The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-01
CLIPT WINGS.

CLIPT WINGS.
by THE AUTHOR OF "GIDEoN's ROCK"
The most trying thing about Uncle
I'd was the resemblance TO his brother.
1t was sufficiently disagreeable to have
an Old man with tastes so low and hab
its so unpleasant fastened upon the
family at all but to see, and to know
all saw, in this person the Leffler feau-
lures, and all the Letter peculiarities
to the very finger-nails, was a misfor-
tune which demanded the whole of that
fortitude of which the family motto
boosted.
All attempts at reforming Uncle Ted
had long since been abandoned. His
brother, the doctor, had now grown
accustomed to silence the complaints Of
his wife and children by half-reproach-
ful reminders of that complete and
final release which the whitening hair
and battered frame seemed to prophecy
was near at hand. No other comfort
concerning the old man presente6
itself: and even this, suggested by his
appearance and sometimes rambling
mind, was made faint and doubtful by
his good appetite, long walks, and early
hours.
Uncle Ted had for many years sub
mitted himself to abject dependence
on his brother. He could not work, he
could not cope with strangers. In
Vulnerable were the situations his
brother had obtained for him, and the
wardrobes Mrs. Lcfiier with willing fin.
gers had prepared. and the departures
that Uncle Ted had made; but swift
had been the return on each occasion,
pathetic the tale, irresistible the prayer
TO be allowed 10 stay.
The doctor continued his efforts from
time to time; but, finding them always
followed by the same results, and find
ing also that as the tall old form and
noble looking, half-vacant face grew
more and more like his fathers, it be-
came more and more difficult for him
TO force him from under his roof The
doctor, therefore. had settled in his
own mind and made the family aware
he should not again seek situation for
Uncle Ted until he was compelled to
to place him in that from which return
lis impossible,
He was certainly a formidable incum-
bIance-one whom it was impossible to
conceal from society as it was to expect
society to receive. Though his peculiar
habits rendered it necessary for him to
be banished from the room on the arri-
val of visitors, no one could be sure he
would not come back for his snuffy
pocket handkerchie left on his niece's
work basket, or one Of his enormous
slippers dropped in his precipitate re,
treat, and in search of which all the
ladies would have to rise, and turn
about, and look under their chairs,
while the doctor and Mrs. Letter stood
in sick, smiling patience and uncle
bowed and apologized, and uttered
most absurd compliments, and made
as his nieces afterwards would declare
a fearful exhibition" of himself.
Uncle Ted was full of admiration fol
these nieces, but they were scarcely
able to appreciate his high opinion o.
them, their beauty, elegance, and &C
complshments, since he was in the
habit of confding his opinion to the
footman and the cook, who were KEEP
well informed by him as to the con
quests aud matrimonial chances o
the young ladies; and, indeed, as tc
most Of the family affairs, private o.
otherwise, with which he might happier
to become acquainted.
1t was no longer of any use trying Il
keep him from talking to the servants
Who else could or would talk to him
His brother had done his utmost t
frighten and persuade him out of tn
habit, had insisted on each member o
the family devoting an hour day t,
him, that he might not be driven to thi
Rt,f oil Of
Uncle Ted was tiresome, and failed t
keep his appointments. The youn
people were full of their own cares am
pleasures, or rather of the pleasure
which we're their cares. The strop
wings wearied Of trying to fly so low a
this manned and degraded old eagle, s.
they left it anG pursued their owl
bright flight.
Uncle Ted, now, therefore, almos
unchidden carried his papers down t
the kitchen every morning, and rea,
leading articles to the cook, who with
out ceremony ordered him from plac
to place, to suit her convenience Will
the housemaid would peep over hi
shoulder at the advertisements, and tn
footman sit on the table, discussin
politics with him, undisguisedly patron
izingly.
The doctor could do nothing bu
sigh helplessly as he, passing tn
I kitchen stairs for stroll in the garden
: heard that fine old voice losing ever
4. day something of its nobility of tone
Frand that pure accent becoming so un
certain and vulgarized. Yet it woult
have been well for the family ha,
Uncle Ted confined his friendship t
is brothers servants solely. This
III however, was not the case for the doc
or had more than once surprised him
before breakfast, standing on the ster
Meaning against the area railings-hi
skull.cap on the back of his head, hi