Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-08

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UNCLE DAVIS sTAFF.. i9i', itef tgff
well, Jane, have Jon made up your minde
IIeays the matter entirely In your own hands
Nh husband locked across the table at me,
and held . glass Of wine between him and the
light, screwing up his eyes a. he examined the
color------ ----
We were sitting at dessert In the old dining
room at Turton, the dark polished mahogany
table rsaecting the bright faces Of sixc chiidren
Two by me-the eldest who was so. like his
father and the youngest who could not eat
tidily. and wanted mamma to cut up his orange
and wipe his mouth; opposite, by onald, were
the two little ones with curly heads and mis-
chieyous fingers, who were sailing orange
boats in the purple fnger-glass, and coaxing
papa to make more The girls were one on
each side; the elder ono peering at me with
her great blue eyes, and evidently wondering
wbateyer il was that mamma was to make up
her mind about. Twas just going 70 answer
when caught her curious gaze, and then L
stopped.
70 of to bed, ;" said. 80.
Lucy dropped her head with q blank express
sion of disappointment, which Ronald observed
with infinite amusement There was little
nod across the table TO me, and a whisper
about little pitchers having long ears, which
made Lucy blush. Presently we went to the
drawing room, and the children began rJmp,
at the conclusion Of which / carried of the
youngest to the nursery; and before came
down again went for . moment into my little
morning room and sat down over the nre-l
wanted to think n ..-E- .ys
People said / was fortunate and happy
woman, and so | was Cur home was enc Of
those fair English halls standing amid its own
fsr-spreading grounds and rich farms. could
match my husband and children against the
best and noblest in the land; and yet had
plenty to make me ofttimes theug htful, and
sometimes sad. There Is a cross in every lot,
and mine lay in the future-not my own, but
my children's.
My father-in-law had been an extravagant
man, who had drained the sntailed estate as
near as he could. My husband, with a mod
erately large income, hsd many claims on his
purse, and moreover, with scrupulOus honor,
applied every available sum to the payment
OF his fathers debts. We had large family;
the eldest one was provided for by the entail.
But if this went ON, what could we do for the
other little ones Over and over again had
tried to bring the matter seriously before Ro
maid; but careless security in the future was
apart Of his natural disposition, and could
not persuade him to make any real effort for
their benefit. Invariably he said, "Just wait
till I pay Saunders and Bolton, and then We
will begin to lay by" And l had to think
sadly of my own poor portion Of f5, 900 vested
in shares in the County Bank and hope and
trust.
was thinking more sadly tonight because
my husband, who had just returned from 9
business visit to London, had met me with aI
unexpected proposal. He had fallen in with
an old uncle, who had spent the greater par
of his life in India, toiliag for the golden for
tune that never came. Now q decrepit ole
man, and q confirmed invalid, he had expend
ed the little he possessed, and was actually il
want. Ronald described his miserable lOdg
ing, told how much he suffered, and ended with
proposal that we should ask him to come anC
1iva at Thu kind thostOaf ms
Like him; but looked terribly blank when th'
idea was suggested, and opposed it violently
My woman's brain at once embraced the OBJ
stacles, and, it may be, exaggerated them.
Think what tie it would be- / said, 81
third person TO spoil our quiet evenings ant
reading alOud-a somebody to interfere will
our walks and drives and dinners. The poo
children would be hushed for fear Of disturb
ing the invalid; should have to give up N.
time to his amusement and comfort. Besides
think Of the expense. We agreed to give u
the carriage horses; but that would be out Q
the question if he were here, and could no
walk or use the pony-phetOn. And we mus
have an extra man-servant to wait on him; an
if we used another set of rooms, We should re
quire a second housemaid."
drew such melancholy picture Of the cor
sequences that my husband said at last:
We'll, my dear, please yourself: it shall
as you like. i only wish We could have mad
the old man comfortable; he was very kind |
me when was q school-boy.''
So sat in my room and planned how "
could manage, gradually beginning to think
had been selfish in my hasty opposition.
thought it might be arranged. could Civ
ND this very morning room for him to cit ii
and let him sleep in the south room next doc
Walters might wait upon him if the stable be
helped in the pantry; and if we gave up u
pOny-phston we might keep the broughan
AS TO the disarrangement Of our family's ei
joymenz, we must put up with it. The kindne
would bring its own recompense, somehow.
went down stairs with n lighter heart, f
Twas conscious Of praiseworthy resolution
and, ser ding the children to bed, knelt dos
by my husbands side, and said: = Shall '
write the invitation, Ronald?"
He answered me with kiss and brighte
ing of the eye, which were almost enough re
ompense for the lcri6ce.
The invitation was written, accepted, al
before the end Of a fortnight, old Mr.. Dav
Turton-" Uncle Davy," as we called him
made his appearance.
I went out to meet him, and tried to ri
him hearty welcome; but he was seemingl,
very unamiable old man. His manner "
short and snappish; his little gray eyes look
at me suspiciously; and when he attempted
smile he sneered sarcastically. i led him in
the drawing room, and offered to relieve b
of his great coat and stick. But no; he growl
at me as if had taken an objectionable Il
erty; and setting his stick across his knees,
leaned forward on it, and stared me full in I
face I tried to look unconcerned; but
cheek had flushed and my tone was sharp wh
desired Lucy 30 run mp stairs to the scho
room.
The old mans eyes twinkled, and the sne
ing smile came 20 his lips.
You are offended with me, madam" s.
he. "I beg your pardon; but my staff is an
-friend-the best friend have. / never all
il to leave my side"
He never did. By day it rested on his kns
: by night it lay on the bed beside him.
brain had evidently been affected by his
mass, and showed its disorder by strange
tachment to that wooden staff, with its roU
knob for a handle. It was \ perfect monor
mia. .gsf =. q
Iremsmber once one Of ny little boys sci
u when be was DOING, asd converting il |
horse, raced up and down the room with
Uncle Davy woke, and his anger knew
bounds ran out Of the room with the eh
imagining him in positive danger, and whs
returned found the old man sobbing and q
ing like an infant, with his head bent down
h-la saE naw wwfa .