The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-22
Uncle Nahum's Wedding.

Uncle Nahum's Wedding.
Uncle Nahum NixYn was reading the
paper in his back parlOr.
Nobody would think to look at the
simple surroundings of the unpretentious
apartment, that Mr.. Nahum Nixon was
one of the wealthiest men in town. The
carpet it was true, was Administer, but it
had seen twenty good years of service,
and was worn down to the very warp; the
faded red curtains were of moreen. instead
OF satin damask !; and the old clock on the
mantle was no Partisan affair of alabaste1
and gilt, but substantial Connecticut
tlmepiece, that struck with wire, like
partridge springing out of her nest; the
chairs of old fashioned mahogany and
hair-cloth, stood bolt upright against the
wall the portraits OF "General Washing.
ton on Horseback and the "Surrende,
OF Cornwallis' ornamented the gray-p pa
pered walls in frames OF somber gilt, and
the one elegance of the apartment was q
basket OF preposterous wax fruit, under a
cracked glass shade. ..,5 .......
But Uncle Nahum Nixon had remem.
bered that furniture ever since he was q
child, and he wouldn't have exchanged il
Tor the fittings of Partisan boudoir. O,
the choicest specimens of the modern
Eastlake school. He was rich man
that was quite enough for him.
'lf you pleasd, Mr.. Nixon" said the
trim little maid-servant, "Mr. Marina
duke Bourne wants to see vou--if vor
please, sir, If you're quite at LEISURE
"Mr. Marmaduke Bourne, eh9" The
old gentleman took off his spectacles
and laid them upon the folded newspa
per. "Ask him to come in, Polly"
"And Mr.. Marmaduke Bourne came il
"a tail, tresh-colored young fellow, will
sparkling gray eyes, brown hair, all in {
mat OF curls, and straight Greek nose
that seemed as if it might have beer
borrowed from some ancient statue O
Apollo. =.
"Well, sir2'' said Mr.. Nixon. -~.
"Well, sir" counter-interrogated MI
Bourne, "did you get my letter."
IL got your letter?' said uncle Ma
hum. $50 you want to want to mar,
my niece, Faith2' ~
"fes, sir" valiantly acknowledged Mr.
Marmaduke Bourne.
"AhP' nodded uncle Nahum. "Bu
perhaps you don't understand all tn,
facts in the case2'
"The facts, sir2"
.! want my niece to marry Colone
Ashland's son" slowly enunciated uncle
Nahum.
"But, sir, che doesn't love him.
"Pshaw!" snarled uncle Nahum Nix
on. "And if she don't marry him shell
be a beggar-11l give her no money o.
mine. Now you understand matters
Marry her or not, as you please"
de took up the newspaper once more
"a taclt intimatlon that the interview
was at an end.
"Slr-" began Marmaduke Bourne.
"That'll do" said Mr.. Nixon.
II onlv wish to-
"That'll dol" Numbered Mr.. Nixon
and so Marmaduke Bourne went awav.
Little Faith Nixon came down stairs
Presently-a blue-eyed blossom of girl
with yellow hair growing low upon he1
forehead ana very little mouth, exactly
the shape to suggest the idea of kiss
ing.
Uncle Nahum looked keenly at her, as
he duttered lightly about room, straight,
enlng table cover here, or patting down
a curtain fold there.
eyes," he said, with curious twitcb
OF the muscles around his eyes; che has
been here"
Nahum"
mo, but your eyes did," chuckled the
old man. "He wants to marry you-the
improvident young Donkey
Faith came up to her uncle's chair. and
laid her Land lightly on his shoulder.
"That isn't the worst of it either, uncle
Nahum" said she. 81 want to marry
himl"
"Humph, humph! p snarled Mr.. Nixon,
in high contempt. "And what do YOU
expect to live on, I should like to know
you're more likely to starve," said
Mr.. Nixon. "Mind-don't count on help
from me! If you will get married, you
do 1t at your own risk
"Then you consent, uncle Nahum7"
"Now roared the old bachelor, 81 do
nothing of the Sort .. D..
'But, uncle Nahum, I should be
wretched without Dukey' softly pleaded
Faith.
establishments said the old man.
"And I'm sure he couldn't live with
out me!''
Trash - grunted Mr.. Nixon. ~
"And if you please, uncle, added Faith
''Perhaps I'D better go to my school.
friend, Violet Smiths, to make up nv
wedding things, since you disapprove 50
decidedly Of my plans. She lives in New
York you know, it will be convenient for
shopping, and" -..a...-
"And for all other tomfooleries in gen.
eral' rudely interrupted the old gentle
man. eyes, 60 to your Violet Smiths,
but don't expect to come back here!"
mo, uncle" said Faith, meekly, "But
you'll let me thank you for all your kind
ness, and" "
"No, WON'T said uncle Nahum, so
shortly that poor Faith fled up stairs in
dismay, and had quiet little cry, not
withstanding she was SO yery-very han.