Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-29

The fire was made, and the nephew
took small hand-lamp to light Uncle
Able to his chamber.
~ should prefer this" said the latter,
taking larger one from the shelf near
him, IF you have no objections. 1t holds
more oil, | see, and sometimes, when |
am restless and can't sleep, read to in
duce drowsiness. 1t won't incommode
you very much, hope?"
Seth said, "No, indeedr' and Susan,
+" Not in the least!" but mentally their
replies We're different. Uncle Abel and
the largest lamp went up stairs; husband
and wife closed the doors for a connu-
bal conference.
"Well!" said the niece.
"What do you think?" said the
nephew.
can assuming old foxi" she exclaimed
"a COMPOUNDED borep' he calculated.
"An extra fire, Seth!'
ga lamp to read by. Susanm
Meat for dinnerw
sand coffee for breakfastP'
"Will he stay long, do you think9"
1.-Two or three months, judging from
the size and weight OF his trunk"
"a pretty bill of expense, truly! And
not dollar to pay his board!''
"Fuel and light, and what he'll eat and
drink will put US back whole year in
our calculations. This comes Of having
relations! I wish I hadn't one in the
world! And to think he's nothing but a
great uncle!'
| This interesting conversation was pro-
longed some time; but enough has been
given show the feelings of Mr.. and
Mrs, GROWER in regard to Uncle Abel.
Morning did not mend the measures OF
the couple, yet the worthy old gentleman
was urbane and smiling. seeming not to
notice the frigid atmosphere that pre-
vailed. He tried in vain to make the &C
quaintance of the children, but parental
oversight prevented the object in view
1t was recolected that they, with Ger.
tain class designated as ''fools," were
said TO ''tell the truth" and that, in this
instance, was not to be spoken.
| Uncle Abel's sight was impaired, bu
he was not so blind that he could not de-
tect dissatisfaction, though in a measure
cloaked. His tarry was short at thu
Grower mansion; in week he tool
leave of his nephew and niece, to thei
unbounded satisfaction.
ave have done WE'LL" they said, "tC
get rid of him so easily. He might haY'
staid month"
And Uncle Abel was forgotten in the
great struggle to make fortune.
One year afterward, they heard of hi
decease by means of the following sig
nifcant letter, which was found anon.
his private papers, and forwarded to then
after his death;
"Nephesc and Niece When a childles
old man crosses your threshold, yearnin!
for love and sympathy, and that car
!; which youth should voluntarily accorC
to old age, treat him not coldly, begrudg
him not the food he eats, the ire tina
warns him, nor the light that enable
him to beguile lonely midnight hour
And moreover do not forget the hole i
the floor. That this advice may benef
, you, is the wish of your
"UNCLE ABEL"
''The hole in the floor" What cid
mean9 Light slowly began to creep int
the bewildered brains of Mr.. and Mr.
: GROWER, revealing a startling truth i
: every line of the singular epistle befor
them. They looked at each other i
(. blank dismay in the consciousness ths
: their hypocrisy and littleness had bee
exposed. A place had been cut in tn
floor tor the admission of pipe from tn
stove in the room below. Being early
} the season, this pipe had not been adjus
ed for the winter, and the space was cor
sequently open.
Uncle Abel occupied that chamber an
D had no difficulty in overhearing ever
e word that had been uttered beneath hir
e by Seth and Mrs. Ssuan. The hole i
] the floor had betrayed them. How III
e fortunate they should have forgotten il
The secret of his short visit was under
: stood. B rth were much discompose
that their petty meanness had bee
: brought to light, but were consoled b
$ rejecting that nothing antagonistic I
a their intereat would come of it.
d But ali! great many improbab
7 things transpire in this world. WI
a would have imagined that Uncle Alb
e was worth his thousands? Who woul
) suppose that he was in possession of
n fortune, called by the initiated lind
IS pendent" The assuming old fox' ha
it shown his cunning. Seth ard Susan ha
3, overreached themselves. In striving
e save penny they had lost great mar
# pounds. They we're Uncle Abel's on
e surviving relatives, and he had intende
= making them his heirs.
t. But alas the hole in the floor he hs
e willed his money to charitable instit
ton, bequeathing them only the know
4, edge of their parsimony and self-abas
9 ment. Irretrievable mistake-irrep
Ii ably error! The important object of the
l. lives defeated by hole in the floor, VIII
IS ust upon the verge of realization.
a THE CHAMPION ELOPER.