The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-16
UNCLE PAUL's WHTM.

mild clergyman, if they starved or suffer-
ed.'
4 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 upon Them
oh, fudgeD said Uncle Paul, Il don't
keep a poor house, and Pm sure pay
sufficient taxes and contribute to charitable
institutions enough to free me from any
extra demands. told both of them how
it would be but Hester was always self
willed creature, and Letitia had quiet
fashion of insisting upon having her own
way, which was quite as bad in the long
rum sr...
Very we'll, said the clergyman, Il can't
pretend to argue with you upon the subject.
| only state facts, and leave the rest to
your own Conscience
Saying which he went his way.
Uncle Paul took up his pen and recon-
menced writing entries in the fat old ledger
which lay on the desk but, for all that,
the rose bud faces of his nieces, Hetty and
Lefty, as they used to look fitting around
his big arm chair, would continue to haunt
him.
'Pshew = he exclaimed, at last, as be
dropped his pen, making a great apoplectic
ink blot on the middle of the page. Il wish
that meddling minister had been oblging
enough to mind his own business. | suppose
| must do something for one Of them at
least, but which shall it be? Hetty used
to have the prettier face and the more coax
ing voice, bet then Lefty had still, velvet
footed way of always doing just what you
wanted before you fairly knew it yourself.
iIetty sang like laik all the old fashioned
songs | liked best to hear, but Lefty would
play backgammon by the hour, and never
tired of the rattle Of the old mans dice
box. Well, well, it's hard to make a
CHOICE
A week elapsed, and Letitia Carver sat
alone by the desolate hearth stone sewing,
her little ones at school, the fire subdued
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
bundle too
4 don't think quite understand what
you mean, Hetty,' said Mrs. Carver.
Mean? | mean that Uncle Paul Shelf
field is the stingiest, most parsimonious
old miser in existence. To dare to send
bundle of old clothes to my door, as if |
were a common beggar, with an insulting
note, stating that, as he had understood
had two boys, might very easily cut the
garments up into something useful. | de-
clare to you, Lefty, | was so angry that |
cried y
Angry? What for? | am sure the
clothes are very nice, only q little old fash
Toned, and can get quite new suit out of
them for each of my little men. Paul and
Robbie are both small, and
Lefty Caryer!' cried her cousin wrath
fully, you have no more spirit than
wooden image!'
Lefty smiled and shook her head mourn
fully. ..... --...
Il cannot sit tamely by, Hester, and hear
my little ones crying with cold and hun
ger!
'Pshaw = said Hetty, imperiously. Il
am not yet reduced to be the recipient of
such charity as that, from man like I'M
Gle Paul, who rolls in gold
1T is his own money, Hetty, and he has
right to do with it as he pleases. When
you and married against his wishes we
both tacitly abandoned all claim to his
wealth.
4 don't agree with you there said Mrs.
Hewitt, haughtily tossing up her head.
You've actually begun to rip up the odi-
Gus old things
'See,' said Lefty, holding up the section
of well word waiscoat, with faint smile
Il am diligently at work at itnow.!
Il sold mine to a rag man for a pair Of
china vases said Mrs. Hewitt, indifferent
ly. 'Horrid, tawdry things they We're;
only 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
pocket! she added. with quick start.
"A ten pound note"
Mrs. Carver unfolded at the same mo-
ment tiny slip of erumpled paper tucked
far down into one Of the pockets. 1t act
ually was, as her cousin had said, ten
pound note.
sYour are in luck p cried Hetty, wish
had thought to look into the pockets of
mine before / let the rag man have them
but it isn't at all likely that the old skim
flint would make more than one mistake
of the kind. What shall you do with it
Lefty p
30 with it?' repeated Mrs. Carver,
opening her mild eyes with surprise. 1
shall take it to Uncle Paul at once. 1t is
as you yourself say, mistake
'But he has given you the suit.
He never intended to give me the money,
Hester, and have no right to appropriate
it, Lefty answered.
Mrs. Hewitt drew long breath of con-
temptuous Amusement.
Lefty Carver, you are too absurdly
Quxotic for anything. You don't deserve
good luck if you fling it about after this
fashion,
Il certainly should not deserve good luck
if / acted dishonesty in even SO small a
matter as this
Il don't call ten pounds small sum to
YOU, whatever it may be to Uncle Paul.
Take my advice, Letty-keep the money
and hold your tongue. You need it, and
he doesn't, and he never will be bit the
wiser. What are you tying on your bon
net for?
Il am going to Uncle Paul. was the
quiet reply, as Mrs. Carver folded a faded
black cashmere shawl across her slender
shoulders.
'You are determined"
yes
r,o.. ,,,;EI, cold HattN