Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-09-29
SELECTED STORY
UNCLE PAUL'S WITHIN.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

BY AMY RANDOLPH.
"They ,cou1d get married." said Uncle
Paul grimly. "It isn't my fault that their
husbands are dead, and they're left with
families to bring up. I advised 'em to stay
single"
'But it would be your fault" said the
mild clergyman, IF they starved or suffer-
ed" .se
81 don't see why"
because you have plenty Of this worlds
goods, and they are poor because you have
but yourself to support, and they have lit
tie ones dependent on them. a..
"Oh, fudge !" said Uncle Paul. II
don't keep poor. house, and I'm sure I
pay sufficient taxes to all the institutions to
free me from any extra demands. I told
both Of 'em how it would be !; but Hester
always was q self.willed creature, and Lett
tia had quiet fashion of insisting upon her
own ways which was quite as bad in the
long run" r. - -i=a
Every WE'LL" said the City Missionary.
Il can't pretend to argue with you upon the
subject. I only state facts, and leave the
rest to your own conscience. ss bulls
So he went his way. leaving Uncle Paul
Sheffield alone in the dingy, seven-by-nine
little room that he called his Office. I
II told 'em how it would be-" repeated
Uncle Paul mentally, when he was by him
self. II was willing to keep them and do
for them as long as they were contented 70
stay. But nobody can expect me to shout
der their whole families now. They've
made their bed let 'em lie on it, tsst
He resolutely took up his pen and recon-
menced writing entries in tue fat old ledger
which lay on the desk; but for all that, the
rosebud faces of his nieces. Hetty and Let
ty, as they used to look, fitting around his
big armchair, aoould continue to haunt him.
"Pshawv' said Uncle Paul, at last, as be
dropped his pen, making great apoplectic
ink blot on the middle of the page. 81
wish that meddling minister chap would
have been obliging enough to mind his own
business. I suppose I must do something
for one of 'em at least but which shall it
be? Hetty used to have the prettiesf face
and the most coaxing voice, but then Lefty
had still, velvet footed way Of always do
ing just what you wanted, before YOU fairly
knew it yourself. Hetty sang like lark
all the old-fashioDed songs liked best to
hear, but Lefty would play backgammon
BY the hour, and never get tired Of the rat
tie of the old mans dice-box. Well, we'll,
it's hard to make choice"
A week had elapsed, and Letitia Carver
sat alone by the desolate hearth-stone sew
ing, her little ones &C school the fire SUBJ
dued to the fewest Jumps Of coal consistent
with caloric life, when the door opened, and
her cousin, the other young widow, entered,
also in deep black
| Isn't it shame !" cried Mrs. Hewitt
Indignantly. "Of course you received a
bundle too p
II don't think quite understand what
you mean, Hetty," said Mrs. Carver.
"Mean I mean that Uncle Paul Shelf
field is the stingiest. most parsimonious old
miser in existence. To dare to send bun
die Of old clothes to my door, as if I were a
common beggar, with an insulting note
stating that as he had understood had two
boys, might very easily cut the garments
over into something useful. ] declare to
you Lefty, I was SO angry that l cried =
"Angry! What for 2 am sure the
clothes are very nice. only little old-fash.
toned, and can get quite good suit out
of them for each of my little men Paul and
Robbie are both small, and" s9a7
"Letty Carver" cried her cousin wrath
fully, you have no more spirit than wood.
en- image!" ID s4 sa +.
Lefty smiled and shook her head mourn
fully;
hear my little ones crying with cold and
hunger
s'Pshaw !" said Hetty imperiopsly. 81
am not yet reduced to be the recipient oil
such charity as that, from man like I'm
. Gle Paul, who rolls in gold"
ut is his own money, Hetty, and he has
right to do with it as be pleases. When
We both of us married against his wishes,
we both taoitly abandoned all claim to bis
wealth" :.
II don't agree with you there" said
Mrs. Hewitt. haughtily tossing her bead
"And you've actually begun. to rip up the
, odious old butternut-colored things !!
sSee," said Hetty, holding up the section
of a vell-worn waistcoat, with faint smile
II am diligently at work at it now"
II sold mine to rag.man for pair o.
china vases" said Mrs. Hewitt indifferent
ly. "Horrid tawdry things they were, on
ly fit for the children to play with and
break, but still better than, nothing at all
What's that you are taking out Of the pock:'
ct :" she added, with quick start. "a
ten.dollar bill p %
! Mrs. Carver unfolded at the same mo.
ment tiny slip Of crumpled paper, tuck
cd far down into one Of the pockets. It az
, tually was. as her cousin had said, tep
It dollar bill.
'.You are in luck" cried Hetty. q
wish had thought to look into the pocket
;. Of mine before I let the rag-man have them
!. but it isn't at all likely that the old skintin
would make more than one mistake OF tn
kind. What shall you do with it, Lefty Z
d EDO with it p repeated Mrs. Carver
opening her mild eyes in surprise. 4"