The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-10
" Uncle" said he, "I guess you'll have
10 spare me bigger room arter this


nan, with a strong likeness to the chimpan.
zee tribe, looked up from his account-book
with snafl, which revealed set of ragged,
yellow teeth. lc
GA bigger room ?" said he. What
: .or?n
There's at least dozen rooms in the
house you don't use," said John, land
they'd be all the better for being occupied;
and besides ms if this was a mere Incl
dental fact-' I've been getting married /"
The deacon dropped his spectacle-case,
and as John picked it up and handed it
back to him, he added:
To Meta Milton"
The deacon's little eyes glittersd like very
small gas-lamps, seen through November
fog.
You've married her, have you?" said
he.
!" Yes, sir" said John.
Well, then," said the deacon, you can
AXE her somewhere else and support her,
,or I'll never see nor speak to either one of
you rs long as live !"
DO you really mean it, uncle ?" said
John.
cam l in the hapit of joking2" said Mr..
Perkins. with an ugly grin, that made him
more chimpanzee-iko than ever. If you're
so very independent, you can go and hang
out your flag of freedom at your leisure I"
This was rather hard on John, who had
always been taught to regard himself as his
uncle's adopted child.
But he was too proud to sue for rich
mans favor.
" Just rs you please, sir" said he. " But
won't you let me bring Meta to see you ?"
"No, won't !" said the deacon.
"Oh, John, have ruined you" said
Meta, when he came back to tell the tale.
" Ruined me, puss ?" said he, cheerfully
=" not bit of it You've been the max
ing of me. 1t amt good for nobody to hang
on to the coat-slsirts of rich man. I'm
more Independent now than l have been
for ten years. II Mrs. Briggs will let us
stay here for few days"
q I couldn't, possibly !" said Mrs. Briggs,
freezing up visibly. " If your good, piouf
uncle discountenances you, it amt for me
to set myself up ag'in his judgment"
" Very we'll, i" said John Farmer Drake.
wants hand to help clear up the maple
hills this winter-rll engage with him. My
Meta shall have good home somewhere !"
When Mrs. Briggs heard that John Per-
kins had rented the little one-storied cabin
by the railroad, and furnished it for his
bride, she shook her head forebodingly
10 hTafa will hnI
that, she hain't no proper PRIDE" said she.
But Meta was as happy as a lark.
1t was a humble home, but it was her
own. And John came home to it every
night, with face as cheerful as the dawn.
q 1 wish it was palace, puss, for your
sake" said he
% I couldn't be happier, John, if it was,'
Meta brightly answered.
g And You don't mind your Cousin Briggs
passing you in the street, without speaking
to your"
Not in the least, If you don't mind Dea.
con Perkins returning your letters unopen.
3D."
:" He is an ill-tempered old crab" said
John, with hearty laugh.
anu Sno, ieEIliy reJorteu Mttu, ID
renomous old gossip"
While the public opinion of Yellow Plains
unanimously condemned Mr. and Mrs Per-
kins to the poor-house in the course of
brief time.
He hasn't a cent of cap.ta.," said one
neighbor.
And she amt no management, and
never had, said another.
Buys bakers bread, and makes her pie.
crust with butter instead o. drippin's, said
Mrs. Briggs. Did any one ever hear OF
Iuch shiftlessness? I, for one, wash my
hands of them" 7z
Until, one day, Deacon Perkins died sit
ting in his chair, with his spectacles on his
nose.
Wen 60 to the funeral, Meta" said
John to his wife. ''Of course he has left
all his money to the Gattawoochee Indian
Mission, as he always said he would. But
he was my uncle after ALL"
Very we'll" said Meta. Gwen CO."
All the neighborhood was there, of
course. The richest man in Yellow Plains
did not depart this life every day. But
avery one looked coldly upon the young
couple as they entered, and Mrs. Briggs
studiously evaded them.
When the burial ceremonies were over,
Mr.. Briggs sided mp to the lawyer, a fat
man, with shining bald head and white
moustache. v
It's about the mortgage, Squire Coyte,"
said he. That one that Deacon Perkins