Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-03

while Uncle stays
The what 2 asked Charlie.
The comb he gave me- | said.
You snan't put the hideous thing
on You head, said Charlie.
Six thou | began.
Six thousand racks and thumb
screws You may enjoy sitting up
all night on kitchen chair, for an
old fellow who may, or may not,
choose to leave you something when
he dies, said Charlie; Il don't. He
asked me not TO smoke this evening,
too.
And never felt so sorry for any
one as | did for that poor fellow with
his hair all tossed about, his eyelids
heavy with sleep, his feet on one
chair, and his head against the side
of the mantlepiece but, in spite of
all, | resolved that Uncle Bunce
should stay as long as he chose yes,
stay though we slept in the coal cell
lar or did not sleep at all for think
OF my joy, when, some time in my
life-sometime, perhaps, when it was
most needed should fly into Char
lies arms, and say to him, My dear,
you are worth six thousand pounds !;
and ! have won it for you by never
allowing myself to be put out by
Uncle Buncle.'
The next morning | wore my gil
gantic comb. The Misses Jones gig
gled and Miss Brown laughed out
right. No matter, Uncle's good will
was worth more than anything else.
bore their smiles like martyr,
and only fretted because, after all my
Uncle did not look quite satisfied.
On the contrary, although he had a
habit Of scOwllng, l had not seen him
scowl so much as he did that morn
ing. He sneered at the milk and
scoffed at the butter, poh-pohd the
rolls, and described to us with his
mouth full, breakfasts that he had
eaten elsewhere, which were what
breakfasts ought to be; and ever and
anon, he cast toward my unhappy self
glance of inexplicable disapproval.
However, he stayed with us
through a week, growing more ILL
tempered as time passed on. | shall
never forget that week-tbe weary
nights during which we tried to take
maps on chairs, or reposed on the
kitchen table-the humiliation and
seli-contempt | suffered when per-
mitted myself to be scolded, Charlie
to be snubbed and our guests to be
sneered at by Uncle Buncle-the
persstency with which [ wore that
awful comb-the things | said that
L did not mean-the manner in
which | abased myself, suppressed
myself. | shut the house at nine to
please Uncle BGne!e, locked up the
piano for the same reason. | did it
all, not for love of him, but because
of his six thousand pounds.
Dear Charlie, who worked so hard
and was so kind to me, might some
day have reason to rejoice that he
married poor little me.
At last, one evening, Uncle Buncle
said, as he took his bedroom candle
Shall go to town tomorrow. Air
here don't agree with me, and van
ished without 50 much as nod.
Charlie, said, as | accommodate
ed myself to circumstances on the
kitchen dresser, with my water
proof cloak around me, and the rag
bag under my head, try to bear up
for this one night longer. After all,
it is worth it,
Mark my words, said Charlie,
from the window sill, with his big
overcoat for pillow-'mark my
words; you'll never get anything but
rudeness from that fellow
And mark my words, Charlie, /
said, this will happen. After we've
struggled on perhaps to middle age,
and begin to feel as if we should al
ways be poor, one day-you know
he's seventy now-Uncle Buncle
will leave this world for better
Il don't know, said Charley doubt
fully.
and we,' | went on, twill be sorry.
But nevertheless
No humbugging, Hetty,' said
Charlie.
Il shall be sorry / said, but new
ertheless, will not grieve bitterly, of
course.
OF course not, said Charlie.
And We'll sit talking over the
news, when some one will inquire
for you; and being shown in, will
prove to be Uncle Buncle's lawyer,
who will say Sir, it is my duty to
inform you that my lamented client,
Mr.. Buncle, prior to his decease,
signed a will which leaves all his for
tune to your wife, his niece
There | paused.
What is that?' cried Charlie.
ooh, what is it p | echoed.
'Helpl screamed Uncle BunCle's
voice. Fire murder helpl
'Police! screamed Mrs. Jones.
Somebody, somebody 7 screamed
Mrs. Brown.
Cousin Charlie + screamed Claris-
sa from the sofa, your Uncle Buncle
is being murdered
'Owl Own cried Miranda Jane
from the store room.
And above it all we heard the
sound Of many waters.
What is it, love l asked, what
can have happened p
That COMPOUNDED pipe has burst
again said Charlie, 'and Uncle Bun
Gle is drowning in the bathroom
In a moment | comprehended it
all. The Barley Utilities were proud
of having a good supply of water
from Barley through our town. But
the arrangement for supply not be-
ing of the first order, and the conse-
quence was that every house had
been flooded in turn, that the main
street had been inundated twice. and
the reservoir as often. At this un-
fortunate moment, when Uncle Bun
Gle reposed in the deceitful arms of
the bath, without any idea of the
danger, the pipe above his head had