Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-01-06
Gamblers Centennial Cousins

camille Library one Monday afternoon,
looking terribly downcast and detected.
He held book in his hand, but on look
ing over his shoulder discovered that it
was upside down, although he was gaz-
ing intently at its pages.
"My dear fellow" said I, "what is
the matter? You look as if you had
the blues.N
81 have got 'em, Jinks," said he,
looking up and recognizing me, "I've
got cm bad"
"Why, old fellow, what has happen
ed? Sickness or death in the family
Anything of that nature ?"
"No," said he, nothing so bad MS
that. But 1 have been suffering all
summer from an overdose of Centennial
visitors"
"Ah," said I, 81 hear the same COM
plant from good many OF my friends. "
eyes, JilISs,' said Gandler, II sup
pose it would be hard to find resident
family in this city who have not been
troubled with their friends from the
country recently. Ny trouble begun as
far back as last May. Bless your soul,
it is not my relations, but my wife's.
Her people all live in the country, and
as sure as anything important turns up
in the city, have the whole crew spong-
ing on me down to the forty-second
cousin.
"Why don't you insult them ?" said
|. "Darn my buttons, if was mar
ried man, if l would have any relations
living off me-"
GLOW am going to help it % he in
qlired, piteously. "My wife don't want
them any more than do, b1t she hates
to give them the cold sholllder-in fact,
it would take a very broad hint before
we could affront some of them"
"Why don't they go to hotel o. [
asked.
"You don't catch people from the
country going to hotel, when they
have friends OF relatives in town. Why,
l have known cases where they will
plant themselves down on families, where
they can claim no relationship what
ever. For instance, our first visitor after
the opening of the Centennial was an
uncle of my wife's sister by marriage
OF course, he was no relation to me.
But he came from Colorado, with big
trunk and a valise, and, without asking
leave, planted himself down on lis for
six weeks, and never offered to pay one
cent of board I tell you, Jinks, it is
expensive, when you have another mouth
thrust upon you to feed, and that
mouth the property of hearty, full
grown farmer, with an appetite like a
bear. Why, that fellow every week
consumed at least ten dollars worth of
extra food, to say nothing of the trouble
he caused"
81 have no doubt of it," said I.
cit comes particularly hard ON poor
fellow like me, who has to depend on a
meager salary. If was rich, wouldn't
mind it, but even then, the trouble it
gives the women folks is unpleasant
besides, some people don't care about
having a comparative stranger about the
house."
"Well, how did you make out with
your other relatives
'Oh, they came pouring in upon me.
Before the old sponger from Colorado
had gone, another delegation from Ohio
arrived. This last party was another
uncle of my wife's, and his family. This
uncle was preacher. Why, when he
found we hadn't room to accommodate
him, and his family of eight, he insisted
on staying, saying he didn't wish to ex-
pose his little flock to the temptations of
a hotel. He could sleep anywhere, he
said, SO his wife and children were pro-
vided for. The upshot of the matter
was, I was turned out of my bed for
three weeks, and had to sleep down in
the parlor on the sofa, while the preach
er occupied my bed, and my wife had to
turn in the best she could with his chill
lren. So much for entertaining country
81 suppose such hospitality is very
?" said I.
"Well, I'll tell you, Jinks," Gambler
replied. cat the beginning of this in
'ernal Centennial, 1 had three hundred
lollars salted down in bank. I not only
nad to draw it all out, but, out of my
salary of twenty-five dollars a week, 1
nave not been able to save one cent.
Why, one of our guests actually borrow
ID five dollars from me during his stay,
md never paid it back. If I went out
.iding with them in the street cars, 1
lad their fares to pay. They would sit
trimming at the conductor, with their