Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-11-19
HINT FOR A LETTER.

4 Hunt FOR A LETTER.
II vas Harold Pleasby's last day at
Orford. He had taken his degree, pad
~ nils. and packed up the odds and
srdswbich had adorned the room, where
h. had spent the better part of not too
Industrious but merry university ca
,.sr Whilst his scout was gone to
fetch him change for a five-pound note.
which was 10 enable him TO give his
/ nsr-iug tips to pOrters and cads, Harold
Sar down and wrote on paper embossed
With cardinals scarlet hat these two
letters:
Christ Church. Oxford.
''MY LORD,
NV uncle, Mr.. John Pleasby, has
allowed me TO hope that you would be
Il kind enough to appoint me your private
secretary if | could produce certificates
Il Of nv fitness for the post. | enclose
testimonials from the Dean and from
nv college tutor; although they can
not speak very highly of my attain
ments. they say enough of my charac-
Il ter to assure you, L hope, that you will
not fud me uugrateful, nor backward
in irving 10 deserve the honor which
you are willing to bestOw on Inc.
Il AN your loTdship's faithful and
obliged servant, HAROLD PLEAsBY.
"To the RIGHT HoN. VIsCoUNT
HUXNoUTH, Secretary of State"
"DEAR UNCLE,
i have Just written to old Hux-
mouth As YOU advised but / don't be-
Heye a bit that | shall get the appoint
ment. for Judging from all you told nae
about him, lie is one of those loose old
fsh who make more promises than they
intend 10 Keep. It's very kind OF yOR
all the same to have recommended me.
In the probable event of my services
being declined on the ground that have
not graduated in hOnors, | wish you
would give me another proof OF your
affection by trying to get me an easy
berth in q Government Office, with q
rising salary and that kind cf thing.
To tell you the truth, shan't be sorry
if old HuxmOuth throws US over. After
what YOU have told me of his temper,
his stinginess, and his habit of cantlng
hOmilies Il have not forgotten that an
ecdote about his having been mistaken
for Methodist parsonl, l expect he
and l should quarrel before l had time
to digest one of those bad dinners oi
his which SO much disagreed with You.
Your affectionate nephew.
"HARoLD.
"To JOHN PLEAsBY, ESQ, NJ. P.'
The scout returned Just as these let
ters had been written, and Harold gave
hin that 20 Lord Huxmouth to post
but he put the one destined to his uncle
into his own pocket, because he meant
to add a postscript by-and-by, stating
what exact sum he had had TO pay fol
debts, etc, on leaving Oxford {: this
with view to justlfying a demand for
a cheqUe, which be had lately made
upon Mr. John Pleasby, whose spOill
nephew he was. Harold spent another
hour in college settling his dues; then
being rather pressed for time, he sent
for hanson, jumped into it, and wa:
driven fast to the station with his port
manteau. The rest of his luggage was
10 follow The railway porters knew
Harold Pleasby, late the crack batsmaI
Of the varsity eleven, and they bustlec
forward with silver-seeking smiles, Il
usher him into compartment wher'
heshOUld be alone with his cigar. Har
old appreciated the service, for h'
wanted TO make up his accounts. A
soon as the train had started, he lal(
out his bills on one of the carriage seats
maGe a reckoning of their totals, anC
then drew out the letter to his uncle u
add his postscript IN pencil. 1t wa
lucky that nobody was In the compart
ment with him at that moment, for h
suddenly turned red as if he were go
Ing to have an apoplectic seizure, ex
claiming: well, this is a pretty go J
and allowed the letter to fiutter out o
his hands.
He had 10y mistake put the note In
tended for his uncle into the envelop
directed 10 Lord Huxmouth, and KEEP
The letter to the peer in the eHveiop
which now lay on the carriage floor
A pretty debut IN lite this for younI
man who, having misused his opportu
nl'les at college, had now only patron
age TO rely on for the means Of earning
his bread! Anybody would have beel
dismayed by the blunder; but, to d
Harold justice, he thought more of tn
scraPe into which he was going to dra
as uncle than about that into which h
had got himself. Harold had receive
constant and most generous kindnes
from Lls fathers brother, and he wa
sincerely attached to him, while beln
quite aware that the old gentleman ha
his iolbles. Honest John Pleasby dearl
loved a lord. He was one of those me
Who, even past the prime of life, renal
peTennlally young-a dandy, friend {
peereSses, a popular club chatterbo,
ana al intrepid diner-Out. The smile
VI society were as necessary to him a
sunshine is to lizard but the more S
70 him now than ever, since he ha
lately taken to himself young wifi
VINO was ambitious of shining in th
world. Now Lord Huxmouth, beside
oelns Cabinet Minister, was a man
very potent social connections, ant
What iG more, he ruled supreme in th
county Ior which John Pleasby sat
Parliament. AT mere nod from hil
lhe latter might lose his seat for NJ
fieasby's only rdison d'etre as a legisl:
tor was that he always voted straigf
with Government and enjoyed the col
ndence of his patron, He was, unto