The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-07-03
UNCLE'S WEDDING GIFT.

|
UNCLE'S WEDDING GIFT.
$50 you're going to be married girls
are you?" said Uncle Nahum.
A little, silver haired man, with deer
wrinkles plowed in his parchment-iikt
forehead, and suit of bright, old
fashioned blue cloth, gaily garnisheC
with brass buttons, he looked gro
| tesquely unlike the surroundings o
that elegant suit of drawing-rooms il
which he sat, like the fairy godfather
in an enchanted palace.
The crimson carpets, the sunshine
sitting through draperies of gold-col
ored satin until the marble statuettes
and carved alabaster vases seemed tC
be STEPPED in an atmosphere of molten
| sunshine; the faint scent of flower bas
kets placed here and there, made it an
apartment worthy of the handsomesi
brown stone palace in New York; and
Uncle Nahum marveled within him
self, as he looked around it, as tC
whether his brother Matthew had found
a mine of gold since he first came to
make his fortune in the great city.
Uncle Nahum, our readers will per-
ceive, was but simple Old farmer, and
knew nothing of the hooks and crooks
by which the city people contrive tc
make very snowy appearance upon
very small capital.
Eunice Dalton, his eldest niece, tall
lovely brunette, as graceful as a silver
birch tree, with eyes and hair dark
enough for gypsy, sat opposite, on &
low fauteull of crimson velvet, hel
slender fingers toying idly with tho
golden festoon of chain that hung
around her neck. while Nina, the
Youngest sister, was nesting close tc
Uncle Nahum's side, with her golden
curls almost touching his cheek, and
her blue eyes fixed, with a sort of in.
nocent, childish wonder on his face.
''Yes, Uncle Nahum" said Nina,
1--WE are really going to be married.
Eunice and l. viii you come to oul
wedding?"
Uncle Nahum lifted his keen, gray
eyes to Eunce's face. She neither
spoke nor looked up. Evidently she
had no intention of confirming her SIS
ter's cordially-given invitation.
mo, child, no., said the old man,
evidently disappointed; 'Id cut poor
figure at your grand weddings. Only ]
hope you've chosen we'll"
''There can be no doubt at all about
that" said Eunice, haughtily, 81 am
to marry MIR. Lesdener, broker, and
Nina is engaged to Mr.. Falconer, q
a gentleman of independent wealth. 2"
''Riches have wings my child" said
the old man, quietly. ''Never forget
that"
''What makes you talk SO disagree.
ably, Uncle Nahum?" said Eunice, with
q slight shrug of her beautiful shoul-
ders.
''And s'pose you'll have lots OF
presents" said Mr. Dalthrop. "Silver
and gold and china fol-de-rols, and
goodness know what all. Well, we'll,
| wish had somethin' to send you that
would be of use in your grand way of
livin'."
"Your good wishes will be all-suf1i-
cient, Uncle Nahum" said Eunice,
rather stiffiy'
but, pll tell you," said the old man
with frightening face, ''what | have
got. Your Aunt Rebecca's receipt
books-that's my wife, dead and gone
these ten years--and there amt bet
ter lot of receipts not in the whole state
of Connecticut. She copied 'em and
tried every O. 'em, too, SO she knowed
they was all good. There amt no such
way O. baking pork and beans as she
knowed of. and the real lection cake
receipts is there, and three or four diff
ferent sorts O ruffie and bleechin' pow
ders, and directions for maxim root
beer, and the dear knows what else.
You'd like that, gals, wouldn't ye?"
Eunice broke out into peal of IRE
sistible laughter, Needless of the hurt
look which gradually crept over the
face of the old man, but Nina pressed
her rose-red lips to his wrinkled brow
and stroked his hand softly in hers.
''It's very kind of you to think of it,
uncle, I'm sure" said Nina, land
whatever you send we shall accept
gratefully Here comes papa now to
take you up to Central Park in the car
riage, and so let me run and get your
hat"
Uncle Nahum did not prolong his
visit to the city beyond day or two.
"It's such Il hubbub, and so much
elbowin' and crowdin' that l can't
stand it," was his frank confession.
'tOnce let me get out TO Chickoray
Falls, and sit on my own porch, with
nobody but the frogs and katydids tO
disturb me, and I'll be myself again. y
II am glad he's gone" was Eunice' s
comment, rs she brushed her curls
around rosewood stick, preparatory
to the evening dance, for which she
was dressing.
why, Eunice. how can you talk SOP
said innocent little Nina. 81 think he
ever so nice and kind.
Every kind" observed Eunice, sar-
castically, "with his his horrid dusty
O Id receipt booksi l declare, Min,
thought should have laughed myself
to death"
t.He meant it all in kindness, Eu
nice"
81 dare say, but | wish he woulC
keen his kindness until it is calleC
for said the elder sister.
HE wished me to visit ChicOray
Falls ON my wedding tour and | shall
accept his invitation" said Nina, ear
nestly. 81 should so like to see thu
dear old farmhouse where papa wa:
born?'
The warm-hearted young girl splans
however, were destined never to b'
carried into execution. But few day
had elapsed when tidings came of thu
sudden death of the kind old man.
'.It's very strange" said Matthew
Dalton, discontentedly, when the lega
statement of his brothers monetar.
affairs was laid before him. 81 though
Nahum was worth more money thai
1hat?'
1--WE can't always Judge by appear
ances. sir, you know" said the lawyer
'No," said Mr.. Dalton, coloring
and looking somewhat uneasy, ''yo
are quit right there"
Two little leather-bound receipt
books, worn and greasy with age an
bearing marks of frequent usage, wer
H. C4n nj N