Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-27
Uncle Nahum's Wedding.

paper in his back parlor
No one would think, to look at the simple
surroundings of the unpretentious apart
ment, that Mr.. Nahum Nixon was one of
the wealthiest men in town. The carpet, it
is true, was Administer, but it had seen
twenty good years Of service and was worn
down to the very warp; the faded red cur
tains were of moreen instead Of satin dam
ask; and the old clock on the mantel was
no Partisan affair of alabaster and gilt, but
a substantial Connecticut time-piece, that
struck with wire, like partridge spring
ing out of her nest; the chairs of old-fash-
toned mahogany and hair-cloth, stood bolt
upright against the wall the portraits Of
General Washington on Horseback" and
the Surrender of CORVALLIS " ornamented
the gray papered walls in frames OF somber
gilt, and The one elegance of the apartment
was basket of preposterous wax fruit,
under a cracked glass shade.
But Uncle Nahum Nixon had remem-
bered that furniture ever since he was
child, and he wouldn't have exchanged it
for the fittings Of Partisan boudoir, or the
choicest specimens of the modern Eastlake
school. lie was rich man-that was quite
enough for him.
"If you please, Mr.. Nixon" said the trim
little maid servant Z" Mr.. Marmaduke Bourne
wants to see you-if you please, sir, if you
are quite at leisure"
al MIR. Marmaduke Bourne, Ell ?" The old
gentleman took off his glasses and laid them
upon the folded newspaper. "Ask him to
come in, Polly"
And Mr.. Marmaduke Bourne came ina
tall, fresh colored young fellow, with spark
ling gray eyes, brown hair, all in mat Of
curls, and straight Greek nose that seemed
70 ~ ;rnt ho,t haa,, hNrrnu,aI from,
ancient statue of Apollo.
DWELL, sir" counter-interrogated Mr..
Bourne, did you get my letter."
al got your letter p' said Uncle Nahum.
So you want to marry my niece, Faith 2"
eyes, sir" valiantly acknowledged Mr..
Marmaduke Bourne.
"Ah p nodded Uncle Nahum. "But per-
haps you don't understand all the facts of
the case p
"The facts, sir 2"
want my niece to marry Colonel Ash
lands son !" slowly enunciated Uncle Nahum.
"But, sir, she does not love him."
"Pshaw" snarled Uncle Nahum Nixon.
And If she does not marry him she will be
a beggar-I will give her no money of mine.
Now you understand matters. Marry her
or not, as you please"
He took up the newspaper once more-a
a tacit intimation that the interview was at
an end.
"Sir--" began Marmaduke Bourne.
"That will do" said Mr.. Nixon.
al only wish to"
"That will dol" Numbered Mr.. Nixon
and so Marmaduke Bourne went away.
Little Faith Nixon came down stairs pres
ently-a blue-eyed blossom of a girl, with
yellow hair growing low on her forehead
and very little mouth exactly the shape
to suggest kissing.
Uncle Nahum looked keenly at her, as she
huttered lightly about the room, straighten-
ing a tablecover here, or patting down cur
tain fold there.
Yes" said he, with curious twitch of
the muscles around the eyes "he has been
here"
"I-I did not ask any questions, Uncle
Nahum"
"No, but your eyes did," chuckled the
old man. ale wants to marry you-the
improvident young donkey"
Faith came up to her uncle's chair and
laid her hand lightly upon his shoulder.
"This is not the worst of it, Uncle Ma
hum" said she. 81 want to marry him p
"Humph, humph !" snarled Mr.. Nixon, in
high contempt "And what do you expect
to live on, I'd like to know"
ave can work." said Faith, bravely.
"You are more like to starve," said Mr..
Nixon. "NIind-dont you count on help
from me If you get married, you do it at
your own risk"
"Then you consent, Uncle Nahum 2"
"Nol" roared the old bachelor, 81 do moth
ing of the sort"
"But, Uncle Nahum / should be wretched
without Dukel" softly pleaded Faith
"Fiddlestrings !" said the old man.
"And I'm sure he could not live without
mel"
"Trash I" grunted Mr.. Nixon.
"And if you please, uncle" added Faith,
"perhaps | had better 60 to my school
friend, Violet Smiths, to make up my wed.
ding things, since you disapprove so decid-
eddy OF my plans. She lives in New York,
you know, and will be convenient for shop
ping, and"
"And for all other tomfooleries in gen.
eral," rudely interrupted the old gentleman.
eyes, do go to your Violet Smiths, but don't
expect to come back here |"
No, 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 dis
may, and had quiet little cry, notwithstand-
ing she was so very-very happy.
For Uncle Nahum Nixon, brusque and
grabbed though he was, was all the father
she had ever known.
But she packed her trunk, and went to Vi
olet Smiths in New York, which was all the
pleasanter in that Marmaduke Bourne had
also betaken himself to this modern Gotham,
and had gone to work studying law as if
he meant to take Coke and Blackstone by
storm,
And Miss Violet Smith, who was a senti-
mentally-minded young lady, sympathized
intensely, and the young couple were as un;
reasonably happy as many another couple
had been before and will be again.
But one day Duke Bourne came in with a
face full Of tidings.
"Faith," said he "have you heard the
news?"
"What news?" said little Faith.
d" Your uncle will get the start of us, after
all"
What do you mean, Duke?"
Why, he's going TO be married"
"Uncle Nahum Z" cried Faith incredu.
lousy.
eyes, Uncle Nahum. And that accounts
for his being so willing and anxious to get
rid Of us-eh little one 2"
"And who is the bride ?" questioned
Faith.
"Why, that's the mooted point, as yet
Nobody seems TO know. Some say one
some say another, but the general impress
sion seems to be that it is that rich widow
who owns the brown stone block on the
corner"
"Pm sure hope he will be happy" sale
Faith, with tremulous lips and eyes suffused
with tears. "Bnt--l think he might have
said something to us about It'll"
"People are not generally in a hurry te
proclaim the fact that they are about tC
make fools of themselves" said Duke Bourn,
bitterly.
"Why," cried Faith, laughing through
her tears, q that is precisely what he sale
about us2"
But the next day letter from Uncle Ma
hum Nixon himself settled the matter. III,
wrote:
"There's to be wedding at my house OF
the 18th, and / want you and Duke TO b.
there without fail"
A wedding At his house /" cried Faith
81 supposed weddings were always oele
brated al the brides residence y
:" So they are, DEAR" said Miss Smith
but your uncle was always SO ecc sntric."
"What shall we do 7" said Faith.