Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-01-31
Stl,tt Storp.
UNCLE PAUL'S WHIM.

"They would get married., SAID Uncle
Paul. grimly. sit isn't my fault thai
their husbands are dead. and they're lef
with families to bring up. l advised
them to etay single"
But it would be your fault" said thu
mild clergyman, III they starved or suf
fered." -...
II don't see why"
Because you have plenty Of thi'
worlds goods, and they are poor; be
cause you have but yourself to support
and they have little ones dependent upon
them"
"Oh, fudge !" said uncle Paul. 81
don't keep poor house, and I'm sure
pay sufficient taxes and contribute tc
charitable institutions enough to free me
from extra demands, / told both ol
them how it would be; but Hester was
always a self-willed creature. and Letitia
had a quiet fashion of insisting upon
having her own way. which was quite as
bad in the long run"
Very we'll" said the clergyman. "l
can't pretend to argue with You upon
the .ubject. l only state facts. and leave
the rest to your own conscience"
Saying this he went his way.
Uncle Panl took up bic pen and re
commenced writing entries in the fat old
ledger which lay on the desk but, for
all that, the rosebud faces Of his nieces.
He,ty and Lefty. as they used to look
fitting around his big armed-chair,
would continue to haunt him.
"Pshaw !''he exclaimed. at last. as he
dropped bis pen, making great, apoplec'
tic ink blot on the middle Of the page
Il wish that meddling minister had been
oblising enough to mind his own busi-
ness. suppose l must do something
for one of them at least, but which shall
it bel Hetty used to have the prettier
face aud the more coaAing voice, but
then Lefty had q still. velvet-footed
way of always doing just what You want
ed before you fairly knew it yourself: Het-
" sang like lark all the old fashioned
songs l liked best to hear, but Lefty
would play backgammon by the hour.
and never get tired Of tho rattle of the
old man. dice-box. Well. we'll, its hard
to make choice
A week elapsed. and Letitia Carver
ga. alone by the desolate hearth-stone
sewing. her little ones at schools. the fire
subdued to the fewest Jumps Of coal con
sistent with calorie life, when the DOOR
opened. aud her cousin. the other young
widow. entered, also in deep black.
"Isn't it sham I" cried Mrs. Hewitt,
indignantly. "Of course you received a
bundle tooi'
II don't think quite understand what
you mean. Hetty." said Mrs Carver.
"Mean7 mean that Uncle Paul
Sheffield ID the stingiest. most parsimoni-
Gus old miser in existence. To Care to
send a bundle of old clothes to my door.
as If I we're common beggar. with an
insulting note, stating that, as be had un-
derstood ] had two boys. ! might very
easily cnt the garments up into some.
thing useful. I declare to you. Lefty. l
was 60 angry tha. l cried y
Angry :? What for I am sure the
clothes are very nice. only little old
fashioned. and l can get quite new suit
out of them for each of my little men.
Paul and Robbie are both email, an -"
Lefty Carverf' cried her cousin.
wrathfuliy. "you have no more spirit
than wooden image!
Lefty smiled and shook her head
mournfully.
II cannot sit tamely BY. Hester. and
hear my little ones crying with cold and
hunger :" 80 -i- d. --'- '''' ''-
20 "Pshaw r said Hetsy, imperiously.
II am not yet reduced to be the recipient