The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-12-10
UNCLE JOHNS VISIT;
TALE FOR THE TINES
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.
(Napker [.

Itcame at last-what the fire, Cassandra-
like, had muttersd Of for several days past
what peuple prophesied to each other on the
street-What Bill Lyman, the stage driver,
had foreseen that morning, whenhe called for
his heaviest pea iacket-what young maidens
aud school boys had looked for with such
impatient lOngings-what the hOuseless and
homeless had anticipated with anxiety and
dread-the snow storm. .f
And right brave storm it was; none OF
yonr light, trifling affairs, that merely cover
the earth with thin frosting, like that on Q
bridal loaf, but regular old fashioned snow
storm. To be sure, it was rather coquetish
at first, like Young horse at starting, but
soon it settled down and went to work IN good
earnest. 1t woVe dainty coverlids ,fOr the
violet beds in the deep old woods, and covered
them over like careful mother; it powdered
the heads of the cedars until they looked like
white haired giants, and wrapped alike the
graves Of rich and poor, in shrouds Of daz-
zling whiteness. ~,
Oil very impartial were those same little
white, featheTy flakes, that came dancing
down at the bidding Of the storm, edglng
alike the blue cloth cloak Of Judge Edmonds
and the ragged garments OF the beggar' WIN
'Rrmine too dear for an Earl"
Thenthey made league with that cool.
headed old tactician the north wind, and to-
pether they went skirring through the streets
heaYing up emhankments here, digging trench,
es and forming curves there, rushing rouhd
corners To attack stont, rosy checked gentle.
men. who fought and sputtered and dashed
the snow from their eyebrows to see wha
awaited them next, while the thinly clad shoI
girls drew their shawls closer about them, anC
seudded in troops, like little snow BIRDS, CLOSE
under the houses, to escape their bolsteron'
greetings. In the space OF au hour or 50 th'
storm had the city pretty much to itself, fol
whoever had shelter, was glad to get beneath
it and stay there.
snacious wholesale clothing store, upon which
Is hurrying up aud down the streets after thu
last straggleps, the storm seemed to hestoN
narticulaf attention. 1t tried to shake thI
mahogany cased windows, and find some crael
In them, or in the heavy paneiled door, By
which Il could gain ingress, but baffled here
\ contented itself with wrapping whit
covering over the gilded sigHbOard, darken
inc the windows, muffling the steps, and bar
reading the door, as if it said-''Ncver mind
I'll be ready for you when you do openl'
Now it was very provoking ne, doubt, bu
none of these manGnyres seemed TO dlsturI
the eauanimity Of Mr.. d. Orestes Jlmps, tn
owner Of the store. All the clerks had gon
to tea; and while waiting their return, he So
before the stove, with his heels resting upon
biph stool. rather above the level Of his head
and his ewes fixed upon lamp hook in tn
wall. as a kind of tether to his imagination
while he counted up the profits OF the day
sales--a very necessary and commodious pro
cess seeing next day was New Years, and h
anticipated several extra demands upon hi
purse' Perhaps we should not be FAR iron
The truth, If we said that, at the same time, h
gave rough guess at his neighbor Jumper
nrofits. and wondered Just how much an
wbathe would give at their PASTORS donatio
party the next evening; for Mr., d.. Orestt
JimDs did not like to be cast IN the shade B
any one, especially by rival house, beside
We are all, at times, so remarkably disinte
rested, that We take more interest IN otht
peoples concerns than our own.
But, hurrahl the storm has triulnphedl-
Through Che open door falls. the barricade (
snow, followed by the wind, that sends II
glittefing particles dancing through the whol
length Of the store, and raises such commt
tionamOng the various garments, mention
able and unmentionable, suspended overhead
thatit IS some time before the astonished Nj
Jimps is aware Of the cause Of this disturb
anee. ,..
hollow W-eyed girl, WITH cheek almost as v M
AZ the snow matted in her abundant hair, an
clinRing to the folds Of her miserable dress.
sWeil what's wanting my girlf aske
MIR. Jimps, as the thin, wan face, scareel
higher than the level Of the counter, was turr
ed I'M TO him with a timid, appealing glance
,UPlease, siY,' began little trembling p
ming voice, II have brought some shirts, an
mother wants to know il you will be kin
enough 10 LEFT her have the money for them.
MI. Jimps took the packet which the ehil
drew from under her shawl, and deliberatel
counted out the coarse garments it containe,
while the little one edged timidly towards Il
SThree. four, five, SIX. Why child" e
claimed the gentleman, as he finished coun'
inc chow Is this2 Here Is but half the !
we rave ont 10 your motherE
HNo sir.n returned the child, as she edgt
hack 10 her first stand, 'mOther knew that
but little Jennie has beeneo sick, sir, that
could not get any more dcRe; and-7and-.-
is "a cold. and the coal is gone. Mother hop'
sir. Won would be kind enough to pay her /
these, and we win finish the sothers rs sOoni
II thought your mother understood o
Aayms. Z told her when abe took the WoI
that wemade II a rule topay only when
lot was done, returned Mr.. Jimps. fsIhe
arc plenty Of people glad 70 work Tor us
those terms, and your mother cannot expS
QS 10 make an exception in her iayOT."