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

game-too dumb TO take ont their money,
until l had to pay, or else have the atten'
ton of the whole car attracted toward
u.s."
"But, now that the Centennial is
ever, suppose your friends will desert
you. The rush was only during the
great show"
81 don't know about that" said he,
sit don't look so. At any rate we had q
fresh arrival this afternoon. 1t was only
last Saturday that got rid of my wife's
aunt from Wisconsin, who had been
staying with us eight weeks. was be-
ginning to feel happy, and looking for
ward with some degree Of certainty Of
getting myself suit of winter clothing,
when on going home to my dinner ta,
day, who should find seated ut the table
but my wife's cousin Jake, from New
Jersey, with his wife and four children,
and what was worse, another young man,
n friend of Jakes, whom the latter had
invited to stop at our house. If l had had
the courage, would have ordered the
whole party out of the house, but my
wife wouldn't consent. | tell you I'm
disheartened. ] no sooner get hold of
my salary than it is all soon spent. /
had not the heart this afternoon to 60 to
work. The way things are going, see
nothing but ruin before me-"
l told him he must be more of man,
and not allow people to impose on him
so.
"Never mind what your wife says" "
said I, "you are the bread winner and
the master Of the house. If she is de-
termined to entertain her relations to
the ruin of yourself, you are no man if
you don't shut down on it. 1t is duty
you owe to your children. 1t don't al
ways do to be submissive and polite. A
few blunt, determined words often do
better. How do you suppose men like
Stewart and Vanderbilt would ever have
accumulated their money, if, in the
start, they had not had the courage to
say no when necessity demanded that
monosyllable L tell you, GAMBLER, l
sometimes come to the conclusion that
men get along better without politeness
than with it, and are respected as
much"
GAMBLER thought my points were well
taken, but saw he had not the courage
to carry nv advice into effect.
He rose soon afterward to go home.
AS he was about leaving, he asked me if
wouldn't go up to the house and have
tea with him.
"No, no, my dear boy" said I, "you
have mouths enough to feed without
mine. Besides, L am paying thirty dol
lars week board at the Continental
Hotel, and I make it point never to lose
a meal, SO the hotel proprietors won't get
the best of me-"
"But, Jinks, can't you make an ex-
ception ?" he pleaded. 81 would really
like you to go to the house with me, just
to see my country cousins. 1t would do
you good to see how they behave, and
the way l am annoyed. Do come While
I am spending money, l may as well
give my own friends the benefit of the
entertainments.
After coaxing me awhile, I consented
to go, on one condition, that he would
consentt to do whatever desired.
"Just do as I tell you, old boy" said I,
"and l think l can rid you of your Cen
tennial cousins for awhile"
He promised to obey me religiously.
When we reached tho house, he let
us in with his nightkey. On entering
the parlor there We're the Centennial
guests, sure enough. Seven of them,
two men, one woman, and four children.
I was introduced to the family. Their
name was Cummings, and the name of
the young man who accompanied them
was Smith. I learned, after some con
versation, that he was their hired man.
"You have come rather late to see the
big show, said l. opening the conversa-
ton; you should have come month
ago."
Il should liked to have come sooner"
said the farmer, "but we couldn't get
our work done in time. However, l
guess 1 can spend four weeks to alvan-
tage in Philadelphia, looking at the
sights"
Here Gambler sighed, but said moth
ing.
"Have you farm up i'll the country ?"
1 asked.
"Oh, yes," said he, ga farm of 1872
acres. They say I have the finest farm
within five miles of Frenchtown, New
Jersey. 1 have six horses, and over thirty
head of cattle. L value the entire farm
at over $4,000"
"That is comfortable property to
own, said 1. 81 suppose your farm is
quite pleasant in summer?
cit is a perfect paradise" said he,
rubbing his hands with evident self-sat-
isfaction.
Farmer" said I, "I think Gambler,
his family and myself will come up and
pay you visit next summer. We have
been looking for some time for friend
with farm, where we could spend the
hot months
The old fellows countenance changed
He shifted nervously on
his chair, assumed forced smile and
seemed completely taken aback.
"We'd be happy to have you, Mr..
Jinks, sad he, "but you see we have
no accom- odations. We have only two
bedrooms furnished in the house. Tom
Smith, here, our hired man, and our boys
occupy one room, and we have the
other"
81 am not particular where I Sleep"
said 1. "Anything is good enough for
me-. 1 can make myself comfortable for
six weeks in the barn, 1 guess"
:" I allow nobody to sleep in the barn."
said the farmer. "I am afraid of setting