
ily having been reduced from ailluencc to
poverty. by the chances OF that Wild time.
DE w.. the eldest brother. came TO New
York, thena mere village. comparatively
.pcaking, aud With the aid OF several good
letters Of introduction, obtained employ.
meni in the Office Of Awine merchant. rose
in hi. employers service, became partner.
and ultimately tho solc proprietor OF the
large business. When spen, the Twelfth
Night with ham 20 which refer ho was the
owner OF one Of those hno mansions. come
Of which still remain in neglected nook'
down town, though they were then in fash.
i1nable localities. and hc was tho venerable
head of numerous family, como Of whom
with their children. were assembled at hIs
ho.piiable board. OF hi. brothers, It Il.
only necessary 10 mention the one then pres.
ent with hi. wife. New England lady,
whose handsome features were little rreyed
upon by her years.
In France cake is expressly prepared
for Twelfth Night, into which bean is put.
aud il - customary ior the person in whose
piece Of cake the bean is found TO be dubbed
King OF the Feast. ani ho has the privilege
Of choosing queen from among the ladies
present. Tho Ia v'so course did no,
neglect ,hi. important, par, Of the c,remo.
mics oi the day. The huge cake, richly or.
namen,cd. was produced TO the especial
glce Of the younger member. Of the COM
rapy. The bean fell to the share Of Uncle
Paul.
observed that this slight event. which
caused us youngsters considerable amuse-
ment. was ,hs occasion OF singular dis.
play OF emotion On the part oi N. Paul.
who. politely requesting the permission Of
the ladies present., nameh his wife Queen.
ls was obvious, from the expressive eances
OF the family. tha, ,hcrc wa. something IN
the anniversary or in the ceremony jus, per.
formed, which recalled interesting remem.
branccs, ono OF the party, less reserved or
more knowing than the rest boldly asked
the question.
LIT 1. true" said NJ. Paul, Z" tha, the
accident, Of tho bean. falling 10 me awsk.
cned lively recolIec,on. bu, tho matter,
though not wi,hou, i,s moral, Is OF too per.
-oual nature to prove interesting in nara
tive"
"Ah. do tell ". u It's like story. I'm.
Gle Paul" shouted = chorus Of some OF NJ.
de v.'s granichlldren from the farther end
OF tue room and as we elder children eeh.
oed the request, ". Paul having obtained
the permission Of his wife 10y a glance, spoke
a. nearly as possible as follows
Forty fVc years ago, an orphan whom |
shall call Jules, scarcely ten years old. at
rived in Boston. whittier he had been sen.
20 the care o, III. maternal uncle, Mr..
Brown.on. This old gentleman. since the
death Of hi. wife. bad become as mlscrly rs
he was rich. aud morose as be- Was rich
and morosc as he was misery. Family
pride only had induced him 10 take charge
Of his nephew. Looking upon hin as q
super1uou. member Of his domestic circle,
/ (,he worthy man had twelve children) bo
nick named him " Thirteen" reproached
him hourly. cursed his father whose mis-.
fortunes had lci, the boy pennics' and un-
protected, and his mother who had married
beegar accused him OF eating like an
alligator, drinking like fish, and sleeping
like dormouse; and Of icing, in short,
ft for nothing hut to break the hearts and
punish the pockets Of his relatives. Jules
had to teacl, himself. lie wa. clothed in
the ca.t OF garments OF his cousins. and
fed as coarscly and scantily as q regard Tor
decency would permit. Many times Jules
was on the poin, OF running away, but one
good heart in hi. uncle's house attached him
TO his wretched home. IL was Rachel, Mr..
Brownson's youngest daughter. She was
pretty child, scarcely eigh. years old, whose
naturally sweet disposition led her to pity
the mis'ortupes of her orphan cousin. The
only other friend Jules could boast was
Stop" the dog. whose devotion to him
was thorough and unwaver'ns.
Jules had been nearly year in the lam
ily when Christina, came. Every child had
a present but Jules. As be was trying to
bids his yexa,ion and sorrow, Rachel drew
him from hi, obscure corner, and gave him
her present. IL was the g'ft OF rich neigh.
Dor. a distant relative Of Mr.. Brovnson
from whom tho family had cIpecta'iou',
The giver, who vas one OF tho party, VA
delighted with the spontaneous kindness ol
the action. and as Jules dared not take the
present. called the children TO him Tor the
purpose Of removing his scruples.
"Tako your cousins present my little
man ~ said he. - n will do her moro GOOD