The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-03-08

Uncle JehOram.
"Girls, girls" cried I, triumphantly,
waving an old fashioned yellow envelope
n the sunny September air. "I've got
letter from Uncle Jehoram!" "Open
til" cried Nelly Pinkham, who was my
first bridesmaid.
"Do let us hear what he says I"
chimed in Alice Eden, my second.
So l sat down the big canvas-covered
travelling trunk, with my hair all down
my back. l had just unfastened it for
Nelly to experiment little with the
bridal wreath-and with the bevy of
girls clustering eagerly around me 1
broke the seal of Uncle Jehoram's let
ter, with all the Evolutionary air and
grace that l had learned at Mad. Ben
toms "Institute.
"Dear Niece" it said, in queer lit
tie cramped hand like the character on
a Chinese tea Set" Yours of 21st inst,
duly received. Am glad to hear that
you are to be married to worthy young
man who is able to support you. Ac-
cept my good wishes. By this days
express send present which I hope
you may find useful, no more atpresent,
from your uncle,
"JEHoRAM JOHNSON. :"
"There !" cried I. "What do you
think of that? p
Alice Eden clapped her dimpled
hands.
"The old darling?" she cried. s'It's
real Cashmere shawl, Nanny, you
may be certain"
DOR perhaps Persian rug" said
Nelly Pinkham, call dim blues and
greens and delicious blothces of yell
low"
"The deed of house and lot," said
Mary Monkey.
Diamonds, most likely" interposed
Juliet Grayson, Cor real Oriental pearls,
Alice.
"Of course he is" said 1, sat least,
I've always heard So"
"And an old bachelor -
eyes, an old bachelor"
"But he don't say whether Oh not
he's coming to the wedding!"
"Oh, of course he'll come" said 1.
"What is he like % asked Nelly,
thoughtfully.
l bursted out laughing.
"Do you know girls" said 1, "that
I never saw him in my life ?"
And then Harry came in with de-
licious little bouquet of white rose buds
and of course that put everything else
out of our heads. For my hair had to
be twisted up in hurry and Harry would
insist on seeing the wedding wreaths and
aveil on, and an exquisite tete-a-tete set
of royal pink. Sevres came in from
Ms. Montague Jadkyll, and we never
thought of Uncle Jehoram until next day
when there was prodigious peal at the
door bell, just as we were sitting down
20 a gypsy sort OF tea IN the OLD SCHOOL,
room-the parlors and dining-room
were in the hands of the confectioner's
| men-and Betty, the maid, made her
| appearance with puzzled expression
| of face, =,
sIt's bundle, ma'am," said She
"Came by express, with Mr.. Jehoram
Tohnson's compliments on card. "
l jumped up overseeing cup OF tea
and plate of peaches and cream IN my
excitement. ai..
"Bring it here, Betty" / cried at
once. ,aft-.
"Bless your heart, dear miss, said
Betty. eit 'ud take four men to lift it.
The expressman, he swore awful when
he lifted it up the steps, and SAID as II
ought to be paid double rates."
We looked at each other in sort OF
delightful bewilderment. :,
cit must be something very valuable
said Juliet, breathlessly.
GA sewing machine, perhaps sug-
gested Harry. :.
ssNonsense !" cried Alice, las II
tTiCn OIu uIICIC wvSsx1 rsSzs<a --S--5-E q -
commonplace and poky as that J" -
"Well, perhaps it might help to solve
the riddle somewhat" said Harry
gravely, eff we were to go out and iooS
at it."
AT this suggestion we all rushed ou
en- masse.
There, in the middle of the marble
paved hall stood huge, oblong bundle
some three feet high and wide IN pro
! portion. >,
"No wonder the expressman swore !!
said Harry, with a shrug OF the Shout
ders. "It's carpeting."
ooh the dear old cfature !. crleo
Nellie. "A real Aubsson, from Paris
!, Oh, do open it, somebody"
Harry Slowly produced from his yes'
pocket a ortoise-shell-handled knife
and ripping the coarse covering which
enveloped the parcel. We all 'starte'
back.
"a rag carpet? ?" exclaimed my hus
/, band elect.
] ga common, coarse thing, only fl
for dust-man's Kitchen ~ --'eE- NIL,
Pinkham while Alice Eden, VINO ha'
|, worked herself up to high state Q
| nervous expectation, burst into tears
ssWho ever heard of such thing {
said Juliet Grayson, disdainiuliy'-
~The horried, mean old miser.
"Girls," / said, recovering myse y,
J &C hest I could, syou must not tax $
!. Uncle Iehoram meant all in klndnes
I dare say he thought could MAKE :,
useful-and l mean to accepe II ~ ;, =
same spirit in which it was offered.
$, Harry stopped down and gave he
j', Licc -.