The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-03-09
ODD UNCLE GREGORY.

Mr.. Burton returned home from his
store one evening and told his wife
Bessie quite an exciting piece of news.
lie had received a message from an
uncle whom he had not seen for twenty
ears, and said uncle was about to
pay him a visit.
"And he's rich as Jew-a perfect
nabob, l hear" continued Mr.. Z, with
not a relative i'm the world except my
brother Rob and myself but he is aw-
fully eccentric-the oldest of mortals
If we don't happen to suit him me will
leave all his money to some asylum or
other"
"Dont mention such thing criei
Bessie, "why OF course we shall please
him, and then our fortune will be
made. When does he arrive 2"
"NeXt week: and as we live so near
the depot, he Will probably COM here
before going TO Roberts. l remem
Der seeing him when | was little boy.
aud he looked as if just taken from a
bandbox, SO perfectly neat. Neatness
is his hobby, they say
'sOh, deari then L must give the
house a thorough cleaning. 1t is rath-
er early for such work, but if your par
agon of all uncle is coming, l will be-
gin at once," said Mrs. Burton. "You
may call Oh your way to the store to-
morrow and tell Pat and Biddy Malone
to come Immediately. There is no
time to lose, you know"
"Don't get excited, Bessie" said her
husband, sit will be all right l dare
saw"
If Mrs. Durton's experience and wis
dom had been equal to her energy, she
would have made capital housekeep-
r, but she was young and had never
had an opportunity to learn much
about domestic affairs.
Doing work in systematic manner
she lid not understand; so when Pat
and Biddy appeared, she told them
that she wanted to clean house and
must be very thorough, and the first
thing to be done was to get every
thing out of the rooms. so that there
might be deluge OF soap and water.
The two assistants obeyed orders
promptly, and when at noon Mr.. Bur-
ton returned he found Patrick white
washing vigorously, and Biddy clean
ing windows, while Mrs. Burton ran
from room to room taking down pic
lures, curtains, and ornaments, and
huddling them away. Stoves were
out in the shed, carpets and feather
beds i'm the yard, the piazza crowded
with furniture, and all was a scene of
confusion. No dinner was to be seen,
and Mr.. Il. was about to hasten to a
restaurant, when he thought of some
very valuable papers which he had
carelessly left upon his desk.
Hurrying up stairs, to his dismay,
the room was empty. Desk and pa
pers gone. Bessie could not tell him
what had become of them, ard he flew
to Biddy.
"And sure, sur" she said, eff ye
name the rubbish lying about, 1 jist
crammcd it in the rag bag.
"My precious papers!' he cried
aghast, "but perhaps can rescue them
Quick tell me where you put the bag.
"Och, bad luck" moaned Bidds
sits OH the way TO the paper mill the.
Z are I'm afeard, for the mistress sol,
\ the rags To tin peddler this blessed
!. mornin."
u Mr.. Barton rushed iran,icany from
Is the house.
(Which way did he go? Have yo'
: seen him? The tin-peddler. find him
oyeriake him-help 7nc.'' he cried il
an exc tied tone.
elias he stolen anything 2 asked ;h
passers.by, and "stop thief" scrcame'
a crowd OF idle boys, rushing dow
the street, followed by Mir. Burton
y who created fresh excitement at ever
- step.
81 Meanwhile, Mrs. B. and her assist
r. ants were endeavOring to restore Orde
in the chaos about them. when I'll
door bell was loudly rung.
At first no attention was paid 10 th
summons, but when it was repeate
again and again, Biddy went to sc
what was wanted, and soon returned
saying that an old man with satch
wanted to see Mrs. Il.
:. "Scnd him off," said the lady, in a
excited tone.
It. 'Indade, man, but he Won't go" +,
piled Biddy, "an' sure | tould him tn