The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-05-19

suppose I"
"No, you incredulous old uncle
full Of lilies of the valley and tulip
beds. with two royal old elms droop'
ing.over the front porch--"
"Oh! h--h!" cried Mr.. Selby with a
counterfeit shudder, "that accounts for
the blue mould on the mantel and the
mildewed wallpaper, and the leaky
roof"
"Nothing Of the sort, uncle Didn't
/ tell you the house was in perfect re.
pairY But uncle"
swell, what's coming now?'
"The lady who owns the house.
she's a widow, uncle, with such soft
brown eyes, and hair just like the shell
of a ripe chestnut--would like the priv
ilege Of retaining just two rooms for
herself, on the second floor. She has
had reverses, and cannot afford to keep
the whole house."
"Cool ofthe widow, upon my word"
said Uncle Selby. $50 I'm TO open
tenement house for her benefit, eh ?"
"Unclc"
"Well, what else does it amount to?
How many children has she, I'd like to
know?"
"Only one son, uncle, and"
"a noisy, romping school-boy, I'LL
go bail, playing ball in the back gar
den, and smashing in all window-g
batting cats and tormenting dogs. /
always did hate boys
"Wrong, uncle, all wrong from the
beginning" cried Blanche, gleefully.
"He is a young clergyman, and he
breaches in the Mill Street Church, and
one of the rooms is to be his study"
Worse and worse" said Mr.. Selby
with grim face, "he'll be trying to
convert me and giving me bundles of
tracts to distribute among my friends.
No, Blanche, no--tell the young cler-
gyman and his mama TO clear out. If
I'm to have a house at all, | want it en-
tirely to myself"
Blanche colorcd and hung down her
head.
"But uncle l promised them they
should have the two rooms. didn't
suppose you would object"
"My dear, that shows how much you
still have to learn Of your uncle's char
acter;" said the old gentleman, drily.
Il can't do it, uncle" "pouted Blanche
81 promised them, and | cannot for
felt my word"
"Forfeit a fddlestick," said uncle
Sclby, gruflly.
"And the young clergyman was SO
polite, and IL promised to take
class in his Sunday School"
$50 you got up a Irritation with the
young clergyman, ehS'' said uncle Sci
by. "a pretty way you have of house
hunting, miss"
81 couldn't refuse to speak to him,
could II" demanded Blanche, with
some aspcrity.
"Well, we'll, all there is left for us to
do" said Mr.. Selby, Struggling his
shoulders. sis to 60 and undo the mis-
chief you've conjurcd up, as well as
may be. You say you engaged the
housew
"Yes, uncle" whispered Blanche.
cat what rent?'
"Only fifteen hundred dollars
Upon my word!' laughed uncle
Sclby, "your widow understands the
great art of making bargain remark
ably we'll I'll go there tomorrow
morning the first thing"
Blanche cried a little, but Blanche
tears only seemed to strengthen heI
unclc's grim determination to have
nothing to do with interesting young
clergymen and soft-eyed widows
"Come Blanche" said the old gen.
tleman, resolutely, the next morning as
they rose from the breakfast table.
"Must I go with you, uncle'" hesi-
tated the young girl.
"Of course" cried Mr.. Selby. "Don't
| I need a witness Of whatever bargain l
may conclude to make!'
aBut cont want to, uncle
"Nousense, child-come along"
And Blanche, the more submissive
and yielding of two, was forced 70 &C.
company her uncle.
Even uncle Selby was forced to con.
fess that the cottage on Glenn street
was "a little gem of place." and he
almost relented as the trim maid serv-
ant showed him into the parlor, and
tripped away up stairs to call her mis-
tress.
In q few minutes the parlor dool
opened, and tall, graceful lady in
black entered.
81 am sorry to delay you, sir" she
began, "but-
j "Why. its Minnie Cleveland u burs