Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-06-12
SeIsfted MisGellaay.
THE ECCENTRIC NABOB.

SOME two or three miles from the little
town of Aylesbury, England, there once
lived three cousins of the name of Bar
rett. They were all married and settled
on farms, within mile 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 themselves would be heirs to his
property ?-they being at the time his
nearest kin.
One day the three families were thrown
into great commotion by each of them re-
ceiving letter, which contained, besides
date and signature, only these words
am rich. Fools call me nabOb.
wouldn't give such a title to q cat. No
matter-I shan't live always-and when l
die my property must go to somebody. l
am coming to England to find an heir. |
shall come and see you, and hope you will
please me. hope you are not troubled
with beggars. l 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
livcrv, 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 as
tonished listeners time to ask even single
question.
Now, Moses Barrett was hunks, his
wife shrewd, and his three children chips
of the two blocks, but all undertook to
change their natures for the time-or rather
to be ready to change them on the ap-
pearance of the rich uncle-for what was
the use of acting with tie curtain down.
"Now, Moses, you stingy old brute"
said his wife, eff 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 moren you
did for Christmas, and some of the wine
fetched up 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 amt much, tor you'd never allow us
nothing decent to wear"
"And it is to be hoped, old woman, y
retorted the angry husband, "that you'll
soften down that screeching voice of yours,
and twist your wrinkles into smiles-and
that'l be something I've never seen done
since the first week ofour marriage"
Great activity was displayed by all the
parties concerned, in getting ready to give
the rich uncle the best reception possible,
and all reioiced, as much as such a hope
ful 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 strange way
for any other person to have made his
visit but then they knew the uncle was
very eccentric and his being so very
wealthy made it all right intheir eyes. He
might come and stand on his head, provi
ded he paid for his antics.
In the midst of their hurried prepare.
tions, there appeared at the door an old
feeble looking, white-haired man, thinly
clad, and with his soaked garments cling
ing to his shriveled form.
"Will you be kind enough, good peo
pie" he said, "to give me something tc
eat and place to sleep to-night?"
"We've got nothing to spare! and if W.
had, we don't harbor beggars p replied
the master of the house, in course, bru
tai tone.
But Tn old, and feeble and hungry
and wet, and tired" said the aged suppl
cant, in a pleading tone, and if you drive
me away may perish"
"Well, that's just what you ought tC
have done long ago." put in the cross
dame. "When people get too lazy to work
for an honest living, and start out beg
ging, its my opinion that they are bettel
dead nor alive. Besides we expect com