The Wilmingtonian., 1885-11-07
THE STORY TELLER.
Old MIR. Merrihew's whim.

''The world forgetting, by the world for
got" SO quoted young, handsome Reginald
Burton as he lightly swung himself in
hammock on a warm afternoon in June,
under the cool shade of maple tree in his
unce's well-kept garden. For old James
or ''Miser' Merrihew as he was secretly
styled by the neighbors when talking
among themselves) was very rich gentle
man, aud as eccentric as he was wealthy.
His residence situated in fertile region in
Southern New York not far from the flour
ishing town of P-wes surrounded by
well-kept gardens, smooth lawns and de-
lightful shade-trees and just back OF these
his famous orchards, whose trees all laden
with ripe fruit, wore the envy of the neigh
borhood for miles around. They were also
the FREQUENT resort for bad boys who loved
to steal upon the grounds unawares and eat
the luscious fruit, until, caught and dismiss
ed with stern reproof by the faithful old
Scotch gardener, or other members of the
Merrihew household. The latter originally
consisted of the master himself, his daught-
er, a lovely girl of nineteen (the offspring
Of second marriage) his nephew, a prom
Using young man OF %, together with
small staff of servants. There were sundry
bad reports circulated of old Mr.. DIerrihew,
the one good act Of his later days being the
adoption of his favorite sisters son whose
mother when dying had commen-
ded to his care, and whom he had carefully
reared and educated until when our story
opens he had arrived at manhood, gifted
with those good qualities of mind and heart,
which not only made him favorite with his
uncle's household, (where he usually spent
his summer holidays, but gained him
many friends elsewhere, aud especially in
the city, where be had taken up his legal
career.
But not withstanding the aforesaid gener-
GUS and benevolent act on the part of MIR.
Merrihew he invoked the constant enmity
and displeasure of his friends and acquain
tences everywhere, when he turned his
daughter and only child from the door, fol
refusing to marry her cousin Reginald "a
match upon which the old man had set his
hearth and accepting instead poor carpen
ter q workman IN tne VlllaBe near ny
i'Jack' Loring was a man of stout heart
and honest purpose though his only riches
were hundred or two in bank and the
wages due him weekly from his masters
shop.
But sweet Nellie Merrihew loved hin
with all her heart, then came the old stor!
of a fathers disapproval, for old Mr. Merri
Ihew looked upon the whole affair as a ''mos
scandalous" and dsgraceful one and posi-
lively refused to give his consent to tn
union. Whereupon one fue moonlight nigh
the lovers met by mutual consent, and Sc
out for the parsonage about two miles dis
tant where the good minister soon mad
them man aud wife. The poor mechani
and his young wife, 70 cpk cheap lodgings j
scond rate quarter of the town and no
very far distant from where resided her onl
parents and for while things prospere
finely. But one day The hand of fate deal
them cruel blow. The young hus
band was suddenly stricken down wit
malignant disease. He fingered one shol
week and then died, leaving his young wifi
with her innocent babe to sace the n..s