Year: 1864

It was irdisputabIy certain that Giles
/ Myrick was a mcan man. The fact was


patent all over Eighwood. 1t had passed
into a proycrb-''As mean as Giles Ny
rick"


But Giles came honestly by his pro-
cIigity for meanness. His mother was
highly celebrated for the same quality.
People said she skinned her milk on the


top and then turned it over and skinned


the bottom; that she skinned, likewise,
the water in which the pans were washed,
and made her children 20 barefoot cold
winter evenings, for fear they would wear
their stockings OUT But then other
people besides ATtemus Ward will be


"sarkastical,' yOn know.


Any casual observer would have known


that Giles vas mean-only By looking at


him. The very cat Of his clothes indi-
Gated it. They were always as tight as


his skin to save cloth; and his coat was
usually buttonaG up to conceal the ab-
sence of q vest. Some evil minded per-
sons went so far as 20 say that Giles went


without a shirt, and that bis collar was


the only linen article be allowed about bis
person.


Giles was good looking, and might


have been somebody, if be had not been
so mean that he couldn't afford it. Of
course all the girls avoided him. It IS
current belief that women like best those
men who load them with presents, but
it's our belief that they like best those
men who have the best principles
whether they are in the habit of patren-
izing jewelers., and bon bon manufacturers
or not. 4 true woman always shrinks
from coming in contact with meanness
and cowardica; and the two attributes
commonly go together.


1t was a severe trial to Giles to be
obliged to buy anything. Not because
he lacked the money, but because he so
hated to part with it. He had been
kuOwa to stand for half 2 day in a store,
trying to get reduction Of three cents
On half dollar straw hat. He made his
own boots, lest the shoemaker might take
advantage Of him, and his mother knit
his Sunday gloves, because gloves cost so
much He never eat anything sweet,
unless he was away from home, aud drank
no tea nor coffee; they all cost money =
And besides, ne always borrowed news
paper-which is about as conclusive
proof Of his mCanness as can be offered.


At twenty-three the usual fate Of hu-
manity befell our hero. Kitty More came
to Highwood to teach school, and Giles
fell IN love with her. Kitty was pretty,
mischiovous, and coquettish, and man
aged SO well, that at their second meeting
he was ready to worship her, in his own
mean way.


He had vague idea that it was Gus
tomary for lovers to make their mistresses
presents; but what would be proper he
was quite at loss to conceive. He tho't
of taking his white creeper hen over to
Kitty, but then the bird was sitting on
twelve eggs, and would probably hatch
ten chickens, at least; and they would
bring FIVE dollars in the fall That would
never do! Such extravaganza would ruin
the whole Myrick family. Then he. tho't
Of string Of onions link of sausage;
a piece of spotted cheese; some new po-
tatoes; but nothing seemed to be just
what was wanted.


So he asked Sam. Smith what he gave
his girl. Sam. said the last thing was
kiss-the last but one, belt ribbon.


Giles thought it over, and made up his
mind to q belt ribbon. He thought he
could afford to spend ninepence, when
he went to Dover to sell his wheat and
if he cVuld get one for that-why, it was
as good as purchased! He laid awake
hall the night before his journey, think
lYpr f.. h., Z