Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-07-13

his excellency, Joshua barrett, OF India,
who would claim their hospitality for
the night. Saying which, the mesaen.
gers put spurs to their horses and
dashed away, without giving the aston
ished listeners time to ask a single
question. Now, Moses Barrett was a
hunks, his wife shrewd, and his three
children chips of theftwo blocks, but
all undertook to change their natures
for the time-or rather to be ready to
change them on the appearance of the
rich uLcle-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 he
hoped that you'll have some chickens
killed for his excellency' 'ssupper, which
is more'n you did for Christmas, and
some of that wine fetched up that you We
had in the cellar since the year one,
and fire made in the best room, that
hasn't been there this ten years; and
all our nice clothes put Oh, that ain t
much, for you'd never allow US nothing
decent to wear"
"And it is to be hoped, old woman"
retorted the angry husband, "that you IL
soften down that screeching voice of
yours, and twist your wrinkles into
smiles-and that'll be 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
to give the rich uncle the best reception
possible, and all rejoiced, as much as
such hopeful family could rejoice,
that they would be the first to receive a
visit from him-hoping, of course, that
they might forestall the other relations
in his good graces. 1t would have been
a strange way for any other person to
have made his first visit; but then,
they knew that the uncle was very &C.
centric, and his being so very wealthy
made it all right in their eyes. He
might come and stand on his head, pro-
vided he paid for his antics. In the
midst of their hurried preparations
there appeared at the door, an old,
feeble looking, white haired man, thinly
clad, and with his soaked garments
clinging to his shriveled form.
"Will you be kind enough, good
people," he said, ''to give me something
to eat and place to sleep tonight 2"
"Wc've got nothing to spare! and if
we had, we don't harbor beggars !' re-
piled the master of the house, in a
coarse, brutal tone. "But I'm old,
and feeble, and hungry, and wet, and
tired" said the aged supplicant, in a
pleading tone, "and if you drive me
away l may perish" "Well that's
just what you ought to have done long
ago." put in the cross dame. "When
people get too lazy to work for an
honest living, and start out begging,
it's my opinion they are better dead
nor alive. Besides, we expect company
soon-a rich man, from India-and
haint got no room for the likes of you"
"Well then," returned the old man,
with a sorrowful look, "since you can't
keep me over night, will you please
give me something to eat, and I'll go
further"
The dame brought up piece Of
brown bread, With an angry look, and
was about to hand it to the medicant,
more for the purpose, as it seemed, of
getting rid of him than from any feel
ing OF compassion, but her miserly hus-
band interposed, and said sharply: Il
told you we hadn't nothing for you, and
SO travel on 1' "I'll set the dog on you
if you don't, you old beggar W cried a
lad of ten. "My rich uncle's coming
here tonight, and he can't bear beggars;
so you had better be going while your
bones are whole p ''May heaven be
more merciful 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, and
asked for food and lodging. at isn't
convenient for US to keep you to- might, :"
said the master of the house, in mild,
dignifed tone. "Besides, we don't like
to encourage beggars II you are poor
and not able to work, the parish to
which you belong is bound to support
you. No one need starve in this coun-
try, which the Lord, praised be his
name, has SO beautifully blessed. |
trust l am not wanting in charity-as
an humble follower of the Lord Jesus
Christ, l hope am not-but what with
taxes for the support of the government
and the poor, donations to benevolent
societies and heather missions, it is as
much as can do to live and give my
family respectable maintenance. Now,
my friend, it you are poor and not able
to work, (though l don't see why you
may not work as we'll as traveD you had
better throw yourself On the parish
where you belong"
"But l am tired, wet, and hungry
said the old man, Sand all the parishes
in the world can't do me any good to-
night" "But you should have thought
of that before you left home," now
chimed in the good house wife, with
sancti6ed air at is sinful to tempt
Providence, as it is called; and who.
ever sins must expect punishment.
never go away without providing for the
Tourney, and of course | don't expect
ANYBODY to feed and shelter me for
nothing. It is sin, too, to be idle
when one is able to work, and it is
against my principle, as true Christian,