The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-08-01
miscellaneous.
Uncle JehOram.


Girls, girls |" cried !, triumphantly, way
ing an old fashioned yellow envelope in the
sunny Septemberair "Pve got letter from
Uncle Jehoram!"
"Open it !" cried Nelly Pinkham, who was
my first bridesmaid.
"Do let us hear what he says p chimed in
Alice Eden, my second.
So | sat down on the big canvas covered tray
cling trunk, with my hair all down my back.
| had just unfastened it for Nelly to expert
ment n little with the bridal wreath-and
with the bevy of girls clustering eagerly
around me, broke the seal of Uncle Jeho-
rams letter, and read it aloud with all the
Evolutionary air and grace that had learned
at Mad. Bentons Institute"
"DEAR NIECE" it said, in queer little
cramped hand like the characters on a Chi
nese tea set, yours of 21st inst, duly receiv-
ed. Am glad to hear that you are to be mar
ried to worthy young man who is able to
support you. Accept my good wishes. By
this days express | send present which
hope you may find useful, and no more at
present from your uncle,
"JEHoRAM JOHNSON"
"Thcre p cried |. what do you think of
that?"
Alice Eden chpped her dimpled hands.
"The old darling" cried she. cts real
Cashmere shawl Nanny, you may be GER
tain"
"Or perhaps Persian rug" said Nelly
Pinkham, "all dim blues and greens and de-
licious botches of yellow"
"The deed of house and lot" said Mary
Monkey.
Diamonds, most likely" interposed Juliet
Grayson, cor real Oriental pearls, each one as
big as a tear drop"
"He's very rich, isn't he ?" said Alice.
"Of course he is" said l., "or at least, I've
always heard So"
"And an old bacheor?'
Eyes, an old bachelor"
"But he don't say whether or not he's
coming to the weddingW
ooh, of course he'll come" said |.
"What is he lke?" asked Nelly, thought
fully
burst out laughing.
"Do you know girls" said |, "lhat never
saw him in my life?'
And then Harry came in with delicious
little bouquet of white rose buds and OF course
that put everything else out of our heads.
For my hair had to be twistedup in hurry,
and Harry would insist on seeing the wed.
ding wreaths and veil on, and an exquisite
| tete-a.tete set of royal pink. Sevres came in
from Mrs. Montague Jadkyll, and we never
thought of Uncle Jehoram until next day,
when there was a prodigious peal at the door
bell, Just rs we were sitting down to gypsy
| sort of tea in the old school-room-the par
lors and dnning-room were in the hands OF
the confectioner's men-and Betty, the maid
made her appearance with puzzled expires.
sion of face.
"Its bundle, ma'am," said she. "Came
| by express, with MIR. JehOram JohnsOn's
| compliments on u card" ...
Jumped up, ver-setting cup of tea and
| plate ofpeaches and cream in my excite.
| ment.
Bring it here, Betty" cried at once.
"Bless your heart, dear miss" said Betty
it, I'D take four men to lift it. The express
man, he swore awful when he lifted it up the
steps, and said as it ought to be paid double
| rates"
We looked at each other in sort of de-
| lightful bewilderment
ut must be something very valuable" said
Juliet, breathlessly.
"a sewing machine, perhaps" suggested
Harry
Nonsense |" cried Alice, las if a rich old
uncle would send anything as commssplacs
and poky as thatr'
"Well, perhaps might help TO solve ID.
riddle somewhat" said Harry, gravely, I'll
| we were to go out and look at it,"
At this suggestion we all rushed out en-
| masse.
There, in the middle of the marble-pavet
hall stood u huge, oblong bundle some three
feet high and wide in proportion.
"No wonder the expressman swore p said
Harry, with shrug of the shoulders "Iri
Competing"
"Oh, the dear old creature" cried Nellie
"a real Aubusson, from Paris. Oh, do oper
it somebody"
Harry slowly produced from his vest peck
ct tortoise shell.handled knife, and ripping
the coarse covering which enveloped tn,
parcel We all started back
"a rag carpet?" exclaimed my husband
elect.
ga common coarse thing, only fit for
dust-man's kitchen |" cried Nelly Pinkham
while Alice Eden, who had worked hersel
up to high state of nervous expectation
burst into tears.
"Who ever heard of such thingp" sail
Juliet Grayson, disdainfully' "The horrid
mean old miser."
"Girls," said, recovering myself as best
could, "you must not talk so. Uncle Jeho
ram meant it all in kindness. l dare say h
thought could make it useful-and l meal
to accept it in the same spirit in which it wa
offered"
! Harry stopped down and gave me kis.
You're dear, sensible little thing" sal
he. "Uncle Jehoram has reason to be prou
of his niece"
"But you'll never put il on exhibition wit
the other presents" said Alice, incredulous
ly.
"Ofcourse shall" said l.
And did. And the girls never knew {
the little private 'cry" had all by myse
when they thought was selecting the pre-
tiest flowers TO decorate the big bride cake
for l had expected something nice from til
rich old bachelor uncle whom had neye