The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-08-28

IlAe MaIthi OF OH, WIN many tnlnSS,
looked ready to drop with the hospita-
BILE cxertions that she had made, and |,
sitting mere cipher at the head of my
table, felt as il were keeping board
ing-house without any Of the pecuniary
emolumcnts thcrcfrom.
"My trunks will arrive in the six
O'Clock train, said Rev. Mr.. Sparkwell.
"I'll trouble you, Cousin Poyntz, to
send an expressman to the station for
'em. And if there's any apartment in
this domicile, Cousin Poyntz, that could
be fitted up as study for my temporary
Use il would greatly facilitate my intel
lectual occupation during my sojourn
in the suburbs of this great city. Aud
fmiist beg that you will Keep the house
very still during the hours which de-
vote to my study"
Hore my wife looked a, me aghast,
thinking OF little Johnny and the baby.
"Nevcr mind, my dear" | remarked,
Sofnr roc, ''we can easily get 'em board
cd somewhere.
"And," continued Rev. Mr.. Spark
well, 81 should esteem il a great favor
il horse and buggy could be procured
for my daily use when going to see DIR.
Doscn in the city, rs the motion OF the
train disagrees with my nervous system"
al don't happen to own 4 carriage"
said !. "But ! might buy one"
"Thank you, Cousin Poyn,z," said
Mr.. Sparkwcll, blandly.
"And il there's any other little thing
YOU should happen to want" added,
''pray don't be backward in mention
ing it,"
"No, won't, Cousin Poyn,z," said
the reverend gentleman, with the utmos,
gravity.
And am bound to say that he kept
his word.
For three days endured the swarm
of visitors who literally infested my
home, and then | made up my mind
that patience had ceased to be virtue.
"l'll put stop to this thing" said |.
| came home one night with 4 tragi-
cal expression on my face.
Katherine" said | to my wife "l'm
ruined"
what" cried all the company at
once.
"Those shares m the Western Union,
YOU know, said !, shifting my forehead.
"Ies. DEAR" groaned poor Kitty.
"'rhey have gone down." said |.
''Not worth cent"
"Oh, John.
IL wish had taken your advice and
let 'em alonc," said |. "But after all
il doesn't so much matter, As il had no
friends.
/ looked beamingly around at my
wifc's relations. They returned the
glance by the blankest Of stares.
"lf can borrow two hundred dollars
apiece of all these kindred" said I,
with unobirusivc chcerfulness, land re-
quest Silas to endorse my business
notes
Il couldn't think OF such a thing"
hurriedly interrupted tha; gentleman.
IL should be quite happy to oblige." +"
said Cousin Joab, 'but ! am quite out
of funds at present"
"And l." said Rev. Mr.. Sparkwcll,
pushing back his chair, "'must save what
little share possess in the worlds filthy
lucrc to pay my passage and that of my
family back to Minnesota"
surely" cried |, "you will not go
away and leave me in such pccuniary
straits as these
Rev. Mr.. Sparkwell significantly but
toned his pockets.
''It's every mans business to look
after himself, Cousin Poyn,z," said he /;
.and don't scruplc to say that il is
downright dishonesty for a business man
like yourself to get into such financial
difficulties.
And in fifteen minutes every cousin
in the 10, had, upon one excuse or an
other, vanished from the room to pack
and prepare for immediate departure.
looked a, my wife ; my wife looked
at me. | burst out laughing: Kitty
began 10 CRY.
"My dear" said |. sits an easier
job than thought i, would he. Ididn't
know but that il would be necessary for
me TO catch the smallpox before could
get rid cf your relations.
But are VIC very poor, John And
must We give up this dear little cottage?
Oh, how cruel il is Of Cousin Joab, and
Mr.. Sparkwell, and Uncle Silas, and all
of them not to help you. know that
Marianne Widening has five thousand
dollars that she wishes to put At interest.
for she told me so only yesterday, and"
"Ycs. exactly" said I. ''But pro-
badly she doesn't regard me rs good
investment.
"After all that have done for them"
sobbed my wife.
Relations are only human, my dear,
said I.
The company took their leave with
out much ceremony of adieus, and that
afternoon my wife came TO me with tears
in her eyes.
"Johp," said she, ''will you tell me
how much money you have lost in that
horrid Western Union stock Because
! would rather know the worst At once. ="
"I.ost ?" repeated l, looking up from
the newspaper which was reading in
Uncle Silas's fayorite easy chair, now
vacated for the first time in many days.
"Why. who, said had lost any thing"
"You did"
Excuse me, my dear said moth
ing Of the kind. ] merely stated that
the Western Union shares were not worth
cent to me. Neither were they, 20 me,
as had sold ali possessed a week he
fore"
"John ?"
"Ycs, my dear"
''How could you ?"