The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-03-26

direction"
"Nick, your heads turned. You
never talked in this way before. /
know that jobs are scarce, and you
4 find it hard work to keep your head
above water: but that ought not to
sour you towards your old friends.
You know I never refused to lend you
a shilling to get dinner or buy lime
with, and many's the odd job I've got
for you to do"
"Job! Ha, ha!' laughed Nicholas,
as if amused at his friends ignorance:
"and lime! have done with all jobs
and lime
"What! Amt you going to do any
more whitewashing? exclaimed litter,
feigning wonder.
"Ahem! James, you are q pretty
fair sort OF fellOw-a tolerably good
soul-and l beg you will never mention
embarrassing to me again. You will
injure yourself greatly in my kind re-
CARDS if you do"
Now, Nick, what's up? would
like to know"
Upon promise of secrecy, Nicholas
longs now explained the great ap-
preaching change in his fortune, and
his determination to prepare people,
in time to know their places and be
duly respectful.
81 should not much object to be
called Nick, by you; but it would set a
bad example to others. [ suppose
you understand me?'
'Perfectly, now, sir-or would you
have any objection to my calling you
squire?"
You may if you please, though I
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 upmy dignity beforehand,
and then it will come naturally to the
common people, when | have the
money to back it up"
''All right, squire. You do it beauti-
fully already. You ought to get a
habit OF taking snuff, though. There
Is an arlstocratic way OF taking snuff
with clean finger-nails, which l always
admire. 1t looks self-reliant."
III need no advice, James. I shall
take to dignity by instinct''
"Here comes Mrs. Hopeless's little
girl. [ 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 a 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 we'll 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
get ready
."Pooh!' said the child, pouting at
his sneering look; and, running off,
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.
hers before She sends message to 2,
gentleman"
'You a gentleman! Hoo, hoon'
And away ran thegirl Cycling as she
went.
"Good-bye, Squire. I'll keep your
secret; but | hope you'll get your in
herltance soon, so as to teach these
persons how to behave"
:'Good-bye, Mr.. James. It is imma-
terial to me how the poor wretches be-
have. [ shall soon cut loose from the
whole miserable pack. I don't sup
pose they know any better"
Adheringto this strange demeanour,
Nicholas longs soon became the won
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, a 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-
pie 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
oqulre'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 ne walked SO straightly that he
nearly tumbled backward; so that a
piummet, 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 towa1 d
heaven, or were his toes so sore that
n" feared to touch them to the ground?
On leaving the church, he was halle d
by an old woman, who had a. skeleton
horse and q rlckety cart She was q
poor neighbor of his.