The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-23
A DEAD MANS SHOES.

They pinched. They sometimes do.
And yet they had seemed very desir-
able. Ever since she had come into the
family and even before that time, Mrs.
Eversley had been pinched in one way
or another; so, after all, it was much of
a piece, as she said Ever since she had
come into the family, too, they had
been signing to think Uncle Trevor had
so much money and the family had
none.
1t was true Uncle Trevor had earned
his money, and the family had never
lifted a finger to earn penny; but
what odds should that make, they rea-
sOned, where there is proper family
feeling? 1t is true that Uncle Trevor,
early in youth, had gone out and asked
for place behind counter, had not
scorned to weigh and measure and tie
up and fetch and carry, and had ad-
vanced from step to step, hard work
and constant work, first with hand and
then with head, until the present day;
and it is equally true that the family
had sat still in their dignity, gone with
out when they didn't have enough, kept
an eminently genteel front to the world,
becoming poorer ever day with the in
creasing uses for money, and longed
for Uncle Trevor's money, to which, it
was understood, they would some day
be heirs, but of which, at the present
time, they received barely so much as
the dust of its coinage.
Did Mrs. Eversley wish for Uncle
Trevor's deathp How could you ask
such thing? Where had she shown
anything that should lead to such a
supposition? That she wished for some
of Uncle Trevor's money was quite an
other thing. They were poor; it was no
disgrace to be poor; but they had al
ways held their heads up; and to be
well born and well bred placed one on
an equality with all the money in the
world. Certainly Trevor could have a
better education if there was any recip-
rocity in Uncle Trevor mind; he could
go to Germany and pursue his studies
and make himself a name, instead of
dawdling in counting-room over set
of books that he didn't know how to
keep. Why didn't he learn how to keen
themP Well, what folly it would be to
spend the best years of his life learning
something he would have no use for!
Uncle Trevor had given them positively
to understand that when he was done
with his money they were to have it, or
the use of it. Probably the other Ever
sleys would come in for something; but
Trevor S name, of course, made his fort
une certain. 1t was just as much OF
course that no fragrant difference would
be made between him and Teresa and
Laura, poor girls Well, it could not
be very long now, at all events, and one
must have patience and shuttle the
cards. If she did not wish for hel
brother-in-law's death, that was Ger
tainly all that could be expected of her
if she would not be sorry when it oc
CURED, that was his fault; he coulC
have been generous and consideratt
enough to make her sorry. And 81
Mrs. Eversley's little mind ran on.
Poor Uncle Trevori immersed in hi
wide operations and enterprises, h,
hardly thought of the wants and whim
of other people; he had none of his own
living simply, wearing old clothes, for
getting theaters, always walking, neve
driving, and finding all the pleasure h
wanted in the successful issue of hi
schemes. Had he once suspected tn
state of mind in his dead brothers fam
fly, | don know whether he would hav
stopped and made them all rich in hi
lifetime, or would have cut them all Of
with shilling.
II don't know, mamma" said Teres
Mrs. Eyersley's step-daughter; VIII,
was accustomed TO slight habits of re
bellion, at any rate in thought bou
the wisdom of our way of life. Her,
we are, all Of us, with expensive ant