The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-04-18
From Glrsuaass Home Cir lp
TIfE MEAN MAN.

From Glessoo's Home cirslo.
rHE MEAN NAV.
II was iudisputably certain that Gile
Myrick was mean man. The fact wa
patent all over Ilighwood It had posse
into proycrb-As mean as tGilcs Ms
rick.
But Giles came honestly by his prucliy
ty for mcanness Ills mother was higl
Is celebrated for the same quality reo
pie said She skinned her milk on the tol
and then turned il over and skinned th
bottom; that she skinned, likewise, th
water in which The milk pans were wash
ed; and made the children 90 bareloo
cold winter evenings, for fear they woul,
wear their stockings outl
Any casual observer would have known
that Giles was mean--only by looking a
him. The very cut Of his clothes indicat
ed it. They were always as tight as hi
skin, to save cloth; and his coat was usu
ally buttoned up TO conceal the absenc,
OF vest Some evil minded person.
went so far as to say that Giles went with
ont a shirt, and that his collar was thC
only linen article he allowed about hi,
/ person.
+ GILES was good-looking, and might
z
have been somebody, if he had not been
so mean that he couldn't afford it. Oi
course all the girls avoided him. IT is a
current belief that women like best those
men who load them with presents, but
it's our belief that they like best those
men who have the. best principles
whether they are in the habit ofpatronia.
ing jewellers, and bon-bon manufacturers
or not, A true woman always shrinks
from coming in contact with meanness
and cowardice; and the two attributes
commonly go together.
1t was severe trial to Giles to be
obliged to buy anything. Not because he
lacked the money, but because he so hated
to part with it. He had been known TO
stand for half day in store, trying to
get reduction Of three cents on half
dollar straw hat. He made his own
boots, lest the shoemaker might take adj
vantage Of him, and his mother knit his
Sunday gloves, because gloves cost so
much! lie never eat anything sweet, un-
less he was away from home, and drank
no tea nor coffee; they all cost the money
And besides, he always borrowed a
newspaper which is about as conclusive
a proof of his meanness as can be offered.
AT twenty-threc the usual fate of hui
manity befel our hero. Kitty More came
to llighwood TO teach school, and Giles
fell IN love with her. Kitty was pretty,
mischevious, and coquettish, and man
aged SO WELL that at their second meeting
he was ready to worship her, in bis own
mean way.
lie had vague idea that it was custo-
mary for lovers to make their mistresses
presents; but what would be proper he
was at loss to conceive. He thought of
taking bis white crecpcr hen over to Kitty
but then the bird was setting on twelve
eggs, and would probably hatch ten
chickens at least; and they would bring
five dollars in the fall. That would never
do! Such extravagances would ruin the
whole Myrick family Then he thought I
Of string Of onions; link Of sausages
a pair Of old pantaloons TO make a rug Of; !
a piece of spotted cheese; some new po-
iatoes; but nothing seemed 70 be Just
what he wanted
So he asked Sam Smith what he gave
bis girl Sam said the last thing was a
Siss-the last but one, belt ribbon.
Giles thought it over, aud made up his
mind to a belt ribbon. He thought he /
,oud afford to spend about aninepence, I
when he went to Dover TO sell his wheat;
md if be could get one for that--why il .
was as good az purchased! lie laid awake
lalf the night before bis journey, thinking
lbout the expense he was going to incur;
ind the next morning he was so excited
md red in the face, that lis mother iu-
listed on bis drinking some peppermint
ca TO calm his nerves before he started.
He sold III. wheat FOR sevcnty-fiyc dol
ars tied Biz horses up 10 tree, and
ave them the battling of has be had
,rought from home; aud then turned NJ.
teps toward a miliuer. shop. lie went
a feeling very maguanimou., and finger
ug the ten cent piece be was 80 soon 70
c rid Of liz request 10 look az some
'et ribbons was speedily complied With
nd the counter was slrewu with the
listening moire aafiqac.
lie selected gorgeous affair of rod aud
ellow, with spots Of green, aud ordered (
lree-quarters Of yard cat Oh, aud
trapped up Il was done
What be the price of that gimeracks
c inquired, pulliug out biz wallet.
Fiiiy cents a1d cheap II chat, replied
be GLIB longned milliuer
Fity cents. zouniers cried Giles dap ,
log he hands on bis lnees, why Il alat !
.orth a sixpsuce' KeteA re giving Gny 3
anis for Ii