The Van Buren press., 1868-11-24
MISCELLANY.
Mr.. BROWNS COURTsHIP.

| Mr.. BROWNS C0URTSHIP.
Richard Brown had been a bachelor
| for forty year., and declare / his intention
Of continuing in the state Of single bless
edness for the remainder bfhis litc,gres,
iy to the satisfaction ofms relatives, TIE
llnklc5, with whom he resided; for, be
it known, Uncle Richard was worth cool
half million, and unless, as Mr.. Binkle
said, some "nasty charity camein for
his property, whom should he leave it to
but TO his two own cousins, or their chill
Ipren. a.l sa aon Hff Z
I Hopeful as poor human nature is Of
10 ugevity, Mr. and Mrs. llinklc scarcely
cxl acted TO survive theire ousiE who was
! ID ig flppf by years, but Adelaide
and Rose and Charles and William might,
in all probability, be his heirs, and SO
Ithcir parents labored.1 If had the pest
room in the house, the. best chair, the
most particular consideration. His wishes
were deferred to, and hi3adyice taken on
every occasion, and lie actually came TO
be loved; for, with all his quaint, old
fashioned ways, and his habit Of sitting
utterly silent, as thodgh he hsdNbeep deaf
and dumb, he was loveable man Nat
tiers progressed smoothly until it
was habit, aud not hypocrisy WHICH made
Uncle Richard master Of the house.
He was very obiiging wonderfully SO
in most respects. He would attepd to
anything for anybody match rilihohs
when nobody else could-escort the girls
to places OF amusement--go dndtully to
church with their msn4nss-va ttend to
marketing and the postirs of letters, and
the gas metre, and the 5m 1s OF of 'tht
water in frosty weatltnincr 4: 1ss ready
to search the house wiAy.h poker AZ the
dead of night, when one 3learda noise -
I lie went to the Deatist With people who
wanted their teeth drawn, aud always
seemed to have sugar lhnms in this peck
et But one thing Uncle Richard would
not do, and that, was, TO exhibit the least
isign of polteness to lady visitors. He
never saw, one home. he never even
spent the evening in their company, liz
invariably shut himself up in his own
room, and had his tea there when one Of
these. individuals WAS reported to be ii
the house; and, when travelling. had been
known in train to shut his eyes tight
when 4 young lady entered, and remain
with them closed until she left the car
riage. AS a geiferal thing, indeed, he al
ways chosea carriage where hctnaed mo-
be intruded upon. .....
o. 1t was just as well, after ALL sale
Mrs. Hmlde, butit was a peculiarly no
quite rs agreeable to Mr.. H., when h
found the. pleasant Atask of seeing Mis-.
Smith or Miss Jones home imposed OF
| himself. He urged that snch duties wer'
Cousin Dick 5, though he never told hin
50. Itwould not have Been pleasant tc
provoke. him, and if anything could hay'
offended Bachelor Brown MORALLY. il
would have been TO insist upon bis offer
ing any gallant attentions to the softej
sex. .l .... ....a...... 3
However, 4 day came at last which Sc
the whole household in comihotion.htf
Miss Amanda Dove bad been invite.
to spend a week with tie Hinkles, anC
Miss Dove, being stranger was 10 van
at the station until some one camefo
her in carriage. H.pi
The Hinkles resided some way out o.
town, and had not occupied their residenc'
for many months, 50 that people wer
not always properly directed by tn
ncighbors. -
1t was decided that Mr. 1Iinkle Should
escort Miss Dove, but, before the day o
hor arrival dawncd, business had calleC
thht gentleman to Sheffield. Moreover
Mrs. linkle had the influenza, and .tli'
/ two boys were at boarding school. M
one else was to be found to drive, AM
neither Rose nor Adelaide could handl
THE reins Miss ID. was to come 70 coml
at nine, and what would she think o
them if no ohe came for herb 500 hp
/ lndeed,e said Mrs. lIinkle, cit woll,
be shocking treatment for the dear girl
| must ask Cousin Richard sT
"lou would never dare, said Rose
agh asst, ~ p '"g
4 I'm such case, you know" said Mrs
Hnkle. an .rrI 4I
"Hell not do IT, sad Adelaide. 90
Ofcoufse not, said Rose. $50 su ~
Mrs. lIiDkIe shook her head POI d
II feaf hcwlll not she said, and, as
sulaing an expression which woGll hay
done credit 10 a Joan of Arc, mointe,
!. The stairs to Cousin Richards study.
/" Are you'busS Richard y she asked
as she entered
Mot atslt--sh down. said Bochdo
Brown. lltlItlt. Ii MIL
IYou See how III ! am" saii Mr'
IIinklc; - can hardly hold my head mp
much less drive, and Mr.. llpkle i5.awaN
and the boys. too, AMI no ono aan handI
4 the teips, AN vi, s-tLGyA pIJp.( IN
Well" said Bachelor Baown' .lgll
And there Is poor Miss Dove At IN
y Station, With her trunk, by this time,