Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-10-19
SELECTED MISCELLANY.
The Eccentric Cgabob.


there once lived three cousins, of the
family named Barrett. They were oil
married and settled on farms, within a
few miles of each other, and each OF
them had grOwn-up children around
them. They were not rich but IN falr
circumstances-each hO'' expeditions.
An eccentric uncle had gone out to
India when quite a young man, and
rnmor told them that he had become
very wealthy. and wOuld probably die
bachelor. Who, then, but themselves
would he heirs 90 his prOperty-they
being, at the time, his nearest kin2
One day the three families were
thrown into great connection 10y each
OF them receiving letter, which con
tanned, beside date aud signature, only
these words:
Il am rich. Fools here call me a
nabob. / wOuldn't give such a title to
a cat No matter shan't live always
and when / die my property must go
to somebody. i am coming to find an
heir. / shall come and see yOu, and
hope Won will please me. / hope You
are not troubled with beggars. do
not like TO see them abOut.
One dark, rainy night, about three
weeks after the reception of these let
ters by the cousins, the family of
Moses Barrett was thrown into great
state Of excitement 10y the appearance
at the door of two men IA livery, who
announced themselves as the Hvaunt
couriers of has cXcellency, Joshua Bar
rett. of india, who would claim their
hospitality for the night
Saving which, the messengers put
spurs tO the horses and dashed away,
without giving the astonished listen
ers time to ask even single question.
Now, Moses Barrett was a hunks, his
wife shfewd, aud his three children
cbips of the two blocks, but all under
took to change their natures for a time
or rather, to be- ready to change them
on the appearance of the rich uncle
for what was the nae of acting with the
curtain down?
"Now, Nose, you stingy old brute. p"
said his wife, ''if yOu know on which
side your breads buttered. its 10 be
hoped You'll have some chickens killed
for his excellency's supper, which is
mOre'n Won did for Christmas, and some
of that wine fetched mp that you've had
in the cellar since the year l., and fire
made.in tine best room, that hasn't been
there this ten years; and all our nice
clothes put On-that amt much-fOr
you'd never allow us anything decent
to wear"
''And it is TO be hoped, old woman, -
replied the angry husband, ''that you
soften down that screeching voice of
yours, and twist Your wrinkles into
smiles, and that'll be something Pva
never seen since the first week of our
marriage.
Great activity was displayed by all in
getting ready to give the rich uncle the
best reception possible, and ali TejOiced
AS much as a hopeful family cOuld re-
jOice, that they wOuld he the first to
receive a visit from him-hoping, of
cGurse that they might Thus forestall
the other relations in his good grace.
1t would have been a strange way for
any other person to have made has first
visit; but, then, they knew the uncle
was very eccentric, and his being 80
very wealthy made il ali right In their
eyes. He might come and stand on his
head, provided he paid for his antics.
In the midst of their hurried prepar-
atiOns, appeared at the door AN old,
feeble looking, white-haiTed man, thin
~ clad, and with his sordid garments
ciingiug to his shriveled form.
"WIlI you be kind enough, good
people" he said, ''tO give me some
thing to eat, and a place to sleep
tO-night?p 7tra @
We've got nothing to spared and if
We had, We don't harbOr beggarsl" re-
piled the master of the house IN a
coarse, brutal tone.
''But I'm old, and feeble, and hun
CRY, and wet, and tired, said the aged
applicant, in pleading tone, land ii
Won drive me away, / may perish"
"Well, that's what yOu ought to have
done long age" put in the cross old
dame. "When people get too lazy to
WORK for an honest living, and start out
begging, it's my opinion they're better
dead nor alive. Besides we expect
company soOn-a rich gentleman from
midland hain't got no room for tine
likes OF you"
''Well, then" said the old man, with
a sOrrOWful look, ''sinee you can't keep
me over night, will you please give me
something to eat and IN 60 further. -
The dame brought up a piece Of
brown bread with an angry look, and
was about To hand it TO the mendicant.
more for the purpose, as 1t seemed, OF
getting rid of HIM, than from any feel
ing of compassion, but her miserly
husband interpOsed, aud said sharp
ly:
81 told you We hadn't anything for
-yOu, and so travel on - -------..
''Pll set the dogs on Won, If Won
don't, yOu old beggarp cried a lad of
ten. ''Aly rich uncie's coming here
tonight, and he can't bear beggars; 50
you had better be going while your
bones are whOler'
'May Heaven be more nercifuI than
you, sighed the old man, as he turned
and disappeared in the darkness.
Some half an hour later, he Knocked
at the door of Stephen Barrett-anoth-
eF OF the nepheTs-and asked for food
and lodging. -----
at isn't convenient for Us to keep
you tonight" said the master of the
house, IN mud, dignified tone. ssBe-
sides we don't like TO encourage beg
CARS III you are poor and not able TO
work, the parish where You belong is
bound to support you. No one need
starve IN this country, which the Lord,
praised be His name, has so bountifully
blessed. j trust 1 am not wanting in
eharity-as an humble follower of the
Lord Jesus Christ, hope / am not
but what with taxes for the support of
the government and the poor, dona-
lions to the benevolent societies and
heather missions, it is as much as can
do to live and give my family respect