Year: 1867




Some two or three miles from the little
town of Aylesbury, England, there once
lived three cousins, of the family name of
Barrett. They were all married and settled
on farms. within a mile of each other, and
each OF them had grown up children around
them. They were not rich, but in fair cir
cumstances each had expectations. An
eccentric uncle had gone out to India when
quite a young man, and rumor told them
that he had become very wealthy, and would
probably die bachelor. Who, then, but
themselves would be heirs to his property =?
they being at the time his nearest kin
One day the three families were thrown into
great commotion by each Of them receiving a
letter, which contained besides date and sig
nature, only these words:


- | am rich. Fools call me a nabob. |
wouldn't give such title to cat. No mat
ter-shan't live always--and when l die my
property must go to somebody. l am COM
ing to England to find an heir. | shall come
and see you, and hope you will please me-
| hope you are not troubled with 5eggars.-
| do not like to see them about"


One dark, rainy night, about three weeks
after the reception of these letters by the
cousins, the family of Muses. Barrett was
thrown into & great state Of excitement by
the appearance at the door of two men in
livery, who announced themselves as the
avant couriers of his excellencv, Joshua
Barret, of India, who would claim their
hospitality for the night. Saying which,
the messengers put spurs to their horses and
dashed away, without giving the astonished
listeners time to ask single question:
Now, Moses Barret was hunks, his wife
shrewd, and his three children chips of the
two blocks, but all undertook to change
their natures for the time-or rather to be
ready to change them on the appearance of
the rich uncle-for what was the use of act
ing with the curtain down.


. Now Nose, you stingy old brute" said
his wife, 8 if you know on which side your
breads buttered, it's to be hoped you'll
have some chickens killed for his excellency' s
supper, which is more'n you did for Christ
mas and some of that wine fetched up that
you've had in the cellar since the year one,
and fire made in the best room. that hasn't
been there this ten years; and all our nice
clothes put on, that amt much, for you d
never allow us nothing decent to wear'


And it is to be hoped, old woman" re-
torted the angry husband, THAT you'll
soften down that screeching voice of yours,
and twist your wrinkles into smiles-and
that'll be something I've never seen done
since the first week of our marriage"


Great activity was displayed by all the
parties concerned, in getting ready to give
the rich uncle the best reception possible,
and all rejoiced. as much as such hopeful
family could rejoice, that they would be the
first to receive visit from him m-hoping. of
course, that they might forestall the other
relations in his good graces. 1t would have
been strange way tor any other person to
have made his first visit but then, they
knew that the uncle was very eccentric, and
his being So very wealthy made it all right
in their eyes. He might come and stand on
his head, provided he paid for bis antics
In the midst of their hurried preparations
there appeared at the door, an old, feeble
looking, white haired man, thinly clad, and
with his soaked garments clinging to his
shriveled form.


Will you be kind enough, good people"
he said, etc give me something to eat and
place to sleep tonight?" We've got
nothing to sparel and if we had we don't
harhor beggars ~ replied the master of the
house, in coarse, brutal tone. ''But m
old, and feeble, and hungry, and wet and
ii ed, y said the aged supplicant, in plead
ing tone, and if you drive me away NAV
perish" g Well, that's just what you ought
to have done long ago." put in the cross
dame. when people get too lazy to work
for an honest living, and start out begging,
it's my opinion they are better dead nor
alive. Besides, we expect company soon-a
rich man, from India-and haint got no
room for the likes of you" We'll, then, y
returned the old man, with sorrowful look.
q" since you can't keep me over night will
you please give me something to eat, and I'll
go further"


The dame brought up piece of brown
bread, with an angry look, and was about to
hand it to the medIcant, more for the pur-
pose, as it seemed, of getting rid of him than
from any feeling of compassion, but her
miserly husband interposed and said sharp
ly told you we had mt nothing for you,
and so travel on ~ "I'll set the dog on you
if you don't, you old beggar |" cried a lad
of ten. My rich uncle's coming here to.
night, and he can't bear beggars +; so YOU
had better be going while your bones are
whole? Z? " May heaven be more merciful
than you" sighed the old man, as he turn.
ed and disappeared in the darkness.


Some bait an hour later he knocked at the
door OF stephen Barrett, and asked for food
and lodging. 8 1t isn't convenient for us to
keep You to night" said the master of the
house, in mild, dignifed tome "Be
sides, we don't like to encourage beggars.-
If you are poor and not able to work. the
parish to which you belong is bound to sup
port you. No one need starve in this coun-
try, which the Lord. praised be his name.
has so bountfnlly blessed. l trust am not
wanting IN charity-as an humble follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ, hope am not
but what with taxes for the support of the
government and the poor, donations to
benevolent societies and heathen missions. it
IS as much as can do to live and give nv
family respectable maintainance. Now,
my friend, if you are poor and not able to
work, Though don't see why you may not
work as well as travel) you had better throw
yourself on the parish where you belong"


6 But am tired, wet, and hungry" said
the old man, 'sand all the parishes in the
world can't do me any good to night.''-
. But you should have thought of that be.