The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-03
ny Uncle OOlkaAs.


our poor hOme-that day when, crouch.
Jog upon our sick mothers bed, huddled
close to her side and to each other, Paul
and I watched, with great, wide-Open,
wondering eyes that white face bathed in
its rain Of tears, those wan hands. .clasped
in utter woe and shrivked in terror and
anger when stranger forms gathered round
the long, still, white form that had been
our father, and bore him from our sight
forever 9
Death was mex to us, then, AID fuReFal
scenes; but we learned to know them
more intimately soon, poor little ones that
We werel In another month we were
orphans indeed. Our pale mother had
faded quite away, never more to be seen
by US save in dreams. She, too, was
har,,o -IA+ah by eS'-->-4~r. - ~'I.~t.- a-v~,,
palnlMng care, Tnal was no care, were
NAMED for many days until our uncle
Dolkins came to fetch us away.
He came at last, ten days after our
mothers funeral. We were summoned
by our protectress. the widowed keeper Of
a fourth.rate city lodgings-hOuse, into
that dingy, thread.bare parlor, so well
remember, to receive him.
saw only uncle DOlkins' broad back
Of shining brOadcloth as he stood looking
out into the Obscure street, but | had no
stronger inclination to approach him than
little Paul, who shrank behind me in ut
ter fear.
We remained motionless, gazing at the
large figure outlined against the window.
How long we stood thus do not know,
but at length long, deep, grieving in
aDjIAtiO2, pGGjJe P"UJ,s reoc),eA spv p3ae-
DoiEins ear. lie turned, al the sound
and cOnfronted US.
A tall, large man, with broad red face,
and Overhanging, fiabby cheeks, small
eyes Of uncertain color, cruel mouth, hair
very thin, and smooth and sleek. A full
suit of lustrous black, a white cravat, and
q smooth shorn chin hanging over it in
treble ruddy folds, an enormous hand,
cold and clammy, laid, as in benedictiOn,
but with crushing weight. on our heads,
a voice high pitched and naSal-such was
my first impression of uncle DOlkinS, an
impression of external only, but which
years, and the knowledge Of the inner
life and being Of the man, as time devel.
oped them to my comprehension, only
confirmed. .
Ny dying mother had commended to
my loving care my frail little brother
How well strove, how lovingly tried to
fulfill this trust, oh, mother, from thy
home among the blest, bear me faithful
witness could bear all the evils of my
orphan lot, but not so Paul. Dropping
delicate, sensitive, his life at unlce Dol
kins' was one continual pang, one long
agony, which | was often pOwerless t
tighten.
There were brief CLEANS Of sunshine ir
our lot. Once or tw ice uncle DoIkins wa:
shamed or frightened into temporary kind
nesss. Like all mean, and selfish. anC
cruel people, he and his had a cOwardly
Difference f r. public opinion, and bent be
fore it abjectly, doing AL their evil deed!
with the utmost SecreSy.
One day a gentleman from a neighbor
ing town-a man Of wealth and high re
pute-called at the house for the purpos'
Of transacting some business. Uncle Dol
kins was absent, and the gentleman failed
in his purpose, but my aunt, in sudder
excess ofhospitality, begged that he woulC
lunch with us before setting out On hi
homeward ride.
A hasty collation. was prepared, ant
my prudent aunt, with the intent thereby
to save a more elaborate dinner. sum
moned US all to the table. Among othe
articles were fresh eggs, and one Of these
dirided between Paul and myself, with
tiny bit of bread, was all that we ~er'
permitted to partake. Paul hungrily eyet
the viands, and with appetite but stimu
lated BY the norsel he had eaten, sum
moned courage at last to ask for more.
His request, timidly as it was proffered
was refused with Indignation poorly vale,
beneath some apparently playful remarks
| saw that our visitors attention Wa
aroused, but contrived, when converse
ton was again resumed, to place my bi
Of bread upon Paul's plate. There was
struggle between hunger and generosity
but the first prevailed, and Paul ate tn
precious morSel. Emboldened, he theI
vpntured to ask for a new supply of food
for me as well as himself. This audacity
quite transcribed my aunt Dolkins' pow
er of forbcarance. Turning upon tn
offender, she rebuked him, in no dulce
or measured tones, not only for this par
ticular crime, but generally for the fear
ful sin Of gluttony.
Suddenly, in the midst Of this angry
TRADE, the knife and fork Of our guest fel
with fierce clash upon his plate. Will
noisy emphasis he thrust back his chair
and rose from the table. e..
MADAM |" he exclaimed, in stentorial
tones, II bid you good morning! I cal
no longer sit at the board, nor remain tn
guest Of one who nat only starves, bu
harshly reproves, the helpless orphan be
meath her roof Give these children FOOT
sufficient for their wants, or, by Heaven
Madam, the country shall ring with tn
story Of your cruelty!" 81.
He could not be persuaded to remain
and though my aunt's fiercest anger fel
upon us then, we enjoyed the consequence
Of the fear which had been awakened il
the sordid brasts Of herself and her hus
band, in few weeks of comparative com
fort, in better food and clothing, and treat
ment comparatively gentle.
Paul loved books and study. The re
ligious element vas very strong in his ma
ture and even in his childhood his stronj
desire was TO become a preacher Of tn
gospel. AS he grew older, this desire be
came intensified with every year Of hi
life. At length he ventured to mention
it to uncle Dolkins. He secuted the ide
with scorn. The result was quarrel be
tween him and me, and the announce
ment, on the part Of uncle Dolkins, tina
he should send Paul at once to sea. and i
q week the pale STRIPPING Of sixteen wa
on his way to the nearest seaport
"Paul in the county poor.house, an
dyingi" That was truly the purport @
the poor scrawl !. held in my hand. year
after our separation, written by his Owl
feeble fingers. few TO Uncle Dolkin
and crayed permission and the means G
going to my brother that night. He might
percbance, have consented, but my aun