The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-04-25
CHAPTER xXxv.
tsUNcLE BRAwIEY's rrcAcv -


"When I robbed the mail-eoach on Houns-
low Heath, Billy, | made the worst mis-
takea Lunnun highwayman ever did make;
Tor ior nad SAID good-by to London lasses and
Jolly good fellows all, at the Nays Head
back OF Old Drury, two nights afore. and
We acted the pink of fpropriety- like lords
and ladies, at that blowout, Billy; because
dye see, | was off for America. to come into
large fortune, and be a lord mvself. of
course, in that Outlandish country, with
money to make me as good as the king
himself, you know
- But | had such a jolly nag under me.
blood mare, out of Godolphin dam, yeu
see, and that with bottle of canary I had.
the Old Scratch was in my blood, to ride up.
with my pistol, to the mail coach window,
Just as the sun was going down, and town
clock striking. Jarvey, the guard. saw me
alone, and fred his blunder-buss, but not a
scratch got / but Jaryey did-for /
stretched him out, and there was nothing to
do but keep my eye on the coachee, and be
polite, like gentleman, to the nobs inside.
And there's where | made nv mistake.
Billy; for politeness makes talk. and there
was blessed pair Of black eyes, and soft
voice, saying; ''Oh, sir, you look like a
generous gentleman, and if you'll permit
me to retain keepsake or so = So, like a
greenhOrn, l waited for her ladvship to
tumble about, and began to hum tune
from the "Beggars' Opera y to show my
brcedingg-and that brought me to the al
lows, Billy.
''To make long story short. while I was
waiting, ii couple Of horses came post out of
Hounslowe, and before could clap spurs to
my blood mare, that sly devil Jarvey, the
guard, was on his two pins again, blowing
tantiyy-ta ON his coaeh-horn. | made speed
on Lunnun Road, but twas daylight, you
know, and pistol shots fly quicker than
horse-hesh. My nag fell under me, with a
bone in nay leg broke under ber, and that
Jagged your Uncle Brawley, my lad
II III to die Friday next, and I'll die game,
like all our family, leastwise ali | ever
heard tell about in sound of Bow Bells, YOUR
poor Uncle Brawley will never hear again.
You've been brought up well. Billy, and
leave you my legacy, and, if that slips
through your fingers, lad, your poor Uncle
Brawley can only leave you his blessing,
and this 'ere parting advice Never be
polite to insides, until you've settled with
outsides, Billy
''Now, William, I'm to be scragged, but
you have long ride, if so be you keeps
your nag under you, lad. Moneys your
best nag, William and money was what
my grandfather left behind him in America,
when he came back to Old England, with-
out leg to stand on, and died in the pour
house, Stepney Parish, with my father,
young 'un, his only heir; and I'm my
fathers heir, Billy, as went off to Bombay,
gentlenan's tiger, and got scragged out
there, for mistake he made in robbing an
English nabob instead of a Hindoo rajah.
was his son, they said, though | never laid
eyes on blessed woman to call mother,
you know ; and when father was going to i
the cart, he gave me letter of her daddy's j
to read for | was a big chunk of lad,
= baH
| never made show of such, in Seven
Dials and st. Giles, when | knocked about
till / got to be gentleman of the highway,
you see.
William, your poor Uncle gives you his
solemn word, that book-learning never
made cove honest, if so be he had a will +
to be free and easy about property, you |
know. I'm to die at Tyburn hill, but if ID 5
got away TO America, with my grand-daddy's
letter, I'd be cock O. the waIk-but that's
neither here nor there, now, Billy. Grand
daddy's letter is my legacy to you, and
you'll know by it where there 3 gold, and
Jewels, diamonds, and pearls, enough to buy I
your way to be Lord Mayor of London,
like Wilmington and his. cat, my lad.
rand-daddy was an American gentleman a /
before the American war, and
his master had such confidence in grand
daddy, he trusted him with all the family +
Jewels, and grand-laddy buried them under
IN old stable, till the war would be done
with, and then grand-daddy went into service
with an officer of our side, and they shot
away his two legs with chain-shot, in a
hip he was in; 50 grand-daddy never got
MS buried treasures no more, but died In &
Stepney poor-house, you know. But the
measures are all there yet, lad, under the
prick stable, for it's never come down, from
that day to this, as I've word from America.
Success to you, lad, and when you come
into your fortune, remember your Uncle
Brawley. And be sure to meet me at the
halfway house, and we'n drain a noggin
togethxr. Friday, Billy, for luck, as tie
saying is. Goodbye, William: no more at
present, from your affectionate uncle,
WILLIAM BRAwLEY.o
At the close Of this precious document,
was postscript. Ii was in smaller hand
writing, resembling the memoranda, on that
scrap of kid leather Frank had found in the
garden, after his encounter with the burg
ar; and it read as follows
aCHnAP SIDE. birmingham, warwickshire, Eng.
and. - got back to Liverpool after seven
Iessh - IF Ia followed lis advice. and kept my
lands out Of pockets, I'd be q rich gentleman to-
lay. instead Of tcket-ofleave man.. Now must
70 70 London. and sczape up enough 20 take me
waiting seven years longer, TO earn money BY hard
Fork or 60 back 20 the old cribs and see il Char
otte is alive still. and will 20 to il. Better be
anged Ike Uncle H7IasWley than ce y pooE-honss
or whoever comes In tor Uncle BlawlsS's legacy
wr1L1AM DoHsoN.
* hig mAEk4r