Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-05-19


a state of idjocy, and / would sometimes
wonder what she would do with me when
lost my mind entirely. The way affairs
were discussed and arranged in the eve
ming was anything but inspiriting to me.
Week after week came and went and /
did not die or grow mad, except in n
sense that wasn't at all ladyJike. In
those times | took lessons in human de-
lpravity, which ought to keep me humble
all my life. When we had company,
Charley would inform them how much
his expenses had been reduced under the
new regime, and ada, that we lived even
better than formerly because Aunt Sell.
ma knew how to manage, which was 'one
of the lost arts among ladies nowadays.
As was anything else worth knowing,
as far as he could see, or something else
equally encouraging would be snapped
out by that woman.
Wouldn't have believed any one could
have led Charley around as she did He
treated her with the greatest Difference,
consulted her in regard to the details of
his business, and would hold private ses-
sions, from which even little f ankle was
excluded.
The crisis came at last. Things had
been worse than usual all day. had the
sick headache when night came, and ex-
eused myself from going out to tea. The
quiet which had fallen upon the house
| hold seemed really ominous to me for
two or three hours heard nothing but
the tread of those squeaking shoes, and |
had terrible misgivings as tothe way my
babies had been disposed of.
When the clatter of dishes came to
my ears | crept up to my room, and
found little frankie put to bed without
any supper. He had never heard a cross
word before our home was invaded, and
his heart was almost broken.
| As called his name he sprang TO my
arms with a pitiful sob. The baby was
sleeping and my efforts failed to rouse
her. / under TODD it all. When Aunt
Selma found me there she said she spank
ed the boy because he deserved it. You
couldn't bring up children without whip
ping and the earlier you commence the
better
That nigh | wrote to Uncle William
and begged him to come without delay,
and to please not mention that sent for
him, the rest would be explained when
wemet. Uncle had received me from the
hands of my dying mother, and as far as
he knew had tried to be in the place of
parents to me. But he was a strange
compound of self-esteem and pomposity.
You would have thought him the posses
sor of millions to have heard him talk.
| He had never married and was Just as
odd and queer as he could be. Ihave no
doubt he meant to be good, but like many
of US he had great deal to content
against. When he arrived with his bag
gagedidn't Charley look queer, and had
so farfallen from grace as to secretly ex-
ult for | knew my respected uncle to be
his especial aversion.
/ Aunt Selma told me that | ought to
be careful about burdening my husband
with my relations; twas dreadful dis
couraging to have SO many hangers on
The children took to him at once, he
was just strange enough. | told him
what could without compromising
Charley, but | believe he understood it
ALL
/ He said, Leave it to me /! never fear,
Ruth. This is case requiring great
skill, and | fancy l have the ability
One night Charley said, Look here,
Ruth, your uncle is more disagreeable
than | ever knew him. he comes down
to the office, looks over my books and
bills, cautions me about this and that.
and puts in word with every trade
try to make. It's quite insuferable,
assure you, and his remarks at the table
sound odd enough coming from your
relation
Its quite too bad,' 1 answered meek
ly, but it would be impossible to say
anything to him after all he had done