The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-03
MY NEPHEW FRED.
And His Two Funerals.

Eyes, aunt, you must excuse me.
But, Fred"-
"There are no butts about it, my
dear aunt. [ cannot and will not be
taken down to the drawing room to-
night .
''Then [ shall certainly be compelled
TO excuse you, Ireplied, striving hard
to keep the tears which some way
would fill my eyes every time I attempt
ed to reason with the fellow lying SO
helpless before me.
Months before the opening of this
story, Fred. Travers, in attempting to
ascend a scaffolding raised upon a
building of which he was the architect,
was precipitated to the pavement, strik-
ing upon his feet. The effect was
partial paralysis of the lower limbs.
Everything that medical skill could
suggest was promptly attended to, but
with very little success; and the poor
fellow had about decided that he must
remain helpless cripple the rest of his
life L shall never forget the day he
resigned himself to his fate Every
member of the family was requested to
keep ut of his room until he signified
his desire to be visited.
About o'clock in the evening | was
summoned to Fred's department
Well, ?" said / taking his outstretch-
ed hands "what is t."
ooh, nothing, aunt; only l have had
a funeral; and the strangest part
of it all is, l was chief mourner l
have buried all my youthful hopes and
aspirations; and henceforth there will
be no more sniyeling ever til e 'inevita-
BILE"
Since my nephew's accident [ had
not held my usual Wednesday evening
receptions; but he was now so far re-
covered that / thought it best to begin
again. All my attempts to have him
make one of the party We're useless.
He saw that [ was grieved, and said,
while bitter smile played round his
handsome mouth: ct would be
pretty sight now, wouldn't it, to see
me, great, strapping fellow, six feet in
my stockings, carried by a footman
down into the parlor ~
But, Fred, Ben can take you down
before any one comes. And all nv
friends know that I never entertain
company after eleven; so you will not
become tired of sitting
my dear, precious little aunt, don't
you see that | am not vet able to con-
quer the modification this helplessness
entails upon me? [ shall lie on the So
Ia IN the library, and you can leave the
doors open, SO that the strains of mu-
sic Will float up to me; and | shall en-
10Y myself quite as much as if one of
the crowd >
don't know why was unable to keen
my thoughts with the company assem-
bled; butthey would stray off up stairs.
and several times l caught myself
whispering, Poor Fred, poor Fred L.
More than one inquiry was made for
INN, for he was favorite with us all
but to no one did Isay, go up stairs
| knew he did not wish it.
The belle of the evening was q Miss
Griffin, an intimate friend of one of
my boarding school cousins, but a
stranger to ME. She sang exquisitelv.
played with a skill truly professional,
conversed lntelligently and intelligiblv
and these latter accomplishments
were so rare among young ladies eener-
ally, that | found myself quite attach
ed to her. Some one volunteered to
play waltz, and as the young folks
flew around the room to the fascinating
strains of Strauss | ran up stairs to see
how Fred was enjoying himself. The
gas was turned quite low, but the
CRATE sent out a cheerful light which
illuminated the center of the room
leaving the sides and corners in deem
shadow.
what sight met my ewes
Miss Griffin, supposing herself tho
sole occupant of the room, had taken a
seat upon the carpet in front of the
hire, and there, her quaint little head
bent on one side, canary fashion. she
sat muttering to herself. [ stopped
and listened; | couldn't help it to save
mp life.
why, isn't this Jolly. This seems
homeEke. L don't believe / like
parties. Oh L forgot my boot hurts
me- That's my excuse for running
away from that horrid waltz. | Won
der what dreadful creature first con
eelved the idea of waltzinc2 If had
my way he should hop through all aces
and on one foot, too Heieh no
nice fire-how cheerful Our library
used to be something like this before /
papa died Oh, deari There isn't
bit of happiness In this world unless I
one has somebody to love one," And .
then L knew the little creature was
sobbing.
Now, that was too bad What could /
| Coz Nothing evidently. What would
Fred doF Keep quiet and allow her to
depart IN total Ignorance of his presence.
But that this little episode would leave
a deep and lasting impression. [, who
knew Fred SO thoroughly, perfectly
understood.
A." How much pleasanter to spend an
evening here than with all those stupid
folks down stairs ~ and the little one