The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-03-01

> would ruffie his feathers. and struggl
3 TO soar 70 where he had fallen from
8 His brother, pausing for want Of breath
!, would gaze upon him with some hope
as he saw the thin figure draw itsel
suddenly up, as if stung, the long hsnt
trembling and hurriedly stroking tn,
long chin, the fine blue eyes kindling I.
something like horror as they rested OF
the tickets; but the very next instant
} catching sight Of his brothers relen TIM
} eye, Uncle Ted would forget everything
! but the fact that he was about to be for
} given and set free, and the doctor saw
that he had seized upon that though,
with the joyous avidity of child
though he still tried to keep the corners
of his mouth drawn down, and an affec
tation of remorse in his eyes during the
rest Of the lecture.
When 1t was over, and the doctor
looked after his retreating form, trying
to cover its relief by greater show OF
intrmity than usual, he sighed 10 think
how useless it seemed even to point out
to him a better state, since it was so i'm
possible for him to reach it, Not only
had fate SO cast him down, but had
taken away all by which he might ever
hope to rise-had clipt the wings which
in this world could surely never grow
again. The poor eagle might ruffle its
feathers and struggle, but never soar.
1t did continue to struggle at times,
even while its decadencc went on so
rapidly, when. while reading his paper,
the housemaid, in her anxiety to hear
Of more eligible situation, so far forgot
herself as to lay her black.leaded fingers
on his shoulder; or when, in the heat
OF political discussion, the footman
addressed him by an opprobriously
familiar name or when the cook, after
the failure of repeated hints as to the
kitchen fire being needed for other pur-
poses than toasting the sole of his slip.
per by, dropped the poker accidentally
on his foot; on such occasions Uncle
Ted was seen to change from his nor.
NAL state. The halfstartled, meditative
look would come suddenly into his eyes,
the long hand begin stroking the chin
with quick, agitated fingers, the figure
draw itself up, and make its retreat
from the kitchen with a dignity that
accorded but ludicrously with the set Of
the ragged and patched Indian dressing.
gown, which had something of the
character of the garments worn by
monkeys on barrel.organs.
These attempts at fight were very
rare. and of brief duration. Before his
friends in the kitchen had enjoyed his
absence a quarter of an hour, Uncle
Ted would probably be again amongst
them, assisting the offending housemaid
to shell peas, helping John to spell! out
a love-letter from the country, or bow
ing at cooks elbow with his newly.filled
snuff-box, and the request
Madame, obleege me. I have de-
sired Mrs. Woods to put in little more
rappee than Scotch on purpose to suit
} our taste. You wiN obieege me?'
The gravy or sauce of such a day
usually seemed to suggest that cook had
not spurned the prayer, though it might
have happened she had not sufficiently
recovered her temper to utter her &C.
,ustomed magnanimous reply Of
Certainly, Mr.. Edward, sir" while her
luge thumb and finger filled his tiny
,ox which he held toward her, per. 9
ectly conccaling his dismay, not only
It so much of its contents being GOV.
red by the finger and thumb, but at so
much more being scattered around in
heir efforts to sqeeze themselves out of \
he box again without losing grain of :
vhat they had secured. Q
One day it was exceedingly desirable
hat Uncle Ted should be SO disposed
f as to leave no danger of his intrusion
t little dance to take place in honor a
4 his eldest niece's engagement. 81
Inc task had been undertaken by 8
)r. Letter at the fearful entreaties of d
is daughter, who, in consideration OF h
he high birth and poetic temperament
f her betrothed, implored that he ri
hight be spared the sight of Uncle Ted
ntil closer intimacy would allow of "
ome explanation as to his condition. 81
The queen of the evening was Uncle b
eds special favorite and the object of
is most intense admiration. Ever since Il
e had heard of the engagement he had
cen in state of wild anxiety to see the
erson for whom all those affairs of ii
ophy's, in which he had shown her al
,ch lively though inconvenient sympa. p
~, had been brought to 30 sudden ter h
lination. But though Uncle Ted
,shed out into the area, and started up
very time he heard carriage stop at NJ
lie house, he had always as yet managed d.
} miss his carriage; though he had
aced the hall for half an hour when he te
new him to be in the house and on the
oint of his departure, he had been al. m
avs been beguiled away before the mo.
ent came, and listened at distance to yc
le buoyant step and voice in indignant tn
He did at last obtain WI
sight of him through the keyhole, in
I'D spent some time there-rushing
own every minute to confide to the =
rvants his impressions of the BRIDE M