Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-10
UNCLE's WEDDING GIFT.

UNCLE . NEbDlN" Jill As
$50 you're going 10 be married girls,
are you?" said Uncle Nahum.
A little, silver-haired man, with deep
wrinkles plowed in his parchment-like
forehead, and a suit of bright, old
fashioned blue cloth, gaily garnished
with brass buttons, he looked gro
tesquely unlike the surroundings of
that elegant suit of drawing-rooms in
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 to
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 handsomest
brown stone palace in New York; and
Uncle Nahum marveled within HIM
self. as he looked around it, as to
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 to
make very snowy appearance upon
very small capital.
Eunice Dalton, his eldest niece, a tall
lovely brunette, as graceful as a silver
birch tree, with eyes and hair dark
enough for gypsy, sat opposite, on a
low fauteull of crimson velvet, her
slender fingers toying idly with the
golden festoon of chain that hung
around her neck, while Nina, the
youngest sister, was nesting close to
Uncle Nahum's side, with her golden
curls almost touching his cheek, and
her blue eyes fixed, with sort of in
nocent, childish wonder on his face.
"Yes, Uncle Nahum" said Nina,
''we are really going to be married.
Eunice and l. Will you come to our
weddingP"
Uncle Nahum lifted his keen, gray
eyes to Eunice'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; '''d cut a poor
figure at your grand weddings. Only I
hope you'v chosen well.
There can be no doubt at all about
that" said Eunice, haughtily, Il am
to marry Mr.. Lesdener, q broker, and
Nina is engaged to Mr.. Falconer, q
gentleman of Independent wealth. !"
'.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
a slight shrug of her beautiful shoul-
ders.
"And I spose you'll have lots of
presents" said Mr.. Dalthrop. "Silver
and gold and china fol-de-rcls, and
goodness know what all. Well, well,
I wish l had somethin' to send you that
would be of use in your grand way OF
livin'."
"Your good wishes will be all-suffi-
cient, Uncle Nahum said Eunice,
rather stiffly.
''But, III tell you,'' said the old man
with Frightening face, ''what l 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 ruf1ie 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, Tn 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 hubbub, and so much
elbowin' and crowdin' that I can't
stand it," was his frank confession.
''Once 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. u
II am glad he's gone," was Eunice's
comment, as 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. Il think he's
ever SO nice and kind"
''Very kind" observed Eunice, sar.
castically, "with his his horrid dusty
old receipt books! l declare, Min,
thought ! should have laughed myself
TO death"
''He meant it all in kindness, Eu
nice.'
II dare say, but 1 wish he would
keep his kindness until it is called
for" said the elder sister.
'.He wished me to visit Chicoray
Falls on my wedding tour and l shall
nnno,>% b;s ;pu;+o{;o, - ,o;l N;,.o a..