The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-11

forth the fact that snug legacy had
been left to him, and forthwith Tibbs
excused himself from the Generals
service, and set up for gentleman on
his own account.
The General waxed wroth at this
step on Tibbs' part.
Il wouldn't have thought il of Tibbs,
the ungrateful scamp, "cried the irrita-
BILE old veteran, "but I'll be even with
him-Fll get me another man."
He advertised in the Daily Times.
and no sooner had he done SO than he
repented, it for it seemed as if every
able-bodiod man in the country was in
search OF that particular situation.
snow, them" said the General to the
score or so of men who appeared before
him, Il want a sort of general purpose
man, and shan't hire any one who
cannot drive my coach in good shape
round the square"
Twenty voices vociferated the pro-
ficiency of their owners as first-class
whips.
"He must be O good driver, and a
good reader, and possess a knowledge
of the standard poets. / adore poetry,
particularly Homer's. Stand out, now,
all Won who have read Homer"
Barely one responded.
by the Lo d Harry, only one, I"
roared the General; "and perhaps
you are shamming. I'll test your
knowledge. Who was Penelope, tell
me that"
A tall, English-appearing young fell
low, who was the one admitting a
knowledge of Homer's works, answered:
"The wife of Ulysses"
"And Telemachus
"The child of the Trojan hero"
you can driver"
Like Jehu."
GOOD. Have you references?"
an my pocket. A"
"By Jove! l guess you'll do. And
that reminds me-who was Jove?"
ut has been insinuated that he was a
heather god"
"The rest of you may CO." cried the
General, waving his hand in dismissal
to the disappointed crowd. This is
the man for me"
The General led the way to the
breakfast-room. The mail had just
been brought in, and Avis sat care
lessly looking it over.
Avis" cried the veteran, "this is my
new man, and believe he's treasure.
What is your name-I forgot to ask it
before?"
"Tawmus."
Avis started suddenly at the sound
of the voice, and glanced at the new
arrival, the color coming and going in
her face.
"Thomasl Very well, Thomas, you
may begin your duties by reading the
letters to me this morning"
Thomas darted quick and expressive
glance ut the Generals daughter, and
opened the correspondence.
1t was a miscellaneous lot. There
was u dun from the halter, likewise
one from the butcher, and a long beg
ging letter from the Chairman of a
political committees; a couple of pithy
communications from an old army chum
of the Generals; and, last of all, a
thick, square envelope, directed in a
scrawling hand, and stamped with q
coat of-arms. The General listened to
this communication la blank amaze
ment.
what in the deuce do I hear?
Read that again, Thomas!" roared ne.
Thomas looked for a moment over
the top of the sheet at the Generals
daughter, who mad grown as red as a
rose, and read again:
GEN. WINFIELD; Have / your permission
to pay my addresses to- your daughter 1
made her acquaintance in Belgium IA year
ago, and ind that time has only made her
ina &c dearer TO me. My fortune is ample,
and can refer you TO my solicitors, Messrs.
Beale Sc Beale, who viii answer any question
you may like toSsk concerning me. Yours,
hoping for a speedy reply,
RAYMoND II. GILFTL JR.
The General was black with passion.
"Thomas!'
Eyes, sir"
do you see the tongs yonder?"
PLAINLY"
"Well, sir, pick that letter up with
those tongs and put it on the Goals in
the CRATE there; at once, sir!"
Thomas consigned the offending
missive to the flames. "Old fool" he
muttered, as the letter blazed up in his
face. 80 cantankerous old fool"
whats that?" roared the General.
Cool, sir; the impudence of the
thing, you know; very cool"
ooh, very well Now then, Thomas ?"
II hear you"
"If this id Mr.. Gilfil dares to
present himself at my door L am not at
home to him."
"No?"
aft he asks for Mss AVIS, you are to
tell him that Miss Avis is out; and, if
you will punctuate your statement by
kicking him off the doorsteps, you'll
not only place me under great personal
obligations, but you will earn tenner
of the same time"
A week passed by.
The General was infatuated with his
new man, and blessed the day that
Tibbs left his service to set up as an
ornament to society.
Tibbs had been we'll enough In his
day, and on compulsion had been known
to read Homer, but Tibbs could not be
compared with Thomas. Besides in
some things Tibbs was coarse. He
had an elderly habit of dropping off
to aeep at unexpected times, and a
beastlv snore that was certainly very
trying to q person OF the Generals
temperament. Thomas, on the contra