The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-05-23
The Eccentric NabOb.


town of Aylesbuy, England, there once
lived three cousins, Of the family name of
Barrett. They were all married and set
tied on farms within few miles of each
other, and each of them had grown up
children around them. They were not
rich, but in fair circumstances, and each
had expectations An eccentric uncle had
gone out to India when quite young man,
and rumor told them that he had become
very wealthy, and would probably die
bachelor Who, then, but themselves
would be heirs to his property, they being,
at the time, his nearest kin p?
One day the three families were thrown
into great commotion by each Of them re-
ceiving a letter, which contained besides
date and signature, ouly these words:
II am rich. Fools here call me nabob.
| wouldn't give such title to a cat. No
matter-I shan't live always-and when |
die my property must go TO somebody. /
am coming to Eng land to find an heir. |
shall come and see you, aud hope you will
please me. l 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 letters by the
cousins, the family of Moses Barrett was
thrown into great state of excitement by
the appearance at the door of two men in
livery, who announced themselves as the
avant couriers Of his excellency Joshua
Barrett, of India, who would claim their
hospitality for the night.
Saying which, the messengers put spurs
to their horses and dashed away, without
giving the astonished listeners time to ask
even single question.
Now, Noses Barrett was a hunks, his
wife shrewd, and his three children chips
of the two blocks, but all undertook to
change their natures for the time--or rath-
er to be ready to change them on the ap-
pearance of the rich uncle-for what was
the use Of acting with the curtain down.
Now, Nose, you stingy old brute, said
his wife, ''if you know on which side your
breads buttered, it's to be hoped you'll
have some chickens killed for his excellen-
cy's supper, which is morc'n you did for
Christmas, and some Of that wine fetched
up that you've had in the cellar since the
year one, and fire made in the best room
that hasn't been there these ten years, and
all our nice clothes put on-that ain't much
for you'd never allow us nothing decent
to wear"
''And it is to be hoped, old woman, re-
torted the angry husband, ''that you soft
en- down tina. screeching voice of yours,
and twist your wrinkles into smiles, and
that'll be something I've 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 all rejoiced, as
much as a hopeful family could rejoice, that
they would be the first to receive visit from
him--hoping, of course, that they might
thus forestall the other relations in his good
graces.
1t would have been a strange way for
any other person to have made his first Wis
il; but then, they knew the uncle was very
eccentric, and his being SO very wealthy
made it all right in their eyes. He might
come and stand on his head, provided he
paid for his antics.
In the midst of their hurried prepara-
tions, there appeared at the door an old
feeble-looking, white haired man, thinly
clad. his soaked garments clinging to his
shriveled form.
"Will you be kind enough, good people" >"
he said, ''to give me something to eat, aud
place to sleep tonight"
We've got nothing to spare! and if we
had, we don't harbor beggars % replied
the master of the house, in coarse, bru
tai tone. <e.o
."But I'm old, and feeble, and hungry,
and wet, aud tired" said the aged appli-
cant in pleading tone, "and if you drive
me away, may perish"
"Well, that's what you ought to have
done long ago" put in the cross dame. -
"When people get too lazy to work for an
hcnest living, and start out begging. it's
my opinion they're better dead nor alive.
Besides, We expect company soon-a rich
gentleman from India-and hain't got no
room for the likes Of you."
"Well, then" returned the old man with
a sorrowful look, ''siuce you cant keep me
over night, will you please give me some
thing to eat, and l will go further"
The dame brought upa piece of brown
bread, with an angry look, and was about
to hand it to the mendicant, more for the
purpose, as it seemed, Of getting rid OF
him, than from any feeling Of compassion,
but her misealy husband interposed, and