The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-17
THE LAST LETTER.


three or four years your aunt was al
most dying with sacred desire to pos
sess certain stylish dress made of
very costly material, but she dreaded
to speak to her husband about it.
But when one of her neighbors bel
came the proud owner of such piece
of fnery-the love of which, by the
way, is weakness that nearly all
women, good and bad alike, are SUBJ
| ject to-sha conld control herself no
longer and she set her wits to work to
control her husbands wayward will.
"Hurry, dear, (she had dropped >the
cup" for good and alD look at that
woman's dress; isn't it awful?"
The woman in question was just
passing the house. and Hurry took
long look.
"Gosh, she looks stunningp he said.
"What do you find 'awfur about ts"
"It's so expensive. And it isn't bit
becoming. At least l think dress
like that would make me look like a
fright"
"NO, it wouldn't"
"Well, just to convince you I'll take
one of my old dresses and make it
over like"
"No you won't! Do you suppose I'll
have you go around in made over
!, dresses? I've got some American
pride about me, if you haven't Come,
, We'll go right>now and see your dress
maker"
"Well, dear, if you wish it I'll go of
course"
, "That's right, Lizzie. You're good
) girl all right, but you need strong
; man to guide you.''
3 And your uncle believes to this day
/. that during her life his wife was his
r willing slave
: If you want your uncles money
S Hiram, observe these instructions
v Strike proper attitude when you
0 have your picture taken, i. e., stand
f erect, and look straight ahead; let your
left hand take hold of the lapel of your
r coat; let your right hand hang down
q by your side. This he regards as g
Q manly attitude, and it will please him
i Tell him you are sorry his health il
S falling; that you hope many years viii
y pass before he finds it necessary tc
n think of making his will; that yor
e don't need his money, but intend tt
5, carve out your own future; that yor
e esteem him as man and relative
t but that at the same time yor
n don't care cuss whether he hal
d any money to leave or not, or if he ha
is money, whether he burns it up o
e leaves it to an idiot asylum. Make i
3: stroug, Hiram, and if you throw in
n few cuss words it'll do all the better
j, because he will at once recognize yOl
g as true Slowgo, and as creditabl
scion of the old stock. Mindyou an
not advising you to do and say all this
1 am merely showing you way TO ge
the money, but you will have to sci
IS tie with your own conscience whethe
to it is permissible to use diplomacy il
It.. this case, or not.
le Hiram, am anxiously awaiting you
Homecoming, and the fatted calf
ne ready to be killed. And if any of you
~ fellow students ever pass this way the
shall be welcome to the best the hous
OF affords for your sake. They, bein
used to high living at the college, ma
ou rot relish our homely fare, but pc
haps it will do for change.
keep no wines, but barrels of tt
best cider manufactured anywhere r
nd pose in my cellar, enough for 20,
4 whole college, instructors and all. An,
ut, one can tell them where old Slowa
le, lives. Most likely some one whe
ap hearing they are on visit to my pla'
will ask them if they have any go
ou bricks they want to dispose of at ia
7" price, because, as you know, son
years ago 1 paid $4,000 for fine init
tion gold brick, and my neighbors To-
ny to have little fun at my expens
They laugh, not because they are wis
than am, but because they were n
er- tempted as / was.
Gle AS this is my last letter to The MI
ng RoR, will beg the kind readers pard'
for having so often wearied them wi