Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-08-14
Selefted Nlisesllany.
UNCLE BUNCE.

CHE shall never have penny" stormed
Uncle Bunce; II will cut him off with a
shilling"
"My dear Bunce," said I, "you have
already contradicted yourself, in first de-
nying him penny, and then promising
him twelve. Inever heard you contradict
yourself (although often other people, ex-
cept when in passion, and that is not the
frame Of mind in which to sit down to
alter your will" ..,-
"Mind your own business, sir, and leave
me to manage mine," was the prompt and
severe rejoinder.
"Your business is mine, Nicholas" con-
tinued / quietly, since we are part
ners. We have been friends, boy and
man, for these forty years, and | am
not going to permit you to quarrel with
me-"
"Who wants to quarrel" said Uncle
Bunce, peevishly.
swell, don't; but would rather even
that should happen, than that my old
friend should do himself such an injustice
as to condemn young fellow, who has
no other relation in the world, unheard |;
your own sisters son, George! l am
ashamed of you'll"
.Unneard? Pack of nonsense" sput-
tered the old fellow. The things as
plain as the nose on your face"
"Thank you," said l. However, you
may say as offensive things as you please
about my nose only don't be unjust to
Charley
az am not unjust The facts are these
/ had adopted that boy, and meant to treat
him as my own son. He has disgraced
himself by betting on public racecourse
a sum he had no honest means of paying
if he lost-a gambler, sir, and cheat,
that's what he's proved himself; and I'll
have nothing more to do with him."
"You had better inquire into the matter
little further, Mr.. Bruce" said /, with
some distinctness of manners for / liked
Charley upon his own account, as well as
because he was the only relative of my
friend and partner, one of the most sound
hearted and grossly prejudiced men with
in mile of the Royal Exchange.
"There is nothing to be inquired about,
Mr.. Coe. Even if my late nephew" lit
was just like what his fatterers called his
"stern determination to use that phrase;
lust like his Internal obstinacy," 1 Isay)
eyes, sir, even if my late nephew had
had the fifty pounds to pay, which | am
sure he had not, would disinherit him for
betting it and even if he didn't bet, he
was OH tile IdCeCOuISt, anu tHst 10 d pldCC
no nephew of mine should show his face
and remain my heir. There is letter
from our Vienna correspondent which re-
uuires your immediate attention, Mr.. Coe. !"
And with that, Uncle Bunce withdrew
himself into the glass case that is his
peculiar sanctum at our office, and slammed
the door behind him.
Our firm was Bunce and Coe, and there
had been no other member of it, save us
two, for fivc-and-twenty years. We were
no relatives Though perhaps not less fast
friends upon that account), but called
him Uncle Bunce because Charley did,
who, until that unlucky Derby day, had
been as great favorite of his as of mine
and here were the young fellows prospects
blighted, and the old mans affections left
without anv human trellis-work to cling
10, all because some ill-natured busybody
who knew Nicholas Bunce's hatred OF the
turf, had told him that Charley Thornton
had bet fifty pounds to ten against PdS
nyrG for the Derby, on EPSON Downs.
| had no greater love for racing, MOI
perhaps for Charley, than Nicholas had
but could make little more allowance
for the follies of youth and when found
myself crossed, or even disobeyed, all the
milk of human kindness within me did
not instantly turn sour, as it had done in
Uncle Bunce's dairy, with the sad effect
have described. He had gone straight to
Charley upon the information received
and said "Did you go dowr. to Epson
Downs, sir, and bet fifty pounds to ter
pounds against race-horsel Answer me
Yea OF Mo-" And Chsrley-for thG