The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-02-07

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had remote hope Of reaching the cabin.
When ashore, he lounged In his round
jacket, and kept on loving my mother, who
waited in patience for turn IN the long
lane Of their courtship. She snubbed Uncle
Zeb whenever she had chance, and always
inquired about father, of him, by the name
Of Esau. Grandfather, as well as Uncle
Zeb, grew comfortably rich. His invest
ments in sloops and schooners were fortu-
nate ones, and he talked of buying ship to
lit out for whaler. Feeling the need of a
| helper, for the first time in his life he turned
his attention toward his youngest son, who
was then at home, waiting for Captain
| Southerd to harvest his turnips. A propo-
sal Of partnership was made to father, which
he accepted; and thus his sea life ended.
lie was married at once, and he and mother
took to housekeeping with one feather-bed,
SIX small silver spoons, and q hearty Affec-
ton for each other. Father applied himself
to business, and the house that was thus
founded became in a few years one Of the
richest and most influential in our part Of
thc ctuntry. Grandfather very soon saw
that II would only be necessary for him to
take his share of tho profits, and that he
could safely give up oil business matters to
his partner.
! In year from the date Of their marriage
1 | was born, and at the time of Uncle Zeb's
arrival from Liverpool with my COW and
calf, was five years old. That voyage was
the last one that Uncle Zeb made. Finding
us prosperous, he concluded to retire from
business. He invested his money outside Of
the family interest, but considerably took
up his abode with grandfather, and INDUCED
| grandmother with the care Of him He occu-
| pied himself with watching the domestic
and business transactions of the house of
| A. G. s Son, and banking his money - fast
| as it came in.
For few years cannot remember much
| concerning Uncle Zeb; the traits l recall
| belong to my present knowledge of him.
When went to school, it was one Of my re-
creations to 60 to grandfathers to dinner at
Midday, and one of my miseries to sit next
to Uncle Zeb at the table. His dog, Idle, .
squatted on the other side Of him. We had
to wait till Uncle Zeb was carefully helped,
by himself, to all the best bits on the table
Then he would give Die a titbit, making her
snap her jaws for it, and then one to me
A snarling was kept up between him and
the dog through the whole meal.
He would not have the potatoes on the
table; they must be kept hot on the kitchen
fire; so grandmother sat fork in hand, watch
ing him; when hc wanted one, she fshed it
from the kettle, and he ate it scalding hot,
with noise. Grandmother occupied child's
high chair, and wore black satin hood
over her high crowned cap. She never
dined or supped till after Uncle Zeb and
had the best of times after he and Die had
retired from the table. Grandmother took
excellent care Of her graceless son. He
49, -:
afternoon when the suns rays slanted
through the narrow kitchen windows, and
made her resemble, in her shining specta-
clcs, an owl, have / seen her laboriously
plat his ruffies with a case-knife. On Sum
days she combed his hair; it was fine and
straight, and of the color of wet sand. 1t
was unchanged to the day Of his death. On
Sunday afternoon he went to church in q
great camlet cloak. and carried cane with
leather tassals. lie listened to the sermon
with an air Of respect, and broke grand
mothers heart with deriding it after he got
home.
Now and then he had visitsr-some
piratical looking captain or foreign mer-
chant; the visitor was never introduced to
any of the household, but was entert aimed in
the parlor with tumblers of red wine and
whether I came or went, sometimes hal
the benefit Of the latter. His laughter always
arrested me; il contradicted him, it was so
racy and hearty. His teeth glittered in his
sardonic face, and lighted it up; they were
long, white, and regular. and like his hair
they never changed.
Two visits per diem were Uncle Zeb's
allowance at our house. The first was made
an hour or so after dinner, when he loitered
in the kitchen, and tickled the servant
the servant girls or poked them with his
cane. Afterward, with his hat in his hand,
he sought mother, and however long his
stay, he held his cane and hat rs If on
visit Of ceremony. He talked we'll; he was
sarcastic and witty, and never bored any
body. The second visit was made after sup
per, when father was at home. There was
no confidence between the brothers, and no
sympathy; but they passed cigars to each
other, and enveloped themselves in clouds
Of SMOKE and discoursed through it on COM
monplace subjects.
As soon as was fedged, was sent to
boarding school. My vacations were short,
and l did not observe what went ON ut
home; things seemed to run smoothly in
the grooves of habit. accepted appear
ances for realities. The bushes of A. G.
4 Son had greatly increased. All the year
through, their ships were arriving in port,
or were fitting for sea. Our household was
gay one, and grandfather's house was full
of Corners and goers He knew little of the
private affairs of the concern, but smoked
his pipe, and burnt holes with its falling
ashes in his fine blue pantaloons, in peace
and tranquility. Uncle Zeb had given up
rutfied shirts, and had taken to Marryatt's
novels. He neither bought nor sold; he
never gave advice. or asked an opinion. He
had habit OF going to funerals, but he
went in a cheerful state of mind, as if the
deceased had done him o favor by dying.
He was respected as a moneyed man. The
world admires what it dare. not be con.
sistcnt, selfish skeptic; and our little world
gave its admiration to my hard-headed
Uncle Zeb. lie was cautious, because he
was cold.-prudcnt, because he was inditfer-
ent. As q token of the respect Of his towns
men, he was elected representative, and had
a seat in the State House for several years.
lie brought home q great many volumes Of
revised statutes, which grandmother stored
in the garnet, with the dried herbs. What
he did rs member Of the honorable body
Of representatives nobody knew. He only
spoke of the toughness OF the pie-crust, and
the hardness Of his bed at his boarding.
house.
When was eighteen left school and
came home for good. was the only young
woman in the family connection, aud was
considered worthy Of much attention. Uncle
Zcb, however, did not like me. lie had his
w0v nf ayasncrafinO ma Ito always talk cd