Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-11-23

useu anOtner SET OF rooms, we should re-
quire second housemaid."
drew such a melancholy picture of the
consequences that my husband said at
last
Well, my dear, please yourself; it
shall be as you like. | only wish we
could have made the old man comforta-
BILE /; he was very kind to me when was
school-boy."
SO | sat i'll my room and planned how
we could manage, gradually beginning
to think had been selfish in NY hasly
opposition. | thought it might be ar
ranged. could give up this very morn
ing-room for him to sit in, and let him
sleep in the south room next door. Wal
tiers might wait upon him if the stable
boy helped in the pantry; and if we
gave up the pretty pony-phaton we
might keep the brougham. AS to the
disarrangeueut of our family judgments,
we must put up with it. The Kindness
would bring its own recompense, some
how.
went down stairs with lighter heart,
for | was conscious of praiseworthy re-
solution; and sending off the children to
bed, knclt down by my husbands side,
and said
Shall we write the invitation, Ro-
uald ?"e
He answered me with a kiss, and
frightening of the eye, which were al
most enough recompense for the sacrifice.
! The invitation was written, accepted
and before the end of foptnight, old
Mr.. David Turion-'' Uncle Davy,' as
we called him made his appearance.
vent out to meet him, and tried to
give him hearty welcome but he was
seemingly very unamiabh old man
His manner was short and snappish; his
little grey eyes looked at me suspicious
| ly, and when he attempted to smile he
sneered sarcastically. led him into the
the drawing-room, and offered to relieve
him Of his great coat and stick But no
he growled at me as if had taken an
objectionable liberty, and setting his
stick across his knees, leaned forward on
it, and stared me full in the face. |
tried to look uncoucerned but my cheek
had flushed and my tone was sharp when
desired Lucy to run up stairs to the
1 school room.
The old mans eyes twinkled, and the
sneering smile came to his lips.
You are offended with nc, madam, y
he said. II beg your pardon but my
staff is an old friend the best friend
have | neyer allow it to leave my side. .
He never did. BY day it rested on
his knees; by night it lay on the bed be-
side him. His brain had evidently been
effected by his illness, and showed its
disorder by strange attachment to that
wooden staff with its round knob for a
handle. 1t was perfect monomania
| remember once one of my little boys
seized it when he was doing, and con
verting it into a horse, raced up and
down the room with it. Uncle Davy
woke, ami his anger knew no bounds. ]
ran out of the room with the child, ina
ginning him in positive danger and when
returned, | found the old man sobbing
and crying like an infant, with his head
bent down on the much loved staff.
Truly Uncle Davy's stay at Turton was
a sad trial to me. Over and over again
regretted that we had ever invited him 4;
and so | am sure did Ronald, too. He
said at last that we must seek him a
lodging elsewhere but the plan was
hardly formed when the old man fell sick
and died.
He had lingering illness, and ]
watched beside him day and night. -
Then, for the first time, / found that he
had formed sort Of attachment to me
and the children. and given US a little
corner of the heart that [ had supposed
to be wholly devoted to his staff.
But he was a trying invalid, and at
last was fairly worn ont with iDcessant
watching. He protested against nurse
or servant, and kept me constantly at his
bedside From no one else would he re-
ceive food or medicine, AMI it left him
for moment he was miserable. But
his childlike dependence and clinging af-
lection touched my heart in spite of my
self | began to love and tend him
gently like a baby, ruling and ending
him as | should have done one of my own
little ones when it was naughty. Under
this treatment We got on better, and
should have managed without any out
burst had it not happened that one un.
lucky day morning, III pressure Of oc-
cupation, | neglected to rub and polish
the staff as he had desired me TO do.
Before his illness, this had been the one
important duty Of his day about which
he set in the most scientific manner. with
clean towels and wash-leather. Since
himself incapaciiatcd lie had requested
me as an especial favor to undertake the
process, and, anxious 20 indulge him in all
small matters had complied: holding
the knobbed handle as be directed in a
cambria handkerchief, and rubbing from
right 10 left. This morning he bad been
in singular perverse humor; nothing
pleased him; and the supposed neglect Of
/ his fivorite caused the lowering storm 10
burst forth lie ragged and stormed for
an hour, threatening me with every sort
Of vengeance. A. length, fairly ex-
hausted, he sank back in bed aud babe
me leave him he would try and sleep
lowered about the next room for
some time, then, finding all quiet, stole
away for an hours rest When / re-
turned all was silent as before, nevertbe-
less, | noiselessly turned the lock and
looked in What was my horror TO find