Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-04-27
ONLY EASTER EG,;S!
Queer Conduct Of Miser Toward
His Nephews.

"Old Uncle Flint as he was known,
was a very rich man. as all supposed,
but he was penurous and eccentric.
He spent most of his time in his dusty
office, and year in and year out sat
there counting up figures and looking
over musty papers, until he had come
to look like worn piece of parchment
himself His nephews, Reuben, Seth
and Tom, had no reason to have any
great love for their old uncle and on
old Flint's side there seemed to be lit
tie, if any regard, for them. When he
was young man, so twas told, he had
been crossed in love, no one knew why,
but he had never married, and now he
appeared to think of nothing but max
ing money.
He had sold an old mill to his neph-
ews. who by dint of economy and hard
work managed to meet their monthly
payments. though there was often but
little left them when this was done.
Their uncle never offered them any as
sistance and was rs exacting of every
penny due him as if they had been
strangers.
One Easter, however. what was their
surprise to receive from him some East
err eggs-One apiece-and for r euben
and Seth, who were married, one each
for their wives and children. They
were gayly ornamented, each with
bit OF gilt paper covering the end and
bearing the name in gilt letters of the
60. nh. 4
considered only one of the old man $
freaks, and the eggs were carefully
laid away on the mantelpiece, where
they could be seen if he should happen
to call.
Tom was the youngest of the broth
ers, and it was thought that if any of
them met with favor in the old mans
eyes. it was he. The young man had
more regard for his uncle than both his
brothers combined. and they had be-
come little jealous of him, and were
wont when they were hard pressed for
money. to taunt him with trying to get
into the good graces of the old man
with view to being handsomely re-
membered in the will, from which they
feared their names might be omitted.
Tom paid but little attention to his
brothers slurs other than to say he
would much rather they should have
all and he nothing than that they
should think SO meanly of him. True,
he went to see his uncle more frequent
ly than they, who rarely saw him ex-
cept on payday. but he pitied the lone
old man. and even liked him, in spite
of his closeness and oddities.
''Tom,' said old Flint one day when
his nephew had dropped in to see him,
ii hear you are going to John Law
sons pretty often nowadays and his
hard black eyes fixed themselves on
Toms face, which redeemed up to the
roots of his curly hair, for somehow he
felt uneasy under the close scrutiny of
those piercing eyes. But he answered
truthfully:
YES, do go there frequently. Nell
lie Lawson is an uncommonly sweet
girl, and meant to tell you that If she
will have me | want to marry her."
Don't go there any more, my boy,"
said old + int, shaking his finger
warmly at Tom. ut will do You no
good. Tell her you have no money and
expect none. Ha, ha" he exclaimed
more to himself than to his nephew,
''see what she'll say then" With this
came far-off look into his eyes. which
for a moment lost their fierceness. but
his face still held its stern expression.
"When | was your age he resumed,
al was foolish, too-and look We, lad,
she favored me until she found had no
balance at the bank. Then | was dis
missed because | had less money than
my rival. who laughed at me because
OF my poverty. But mark you, | can
now count my dollars where he has
cents. d. you hear? Ha! hal" came
the same dry chuckle again, the worn,
wrinkled face became more serious, the
thin lips closed lightly, and again a
look of severity came into his eyes.
81 can't see why you should Judge
all women by one" protested Tom. II
am sure you would think differently if
you knew Nellie Lawson" But the
old man only smiled cynically as Tom
persevered: II am sure il would make
little difference to her whether | was
rich or poor, so long as we had enough
to get along on. l can always earn
enough for that l hope" continued
Tom proudly.
''And you are bound to marry her,
then. ehp" returned old Flint sharply.