The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-12-14
THE TIMES NEW BLOOMFIELD PA, DEcEMBER14, 1880

day than in walked Mr.. Ferroll.
i wish to look at your gold pens,
please" said he, with nod at the shop
man, whom he knew. Something
very nice for old Medbury you know
old Miser Medbury we call him. Ha,
ha, ha He's broken his, and it's
good chance to curry favor with the old
hunks.
" Exactly" said the shopman, draw
ing his hand across his lips with
curious sort of a grin. Here are
some very fair specimens, Mr.. Ferroll-
ahem !"
Mr.. Ferroll was hard to please, but
finally made selection and went out,
leaving directions that the present
should be sent at once, with his card
enclosed; and not fifteen minutes after
ward in marched George Leslie.
"Gold pens," said he. "The cheapest
you've got. It's like buying lottery
ticket to give anything to old snap-and-
snarl Medbury; one never knows how
he may take it, and 1t isn't likely he'll
know the difference between an A No.
! article and second class one."
" Your cousin, Mr. Ferroll, has just
given eighteen shilllngs for one TO be
sent to Mr.. Medbury," said the shrewd
shopman.
"Eh What Howl Confound his
meddling impudence- what put the
idea into his headp Then / suppose l
shall have to send twenty shilling one,
although the deuce knows 1 am unable
to spare the money. These uncles are
terribly expensive luxury"
And he paid the reluctant twenty
shillings and took his departure.
Upon the very door step whom should
he meet but Frank Fessenden.
" Eh? You're coming to buy gold
pen, are your" surlily demanded he,
" but you're too late. Ferroll and l
have both sent one."
" Nothing of the sort" said Frank
cheerily. Uncle's a jolly old brick,
but 1 can't afford expensive presents
while my board bill is yet unpaid, and
my washerwoman clamoring for funds.
/ suppose he hasn't been here yet this
morningY"
"Who, Uncle ?"
Yes. He wrote me note to be here
by ten o'clock"
Eyes, Mr.. Fessenden, he's here" said
the shopman, advancing and rubbing
the palms of his hands together. "Just
back here in the cashiers office.
" Eth ?" cried out Mr.. Leslie, his COM
plexion turning dull bilious green.-
My uncle at the cashiers desk 2 And
only bit of ground glass and rose
wood railing between him and me ?
Why then, of course, he's heard every
word 1 said ?'
"I'm afraid its exceedingly probable,
sir" said the shopman with covert
grin. Its no fault of mine. L was
just about to caution Mr.. Ferroll about
speaking out SO freely, but the old gen.
tleman made me sign to hold my
tongue; so what was L to do 20
In the same breath, out came Mr..
Medbury from the cashiers little rallied
linden like Jack in-a.box.
Much obliged for the gold pen, my
dear boy" he said, chuckling and grin
ing and looking more like Napoleon
Bonaparte than ever. "But you are
mistaken about old Snap-and.S Snarl's
judgment; he's pretty sure to know
good article when he sees it. And tell
your cousin Marmaduke, if you should
hannau tO COO hin, that .,ld Nftear NFo.I
bury has got as many gold pens as he's
likely to want for the present-ha, ha,
hap
And If ever Mr.. Medbury enjoyed
anything in his life he enjoyed that joke
and the too evident discontinue of Mr..
George Leslie.
" 1 assure you sir, am very sorry"
began that young man.
And I'm very glad ~ said Mr.. Med
bury abruptly. 81 like to be certain
about things, 1 like to know whether
my nephews are fools or knaves, or
like this one," clapping Frank Fessen-
den on the back, "a tolerably honest
fellow. Come, Frank, We'll see about
this vacancy. I'm always willing to
help man that is ready to help him.
self, and only wish your cousins were
half as thoughtful about board bills
and washerwomen's accounts as you
are.'
Frank accepted the situation-it was
only poor hundred year clerkship,
but as Medbury sagely remarked, it
might be stepping stone to something