The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-08-05
@isfEllamN.
THE ECCENTRIC NABOB.

name OF barr0CCS. lney were all mar
ried and settled on farms within few
miles Of each other, and each Of them
had groWn-up children around them
They were not rich, bat in fair circum
stances-RRch 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 al
old bachelor. Who, then, bnt them.
selves would be heirs to his property
they being at the time his nearest Tela.
! tives?
One day the three families were
| thrown into a great commOtiOn by
each of them receiving a letter, which
contained, beside the date and sigma
| ture, only these words -
| "I am rich. Fools here call me g
nabob. IWOuldt give a title to q cat
No matter; I .shan't live always, anC
when 1 die my property must go tC
somebody. / am coming to find an
heir. 1 shall come and see you, anC
hope you will please me. I hope you
, are not troubled with beggafs. dc
alitSe to see them abOat..b :
ths0ne dark, rainy night, about three
wheeks after the reception Of these let
adirs by the cousins; the family Of Mos
-eTyBarrett was thrown into state O
great excitement by the appearance al
the door of two men ia livery, who an
nounced themselves as the 0Ud1lt cOatT-
ieTs of Joshua Barrett Of India, who
would claim their hospitality through
the night.
Saying which, the messengers put
spurs to their horses and dashed away,
without giving the astOnished listeners
time to ask even a single question.
Now, Moses Barrett was = hunks,
his wife shrew, and his three children
chips of the two blocks, but all under
took to change their natures for time
or rather, to be ready to change them
on the appearance of the rich uncle
for what was the use of acting with the
curtain down?
Now, Moses, you stingy old brute, y
said his wife, IF you know on which
side your bread is butteTed, it's to be
hoped you'll have some chickens killed
for his eXcellency's supper which is
MORN you did for Christmas, and some
of that wine fetched up which you've
had in the cellar since the year one,
and a fire made in the best room that
hasn't been there these ten years, and
all our nice clothes put On-that isn't
much, for you'll never allow us any
thing decent to wear"
anu II . " OC hOlJSNy Olu "Ol1cSlly
retorted the angry husband, /" that
you'll soften down that screaching
voice of yours, and twist your wrinkles
into smiles, and that'II be something
I've never seen since the first week O1
our marriage"
Great activity was displayed by all
in getting ready to give the rich uncle
the best reception possible, and all re-
jOiced, as much as a hopeful family
could rejoice, that they would be the
first to receive a visit from him, hop
ing, of course, that they micht fore
stall the other relations in his good
graces.
1t would have been q strange way
for any person to have made his first
visit, but they krew the uncle was
eccentric, and his being. so very. veal
thy made it all right in their eyes. He
might have come and stood on his
head, provided he paid for his antics.
In the midst of their hurried pTepa-
rations, there appeared at the door an
old, feeble-lOOking, Tghite-haired man,
thinly clad, and his sOiled garments
cIinging to his shrivelled form.
"Will you ba kird enough, good peO-
ple," he said, "tO give me something to
eat. and place to sleep tonight"
"We've got nothing to eat and il
we had, we don't harbOr beggars," re-
piled the master of the hduse- in a
coarse, brutal tone.
"But Pm old and feeble, and~Rery
hungry and tired" said the aged appli-
cant, in a pleading tone, "and if you
drive me away may perish"
Well, that's what you ought to
have done long ago." put in the cross
old dame. When people get too lazy
to work for an honest living, and start
out begging, it's my opinion they're
better dead nor alive. Besides, we ex-
pect company sOOn-a rich gentleman
from India-and aint got room for the
like of you"
dwell, then" said the old man.
with a sorrOwIdI look, since you cant
keep me over night, will you please
to give me something to eat? and III
go further.
The dame brought up a piece Ol
brown bread, with an angry look, and
was about to hand it to the medicant
more for the purpose, as it seemed, O
getting rid of him, than from any feel
/ ing of compassion; but her misery
husband interpOsed, and said, sharply
| al told you we hadn't anything fOl
, you to travel on"
"I, IL set the dog on you if you don't
you old beggar ~ cried a lad of ten
My rich uncle's coming here tonight
and he can't bear beggars, so you haC
/ better be going while your bones arr
whole"
"AIay Heaven be more merciful thar
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, anOth
er of the nephews, and asked for fOOC
and lodging.
at isn't convenient for me to keeI
you tonight" said the master Of thI
house, in a mild, dignified tone. "Be
sides, we don't like to encourage beg
gars. If you are poor and not able t.
work, the parish where you belong
bound to support you. No one neet
starVe in this country which the Lord
praised be His name, has so bOuntilull,
blest. I trust / am not wanting il
charity-as an humble follower of tn
Lord Jesus Christi hope I am not
but what with taxes to support tn
government and the poor, donations t
the benevolent societies and heathel
missions, it is'as much as 1 can do t
live and give my family Tespectabl
maintenance. Now, my friend. if yO
are poor and unable to work, (thOug
1 don't see why you may not as we
" ork as travel, you had better thro0
yourself on the parish where you be
long"
but am tired, wet and hungry,
said the. old man, and all the parish
es in the world can't do me any goo
tonight" d"
But you should have thought {
. that before you left hOme," now chin
ed in the good housewife, with sane
, titled air. IT'S sinful to tempt Prov
dence, as it is called, and whoever sin
must expect Judgment. I never leaV
home without providing for the jou
, ney, and of course I don't expect any
body to feed and shelter me for nOtl
: ing. It is a sin, too, to be idle whe
t one is able to work, and it is again
1tmy principle, as a true Christian,
J, encourage any one in SHINING"
L MtIhan ] sIInnnsa Pm to understaI