Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-08-14

His room-he must be taken some
where; not to the spare bedroom, for
there Mrs. Brown and daughters were
dressing for dinner; nor to ours, for
there the Misses Jones were crimping
their tresses. So perforce l led him to
the bathroom, and there left him to sac
rifce to the graces.
Remarkable bedstead that of yours,
he said, when he returned to us. "Some
new patent, I suppose. Very ricketty,
generally, those new patents. Old-fash-
ioned things much the best-much.
However, curtains all very well-like the
old times. All, everything dreadfully
changed-dreadfully - .-...--
To which we, the guilty parties, an
swered only by bushes. -.-t
That night Uncle Buncle slept upon
our couch, and we sat up in the kitchen.
We bore it very well for while; but
finally, maddened with want of sleep,
Charlie, supporting his aching head,
inquired of me in plaintive tone:
"Why didn't you kick the old brute out,
Hetty 2" .-
"Dont, DEAR" I pleaded; 81 know it
is very uncomfortable; but still, though
he is rough and unpleasant, think of six
thousand pounds !" '-
d" Nonsense !" said Charlie. He'll
outlive us; look at his constitution. A
crusty old curmudgeon, without a civil
word for any one."
"My DEAR" 1 demonstrated, don't
speak 50 loud. OF course we are suffer
ing on these hard chairs, but think of
the beds of down six thousand pounds
will buy Don't be angry. I think I
shall wear the comb while uncle stays. -
"The what 2" asked Charlie.
"The comb he gave me" L said.
"You sha'n't put the hideous thing
ON your head" said Charlie.
"Six thou Il began.
"Six thousand rack and thumb
screws You may enjoy sitting up all
night on kitchen chair for an old fell
low who may, or may not, choose to
leave you something when he dies" said
Charlie 81 don't He asked me not
to smoke this evening, tool'
And never felt so sorry for any one
as did for that poor fellow, with his
hair all tossed about, his eyelids heavy
with sleep, his feet on one chair, and his
head against the side of the mantelpiece
but, in spite of all, resolved that Uncle
Buncle should stay as long as he chose
yes, stay, though we slept in the coal
cellar, or did not sleep at all; for think
of my Joy when, some time in our life
some time when it was, perhaps, most
wanted-I should fly into Charles arms
and say to him: "My dear, you are
worth six thousand pounds; and have
won it for you by never allowing myself
to be put out by Uncle Buncle !"
The next morning [ wore my gigantic
comb. The Misses Jones giggled, and
Miss Brown laughed outright. No mat.
ter; Uncle Buncle's good will was worth
more than anything else. I bore thei1
smiles like a martyr, and only fretted
because, after all, my uncle did not look
perfectly satisfied. On the contrary, al
though he had u habit of scowling, Ihad
never seen him scowl 50 much as he die
that morning. He sneered at the milk,
and scoffed at the butter, o-poohed
the rolls, and described to us, with his
mouth full, breakfasts which he had
eaten elsewhere, which were what break.
fasts ought to be; and, ever and anon
he cast towards my unhappy self q
glance of inexplicable disapproval.
However, he stayed with us through
the week, growing more ill-tempered as
time passed on. I shall never forget
that week-the weary nights during
which we tried to take maps on chairs
or reposed on the kitchen table-the
humiliation and self contempt suffered
when I permitted myself to be scolded
Charlie to be snubbed, and our guests
to be sneered at by Uncle Buncle-the
persistency with which I wore tha
awful comb-the things said I did moi
mean-the manner in which I abase6
myself, slaved myself, and suppressed
myself. I shut up the house at nine tx
please Uncle Buncle. 1 locked up thu
piano for. the samo reason. [ did it all
not for love of him or respect for him
but because of his six thousand pounds.
Dear Charlie, who worked so hard
and was so kind to me, aud so tender tx
me, might some day have reason to re
ioice that he had married poor little me
At last, one evening, Uncle Buncl,
said, as he took his bedroom candle
"Shall go to town tomorrow. Air her
don't agree with me )" and vanished
without 50 much as anod.
"Charlie," I said, as accommodates
myself to circumstances on the kitchel
dresser, with my waterproof cloal
around me, and the rag bag under m,
head ; "try to bear up this one nigh
longer. After all, it is worth it.
" Mark my Words" said Charlie
from the window sill, with his big over
coat for a pillow" mark my words
Hetty you'll never get anything bu
rudeness from the old fellow"
"And mark my words, Charlie"
said this will happen. After we'v
struggled on, perhaps to middle age
and begin to feel as though we shoul
always be poor. one dav-you know he