The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-12-26
AN ECCENTRIC NABOB
AND
HIS NEPHEWs

Some Two or three miles from the lit
tie town Of Aylesbury, England, there
once lived three cousins, Of the family
name Of Barret. They were all married
and settled on farms, within a mile Of
each other, and each Of them had chill.
.dren growing up around them. They
were not rich, but in comfortable circum
stances, and each had expectations. An
eccentric unc'e had gone out to India
when quite young man, and rumol
told them he had become very wealthy
and would probably die a bachelor
Who, then, but themselves would be
heirs to his property they being at the
time the nearest kin.
One day these three families wcre
thrown into great commotion by each Of
them receiving letter, which contained
besides date and signature, only these
words:
II am rich. Fools here call me ma
bob. | wouldn't give such title to o
cat No matter--I shaDt live always
and when l die, my property must 80 tc
somebody. | am coming to England tc
fad an heir. | shall come and see you
and hope you will please me. I hope you
are not troubled with beggars [ don't
like to see them about"
One dark, rainy night, about three
weeks after the reception OF these letter;
by the cousins, the family Of Moses Bar.
rett was thrown into state Of excitement
by the appearance at the door of the two
men in livery who announced themselves
as the araat couriers of bis excelency
Joshua Barrett, of India, who would claim
their hospitality. for the night; saying
which, the messengers put spurs to theiI
horses and dashed away, without giving
the astODished listeners time to ask even
a single question.
Now Moses Barret was a hunks, bis
wife shrewd, and his childred chips Of
the two blocks, but all undertook tc
change their natures for the time-oi
rather, to be ready to change them on
the appearance of the rich unce-fol
what Was the use of acting with the cur
tain DOWN.
Snow, Nose, you stingy cid brute,
said lis wife, ''if you know on which side
your breads buttcrcd, it's to be hoped
you'll have some chickens killed for hi
cxcellcncy's supper, which was morr
you'd do for Christmas; and some ol
that wine fetched up that you've had il
the cellar since the year one and fiIt
made in the best room, that hasn't beer
there this ten years /; and all our nice
clothes put on, that amt much, for you't
never allow us nothing decent"
"And it's 10 be hoped, old woman re
tortcd the angry husband, "that you4
soften down that screeching voice ol
yours, and twist your wrinkles into smile:
and that'll be something I've nevel
seen done since the first week Of our mar
riuge."
Great activity was displayed by all th'
parties concerned in getting ready tt
give the rich uncle the best reception
possible. and all rejoiced, as much as sucl
hopeful family could rejoice, that they
would be the first to receive visit from
him-hoping, of course, that they nigh
thus forcstall the other relations of hi
good graces. It would have been
strange time and strange way for an,
one else to have made his first visit ; bu
then they knew the uncle was very &C
centric, and his being SO very wealth,
made it oil right in their eyes. HI
might come and stand on his head, provi
ded he paid for his antics.
In the midst Of their hurried prepare.
iiOns there appeared at the door, an old
feeble, looking, white haired man, tbiul,
clad, and with his soaked garments cling
ing to his shriveled form.
"Will you be kind enough good folks,
he said, ITO give me something to cat an
a place to sleep tonight I"
"We'ye got nothing to spare and i
we had, We don't harbor beegars y re-
piled the master of the house, in coarse
brutal tone.
"But I'm old, and feeble, and hungry
and wet, and tired" said tho aged appl
cant, in pleading tone, "and if yo
drive me away, | may perish"
"Wcll, that's just what you ought
have done, long ago." put in the eros
dame. "When people get 10 lazy to wor
for an honest living, and start out beg
ging, its my opinion they're better dea
nor alive. Besides, we expect compan
soon-a rich gentleman from India-an
hain't got no room for the likes of you.
"Well, theh,' returned the old ma
with a sofrowful look, since you can
keep me over night, please give me some
thing to eat, and III go further"
The dame caught up piece Of brow
bread, with an angry look, and was abou
to hand it to the mendcant, more for tn
purpose, as it seemed, Of getting rid Q
him, than from any feeling of compassio
i but her misery husband interpose
and said sharply:
- told you we hadn't nothing for you
and so travel on p
"l'il set the dog onyou if you dom
you old beggor!' cried a lad of ten.-
"My rich uncles coming here tonigb
and he can't bear beggars; SO you'd bel
ter be of while your bones are whole p
"May heaven be more merciful tha
you," sighed tho old man, as he turne
and disappeared in the darkness.
i Some half an hour later, he kuocke
at the door Of Stephen Barret, another {
THE nephews, and asked for food an
lodging.