The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-05
~ ECCENTRIC SA8OEs AND HES
SEgEsYWS.

Some two or three miles from the niue
town Of hyleshury, England, there once
lived three cousins, of the family name o.
Barrett. They we're all married aud settled
ON farms within mile OF each other, ana
Zach NJ them had children growing up
,r,,,rd them. They were not rich, but III
comfortable circumstances, ana each ,'"n
generations. An eccentric Uncle had
gone out to India W hen qn'te young
man and rumor told them that he had be-
come very wealthy, and would pr"0aoIy
die bachelor. Who, then, but them
selves would be heirs to his property =
they being at the time the nearest KIN.
One day these three families were
thrown into great commotlon by each OF
them receiving letter, which contained,
besides date AID signature, only these
words:
- am rich. Fools here call me ma
bob. | wouldn't give such title to cat.
No mattcr-l shan't live always-and
when die my property must 20 10 some
body. AIN coming to England 10 ind an
heir. SHALL come aud SEE YOU, and hope
YOU will please me. hope YOU are not
troubled with bcggars. | don't like TO see
them about"
One dark, rainy night, about three weeks
after the reception Of these letters by The
cousins, the family of Noses Barrett was
! thrown into a state OF excitement by the
appcarauce at the door OF two men III
avery. who announced themselves as the
uruat coluierS of lis Exccllcncy, Joshua
/ Barrett, OF India, who would claim thor
! hospitality tor the night. Saying which,
| the messengers put spurs 10 their horses
aud dashed away, without giving the as
/ tuuished listeners time to ask even single
| question.
Now, Moses Barrett was ahunks, his wife
| Shrcwd, and his three children chips OF the
Two blocks, but all undertook 10 change
/ their natures for the tinc-0r rather, To
Toe ready to change them on the appear
aucc Of the rich uucle-lOr what was the
Use Of acting with the curtain down.
Nov, Muse, y0u stiugy old brute" sad
| his wife, ali you know Oh which side your
breads buttcrcd, it's IT, be hoped YOU Il
| have some chickens killed for his Excel
/ Icucy's supper, which was morc'n you did
| for Christmas; and some o. that wine
/ fetched NJ that you've had in the cellar
since the year one, and fire made in the
/ best room, that hasn't been there this ten
years and al our nice clothes put on. That
/ amt much, tur you'd never allow Us no.
| thing drggut.'
4" And it's to he hopca, old woman" re-
:orted the angry husband, "taat you'll
/ soften down that Scrccching voice Of yours,
aud twist your wrinkles into sm'!c>-and
| that'll he something I've never seen done
| since the first week Of our marriage
Great activity was displayed by all the
parties concerned in getting ready 10 give
| the rich uncle the best reception possible,
| and all rciuicei, as much as such hopeful
Family could rejoice, th't they would be
| the first to receive visit from hlm-hO-
ping, OF course, that they might thus fore
| stall the other relations IN his good graceS.
| ii would have been strange time and 4
| strange way FOR any other person 10 nave
! made his first visit; but then they knew
/ the uncle was very eccentric, aad his beng
! 80 very wealthy made 1t all right in then
eyes. lie might come aud stand on his
!srad, provided he paid for his antics.
| In the midst Of their hurried prepare
| tons there appeared at the door all old
| feeble looking, white-haired man, tmnly
clad, and with his soaked garments cling
ing to his ShriveIlcd form.
"WilI you be kind enough, good folks,
! he said, "to give me something TO eat and
place TO sleep tonight :"
"Wc've got nothing to spare and ii We
had, we don't harbor beggars !" replied
the master Of the house, in coarse, bru'
tai tone.
"But Pm old, and feeble, and hungry
and wet, and tired" said the aged appii
cant, in pleading tone, "and ifyou drive
me away may perish
"Well, that's just what you ought t'
have done long ago." put in the eros:
dame. "Whcn people get too lazy Il
work for an honest living, and start OF
begging, its my opinion they are better
dead nor alive. Besides, we expect com
pany soon--a rich gentleman from India
ami han't got no room Tor the likes oi
you"
"Wcll, then" returned the old man
with sorrowlul look, "since you cans
keep me over night, please give me some.
thing 10 eat, and III 90 further"
The dame caught up piece of brown
bread, with all angry look, and was abou,
| to hand ii TO the mendicant, more for the