Litchfield enquirer., 1863-12-31

pieasalS thousn sad, for he could feel-the l gloomy thoughts of Mrs. Merrill gave her re- spite. Wonderful were the stores of toys and | bon bons which came out of Uncle Charities | pockets for his little nephew. Deep was the blush with which Mrs. Merrill received a sealed envelope, which Uncle Charlie bade her to put in her pocket and to hold her peace.
 Charles you are robbing yourself.'
 Me and bachelor, without wife, or chick, or child. Besides, it's all charged, and will be paid when your husband comes bome:,
 Mrs. Merrill sadly shook her head. Uncle Charlie knew her forebodings. Perhaps he shared them. But Uncle Charlie was always child. In the darkest day he could see sun- light. If he had been broker, he could have carried the most forlorn stock, and when forced to give way, drop his load. ard rejoice that he wasf released from burthen. The mans confidence was as adamant, and his spir- its as a.perennial fountain. He was determin- ed to believe that his brother would return ,and if the absent never came back, 50 much the more was he bound to keep up, for the happi- ness of his widow and child.
 Why, Uncle Charlie ? said George as he surveyed his presents, you did not bring me one book
 No more did, said Uncle Charlie. But l will give you all my books when you are man, and you shall be lawyer like me. You might look at Jack the Giant Killer, which gave you last year. if you had not torn it all to pieces 7
 Oh haven't, yoa naughty uncleS said the child, as he produced in triumph the well kept classic.
 | By the way, sister, said Uncle Charlie | whose thoughts now reverted to his morning . adventure, want you to shock all the propri- cites. and frightsn Mrs. Grundy out of her wits. this afternoon
 Little Geordie looked up, wondering what kind of a New Years game this might portend.
 met a little witch, this morning.
 Geordie's eyes were ready to burst from his head, and his mother divided her smiles be- tween the lively uncle and ths astonished nephew. And wish you to call and see her with me-
 'Oh, should so like to see witch r cried Geordie. 'Is it in the menagerie ?
 Never you mind, Georde. You'll see the witch soon enough So he did but must not get before my story. He is looking at her now, over the tor of his everlasting newspaper.
 Mrs. Merrill was not hard to persuade to ac company her brother. She was accustomed to his cratic movements, and never thwarted them for whatever conventional rules might be langhipgly broken, the man was always right, for his heart was kind, and his head was sound. So little Geordie was left with Jack the Giant Killer, in charge of the house, and Uncle Charlie took his sister with him to keep his appointment with the little enigma and hel mother.
 We need not go with him on his second call for the result of the interview will develop it self. When Uncle Charlie and his sister re turned, a new tableau met their eyes in th parlor. 4 stranger, with huge moustache ant beard to give an upbolsterer an outfit, was sit ting in the best and coziest chair and Geor die, on the strangers knees, was comparing h birsute visage with that of Jack of high re nown. Uncle Charlie stopped second in tn, door. Mrs. Merrill rushed past him, with , scream of delight. and in moment more Geor die was rolling on the carpet, with the force o the concussion. Mrs. Merrill's head was lost ii the forest on the strangers face, and Unclt Charlie was giving three cheers and tiger In this little Geordie vociferously joined whil, he rubbed his knees concluding like sensi ble boy, that to- shout was better than to whine I All forthwith began to talk at once and W, cannot undertake to tell half they said. O chief interest to our tale is the explanation I which Mrs. Merrill gave of her absence how she went to see Mrs. Oliver, whose husband went to California;
 And died there,' interrupted Mr. Merrill. l sShe knows that, poor soul,' said Uncle Charlie. q don't think uncle was half as sot. " for that death as he pretended) ( But she don't know said Mrs. Merrill that her husband left her fifty thousand dollars. He was my partner, and we were very forsu. nate. wish he could have lived to return with me. But he died full of love for his wife and child, and charged me with many mes sages to them. closedshis eyes and from that day set my face bomeward.'
 Why did you not write ?
 1 So did, dozen times. But where ii Charles fled I have not so much as shaken hands with him yet
 l T guess he's gone to sec the witch, cried little Geordie.
 .or the witch's mother said Mrs Merrill. l Uncle Charles soon returned, and confessed the fact, that he thought it his duty to break the intelligence to the widow. And his duty has been very much blended with hers ever since. Her fortune she settled upon Edith her hand, at proper time, she gave to Uncle Charlie, and she Lever has said, since that