The Portland daily press., 1869-07-31

DioenSi Svn WVuiu uOL utip HlW 10 make Tue
fortune OF the whole family; when we were
both startled by the voice of Cousin Grace
behind us saying, "Richard will lend you the
money!"
i could scarcely believe my ears and eyes;
but there she stood, in her long worn and
much mended black dress and Grape collar,
which she wore to save washing. ner race
bound up with another piece OF black-ior
she was troubled with the toothache-ana
her grav hair hidden by red flannel hood,
to ward of the rheumatism.
"You are an angelP cried Uncle hlchard,
running towards her with extended arms.
aRecolIect propriety, sir," said Cousin Grace
taxing him BY the shoulder and setting him
down on a chair. George" she continued,
athe Bounceleys have sent over Tor you; they
can never get young men enough at their
parties but Ii is not right to offend them:
you know they are related to Mr.. Cheeks
brother n-law; go up to your room and dress
this minute.' ifeaf
saw the necessity Of going, undei the cir
cumstances; and what pa sed in the back
parlor that evening, never could make out !;
but Cousin Grace kept her resolution to lend
Uncle Richard the hundred pounds, which
we all believed to be her entire savings. No
persuasion, no pointing out of probable con-
sequences, could move herr rom it. Uncle
Richard had promised to pay her; he would
not break his word t. an unprotected female !;
and she thought it her duty as a cousin to
give him chance of retrieving the mister
tunes OF his life with the money, which she
would probably never want, for it was her
belief she was not long for this world. Cous-
in Grace was lady not easily turned from
anything she had set her mind on. When the
entire clan of Ramshorn had exhausted their
arguments and adjurations-when she had
for HI haft xx-ifI oh 1f +I~<,;,
wives, and general engagements with the
whole familY-when she had shaken the dust
o. most Of their houses of her feet and got it
on again, the money was let to Uncle Rich
ard, and with it he bought the old house in
the marshy hollow. ss
The joy or the folly of his life appeared to
be crowned by the possession of that coveied
tenement. Morning, noon, and night, he was
deserted moving abuout its ruined walls,
scramfiing out of some of its sashless win
dows, or seated on a rock hard by, contem-
plating his de 'irable property. The reputa-
ton o'the place prevented his being intruded
upon by curious neighbors; none of the Ram
shorns, except Cousin Grace, would come
within mile of it or him; their ildigdation,
including my own, knew no bounds at this
last and most desperate relapse. At the end
OF the first fortnight of his ownership, Messrs.
Cannon and Gosling dismissed him tor nc
gect OF business, and Cousin Grace announc.
ed her intention Of marrying him without de-
lay. OF course she was reminded OF what
short of jointure was to be expected; but
Grace said one coulln't pass over ones lot !;
and Uncle Richard being agreeable, the mar
riage came off accordingly. The Ramshorns
one and ali protested, in the first instance,
that they would have nothing to do with the
pair, and finally went in body 10 their we'd
ding. Grace almost sent the ladies Of the
family into fits by appearing in silk dress on
the occasion, bought out of the remains OF her
savings, no doubt, and therefore showing a
clearer prospect of the workhouse. 49, I
But Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ramshorn did
not betake themselves to that dignlfied retire
meiit; on the contrary, they took quiet cham
bers in Shrewsbury, where Richard advertised
himself, and commenced business as a soiici-
tor; while Grace supervised both him aud
his clients; then they leased piece OF ground
In the reghborhood, and began to build
house OF very decent dimensions out OF the
materials in the marshy hollow. b, and by
1t wa evident 10 us all that Uncle Richard
was an altered man and that the change was
much Tor the better. Tie most unmanagea-
bic OF his domains in the roofess cottage and
ruined barn line were pulled down to lelp
the building OF his new home. or disposed of
TOR IKE purposes; the best of them were by
degrees repaired, and let to honest tenants;
his own house was finished; he and his lady
took possession and turn ished it wonderfully
we'll though with great complaints of the
dear times. Uncle Richards legal business
increased. or at least his property did; first
Mrs. Richard had one servant, then she had
tWos black silk dress replaced a well mend
ed stuff one; and the rheumatism was kept
out OF her headsby velvet hood, instead of a
red flannel.
Time works wonders in all parts of the
world, and so it did in ours, for the disgrace
of the Ramshorns became their glory. With
"a len years after my refusal to help Uncle
Richard in making the fortune of the whole
family With thai hundred pounds I had in
the Salop bank, found myself quoting his
saying OF wisdom, and setting forth his great
ness on every opportunity. All the rest oi
his kindred were doing likewise, except Mrs.
Richard, nee Consn Grace she had admon-
ished him before marriage, and, excellent
woman, size coptinuedito admonish him after
1t but their conjugal life was, on the whs,,ie
an easy one. They had no fam;;I5Tyy.arnd tbey
appeared to be settinSs fich, and we. eyery
8. court accordingly. Uncle
Richards days of odiity were over, but he
had the gout sometimes; / suppose people
must have something; and on these occasions
OF being laid up, he was partial 10 sendine
been snost ,cons;aar.ts 't . WIG nay
times of the Ioase raIaaso 20 o.. nim N tne old
he co,,IdnT sIaen F5s az lss'oIa.lon. Wnen
tin far into the shey useu 70 slt WIN nim
tinos, thew toid anu a. one oi lnese slt
eynectea ravala so ~, ie ii'os ohenh an un
Robert" said he, addressing my father,
to he to vo,, and E,,,; mnas hu.salce useq
old houses o, anu N''iiiy' WIN my = touylng OF
mot ev.cti ! z !, Ia
dent df fatber her. eAa'''y d hulsance' sald my pru-
80. bnt 7 was. .n,..u
wished me at Is,;c, many @ .'%e you nave
son- want - I'm 0 anu you nau spou lea, re:s,
axolain that mater. t .o and Lnnw vo NH wm
keen the secret for n, onr s.la. " iJI I1n WIZ
Richard NyVhen ryas ,.rt,,, '1;t, Sa,H Ga
mon and Gosl;no i, he he Shar TSn Sn.l uai
case-it mist ba tart, ~ nn",p Anu ohopssy
,vera t,ro ,,ei;,sos es't Yeas aSo noW.Inere
H.. ~ psu'sleSs 70 pe naqe out ana pun,
,rnose rho loohsd ever Ior Inat
me- and amor, sta's business IeIi 70
dressed ta HeIsr. ue ch r. ioulu % one on az
cain the ami nsp, h59.; 54oo ua.ea @ o.; ger
" written Nv = ,'apt;sa h ~, anu eylaent-
Who still liz 1oeraS tI,"sa Sl'J 'sua,ts
y ~ HtAAa itAliSCiCu tuCIG duQ aucDIOIeu, IN JDe