The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-03-26


Perfectly, now, sir-or would you
have any objection to my calling you
squirrel"
You may if you please, though |
should rather you would wait till
get possession"
And Nicholas began to pull up his
collar, and brush the dust from his
boots, with his red silk handkerchief
in very gingerly manner.
Unjust get up my dignity beforehand,
and then it will come naturally to the
common people, when l have the
money to back it up"
'All right, squire. You dot beauti-
fully already. You ought to get a
habit of taking snuff, though. There
is an aristocratic way of taking snuff,
with clean fnger-nails, which always
admire. 1t looks self-reliant."
II need no advice, James. I shall
take to dignity by instinct"
Here comes Mrs. Hopeless's little
girl. l suppose she is looking for you,
squire, for | know she wants some
whitewashing DONE"
Nicholas curled his lip, and looked
into the sky, as the urchin approached
and screamed out.
Mother says you must come at
once, and do job of whitewashing
for her"
"Ahem!" coughed the heir-presump-
tive, looking down at the child with
lofty disdain. "Who is she?"
"Why she is Mrs. Hopeless, You
know her well enough. She says you
must come now"
"Must! Ha!ha! Look here, James.
A good joke, really. Quite laughable.
This poor little girl says must
Child, tell your mother I'll come when
l get ready"
"Pooh!" said the child, pouting at
his sneering look; and, running of,
she soon returned.
Mother says that you shan't have
the Job at all; she's going to have
somebody else, and she'll never en-
ploy you again"
"Begone, poor child! and tell the
woman, Hopeless, to mend her man.
ners before she sends a message to
gentleman"
"You gentleman! Hoo, hoo!
And away ran the girl giggling as she
went.
"Good-bye, Squire. I'll keep your
secret; but l hope you'll get your in
heritance soon, so as to teach these
persons how to behave"
"Good-bye, Mr.. James. 1t is imma-
terial to me how the poor wretches be-
have. shall soon cut loose from the
whole miserable pack. l don't sup
pose they know any better"
Adheringto this strange demeanour,
o1o1 l
der of all Vision Vale. To see him so
proud, tidy, doing nothing, so reserv-
ed, and so erect, when heformerly had
astoop in his walk, and with his stand
ing collar, gloves, handkerchief, clean
boots-he had high heels put to them
and with his hat cooked on one side,
was very puzzling to the people.
The women said he must be disap-
pointed in love; and the men said he
was crazy, or had turned gambler.
But on the following Sunday he at
tended church, thing uncommon
with him, and the people stared at
him as he entered and stalked POM
pously up the broad aisle. Yes, all
eyes were bent upon this unfathoma-
BILE fellow, as he strobe slowly along
he was so painfully erect. The truth
was, that he had long envied the
straight back of the richest man in
the place, Squire Broadlawn; but the
Squire's immense stomach forced him
to throw back his back to balance
what was before; but Nicholas Tongs
had no fronted rotundity to balance,
yet he walked so straightly that he
nearly tumbled backwards; so that a
plummet, dropped from the side of
his knee, would have fallen behind his
heels. In fact, his whole weight SEEM
ed tie rest upon the hindmost edge of
his heels. Was this the result of his
heart and face being turned toward
heaven, or were his toes so sore that
he feared to touch them to the ground?
On leaving the church, he was hailed
by an old woman, who had askeleton
horse and a rickety cart. She was a
poor neighbor of his.
, Come Nick" she screamed out.
"We've more than mile to go. Get
in and drive for me. I've given you
many lift on the road, and I'll do it
, again"
s'Madam!" said he, with a naughty
glance, ~ have no occasion for your
services. l can't stop to talk with
you; l am going to ride with the
: Squire, and not in your fiimsy old
, CART
The old woman could scarcely be-
) lieve her ears; and so she waited to
t see if she could believe her eyes, for
Nicholas now approached the Squire
) stylish phantom.
He fiourished his handkerchief, dis
| played his loves, tugged at his collar,
: coughed, gave his hat an extra cock,
: adjusted his vest, examined his bright
boots, and then accosted the Squire
! who was on the point of starting.
esquire Broadlawn!"
CHI
l II am going to ride with you, to-
< day"
'Are your" replied the Squire, as
tonished.
ooh, yes: I suppose you know me
, don't you?"
!. "You're Tongs, amt you7"
"Nicholas Tengs, Esquire. Yes,
, want to ask your advice about the
D best kind Of stocks for me to invest
!, in"
"You invest in stocks, Nick Tongs!
Well, come, that's agood one! Stockst
y Why, l should say laughing-stocks, by
/ all means"
s And the Squire drove off alone
needless of the cry of Nicholas, tc
:, stop, for he vas going to ride with
him."
j ~ shall have to ride with you, Mrs
4 Helpfort," now said Nicholas, turning
to the old woman.
"No, you sha'n't, Mister Nick. My
J. old cart would break down with sicl
0 load of conceit; and I'd as soon rid,
n with old Nick as any of his sons"
b And away rambled her aged nag
leaving Nicholas Tongs to walk hom'
: by himself.
T. "If these people only knew what wa
+ coming to me i'll less than a month";
o thought he. But they sha'n't. II
e keep it to myself, and let them shoV