Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-04

forest, and even as / was looking at tt, IL be-
me through my green foot-ssck.
once In the night, when they we're working
the oak knots vigorously, IL seemed as though
came out Of dark into light. and groped around
burned dimly, and in thu arm-ch air with the
great stuffed back lay Uncle Matthias, in reality
up to his nose in my green foot-saek, snoring
he did not hear, but finally reused himself and
rubbed his eyes. "Uncle Matthias," L asked,
"where IL Coboler Linsener?"
"Boy," said he-for he always called me boy,
with about as much pr0priety as old Neighbor
Hamann calls his superaunuated TWENTY-FIVE
year-old "that colt--s'Boy, beginning on me
again? What business have you with Cobbler
Linsener? The man, he Is nothing TO youi"
"Uncie," said 1, as he was preparing to settle
down again beautifully to the saving business,
sis it true or have L dreamed it that we old
bachelors have no share in the Christmas
tree?"
"Stupid nonsense :" said he, ellie STILL"
"l have been very sick"
THAT God knows" said my uncle, era Wing
out of the sack and holding the candle down be-
fsre my eyes, "but really. really believe you
are through with IL, for your outlook, my little
lad" stroking me, ''your outlook is quite diff
Uncle Matthias, and that this Is my nose an
no strawberry? and will you now quit pickin ?
that kind of fruit? Twice, this very night, when
was browsing bit, have you come driving
berry!
1 promised TO conduct myself better, now that
L had my wits again. And so L did. The sick
ness was at an end, but ny need was just be-
ginning. was very weak, and lifeless as lea
ther, 30 that could not raise myself up, ani
when L turned up my eyes there stood Wife By
ton before me with the red glazed cup in one
hand and the spoon in the other, to feed and
Ri me up full with porridge that was about a.
sun as bookbinders' paste. and tasted like il,
too. Eat; eat 9 more" says she, ''for IL you
don't eat, You'll never get better" As an ac-
compartment to this misery, the good-natu
old figure made up such a compassionate face
over her paste-pot that 1 was bound to taste OF
1t, whether L would or not.
Everything has one end, however, and sans
age has two. got OFF of that bed. used to sit
for hours with Uncle Matthias talking myself
over with him. "Uncle," said I once, for the
elOrs still lay in my head, "Uncle, we two oug ht
proper ly to marry"
"Stupid NONSENSE" said he. sDo Won think
have been an Austrian sergeant of the inpe-
down now into petty hussar-drillins?" Ibis
favorite term for sc0ld was "hussar.")
81 didn't mean that" I said. "I only spoke
for myself. LOOK here, now; IL had q wife
that is, an orderly wife, and good one, and "a
a neat little one-then You could come to live
with us, and"
"And take care of the children eh? Much
obliged"
"No, that ia net what I mean; but marry
do, for Wife Byton's care In the last sickness s."
Seems to me you have had good enough care.
10 be sure" replied; al don't say but YOU
have done the best possible. but a wife"
well; well, well; then you are on the track
81 do know one," said L.
aha! And she will have you?"
"That don't know yet
sis she so baulky, them" asked he snujpting
at me out of one eye.
mot that"
Then lie she we'll alongou OF the army-duty
years?' with another SQUIRT
a hrrf lnnt
any time-I am sorry can't 20 with you--she
goes walking every afternoon outside the gaze to
the mill, between and 4, and you can't mis-
take her; for she is the pretties of all the grl
that walk there"
"Of course" said nv uncle.
land has tassel on her cloak and little boy
by the hand added.
.'Do you marry the child, too?" he asked
What do you mean" rose up. THAT il
her sisters child"
..God preserve u.s." said my uncle. '.Don't
get mad What do L know about il? Foo
au2ht L know she might be widow woman
However, III take look at her." And there
upon he went out.
Tha, afternoon about five he came back
helped himself to pipe, sat down aud said no,
= WORD. VI course that piqued me q little and
l SAID nothing, too. Then we both smoked like
bake-ovens; but finally grew too curious. stood
in the eye with his old squirting phiz, and be.
gan, Have you been out vi the gate?"
That have" said he.
"Seen herr"
..Seen her =! have" he replied, "and talked
with her, too"
''Aha; is the cuckoo teasing you, tooov said
l, turning around. "What did you have to say
herr"
Exactly" said he. "Then one of us INNS,
begin, and of course should like to be able 10
speak with the betrothed of my sisters SON"
80 Tar along We have not got, by long
way" said L.
What Is not now, may yet be" he replied
drawing himself back into the old arm chair
sn1 stIe.cning ms legs out forward, as an en-
g! will tell you about it. As went along the
road girl came after me and turned around
and looked at her, for she had q ysuug one by
the hand. couldn't see the tassel, because it
hung behind her back"
81 guess you stared at her," said 1.
stick my eyes right out, and did SO then, when
she turned hers down, with q kind Of sweep,
as IL she were pulling together her bed-curtains
at night; and as she went by, saw the tassel,
ga fine view you had"
THAT did; but the nub of the matter is yet
"Didshe please YOU, then?u
"Oh, yes, she has several virtues about her
which suit me well. In the nrst place, she is not
much bundled up around her head, and then
me Isl. sweeping the street with her dress, and
tnose are pair Of virtues, my son, that take
me right In the mouth; for generally the women
have 30 much upon their heads and SO little
Wtnin, anu tney wear long dresses to cover up
crooked legs or, what is worse, slOyenly-kept
[eet. My son, with wOmen-fOiks and horses.
you must look at their feet. II their running
gear Is active, joints in good order, and foot
gear wen kept, you may reckon on industry
order and neatness."
"Do you mean
81 don't mean anything; wait till I get
through. As she passed by me and went on to
The mill, and behind, 1 really must say she
played pretty hand. Tossed her head little
but there IL no harm in that. Such lass as
she, why shouldn't she toss her head! But her
talk, that's the main point If could only spin
together little conversation with her. So when
she came back, put my back gsinst a tree,
IS II to light my pipe. When she was q m after
of nve PAGES from me, drew steel and flint out
Of my pocket. ard at the same time accidental.
lyon purpose, my boy-snatched out about Q
thaler IN small change, and there the two -grOs-
chen bits ratified over the frozen walk. buckled
down and puffed furiously to gather it up, and
put myself in very peril OF the apoplex. She
saw me, and babe the little boy at once to
help, and also took hold herself-just what
wanted. i then thanked her, and We entered
INTO convers alton, and came on together quite
to the gate"
"what did you say, the n?"
"Oh, nothing Of Importance. told her was
your uncle, and asked If she did not know you,
v hose life had been spent hereabs outs, up and
Town; then she said she had not that pleasure
pleasure, said she. Then | asked whether she
b ad not n yOuny fellow 0otpO ahout hare