Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-05-10
The Eccentric Nabob.

little town OF Aylesbury, England
there once lived three cousins of the
name of Barrett. They were al
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 fair
circumstances; 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 them.
selves would be heirs to his proper.
ty ?-they beingat the time his nearest
kin.
One day the three families were
thrown into great commotion by each
Of them receiving letter, which con.
tanned, besides dates and signature,
only these words:
"1 am rich. Fools call me nabob.
| wouldn't give such a title to a cat.
No matter-I shan't live always-and
when | die my property must go to
somebody. l am coming to England
to find an heir. l shall come and see
you, and hope you will please me. ]
hope you are not troubled with beg.
gars. | 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 a
great state of excitement by the ap.
pearance 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
to their horses and dashed away, with.
out giving the astonished listeners
time to ask even a single question.
Now, Moses Barrett was hunks
his wife shrewd, and his three children
chips of the two blocks, but all under.
took to change their natures for the
time-or rather to be ready to change
them on the appearance 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 excellency's supper, which is
more'n you did for Christmas, and
some of the wine fetched up that you've
had in the cellar since the year one
and a fire made in the best room that
hasn't been there this ten years; and
all our nice clothes put on, that ain't
much, for you'd never allow US moth
ing decent to wear"
"And it is to be hoped, old woman,
retorted the angry husband, "that
you'll soften down that screechine
voice of yours, and twist your wrinkle;
into smiles-and that'll be something
I've never seen done since the frs
week of our marriage"
Great activity was displayed by al
the parties concerned, in getting ready
to give the rich uncle the best recep
ton possible, and all rejoiced, as mucl
as such a hopeful family could rejoice
that they would be the first to receiv,
visit from him-hoping, of course
that they might thus forestall the 9th
er relations in his good graces. l
would have been a strange way 70
any other person to have made hi
visit; but then, they knew the uncl
was very eccentric, and his being s.
very wealthy made it all right in thei
eyes. He might come and stand OF
his head, provided he paid for his an
tics.
In the midst of their hurried pre-
parations there appeared at the doc
an old, feeble looking, white haire
man, thinly clad, and with his soake
garments clinging to his shrivele
form.
"Will you be kind enough, goo
people," he said, "to give me some
thing to eat and place to sleep t,
night ?"
"We've got nothing to sparel an
if we had, we don't harbor beggars
replied the master of the house, in
coarse, brutal tone.
"But I'm old, and feeble, and hui
CRY, and wet, and tired" said the age
supplicant, in a pleading tone, "and
you drive me away Imay perish"
"Well that's just what you ought
, have done long ago." put in the GRO
dame. "When people get too lazy
work for an honest living, and sta
out begging, it's my opinion that th'
are better dead than alive. Beside
we expect company soon-a rich ma
: from India-and amt got no roo
2 for the likes of you"
!. "Well, then," returned the old ma
e with a sorrowful look, "since you cal
q keep me over night, will you plea
give me something to eat, and I'll
!, further"
|, The dame brought up a piece
n brown bread, with an angry look, a.
,. was about to hand it to the mendoza
2 more for the purpose, it would see
o of getting rid Of him than from a
It feeling of compassion, but her misel
E. husband interposed, and said sharp
d, Il told you we hadn't nothing
le you, so travel on!'
rs "Tll set the dog on you if you do
you old beggar p cried lad of t
any rich uncle's coming here to-ni'
r. and he can't bear beggars; so
a. better be going while your bones
: whole r
,f aMav Heaven be more mercifll Il