Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-04
~ before her DIDN'T come on to the board 1t

ooh, mo-" said he; "I merely would have
asked her IL she could cook nsh we'll, for was
coming 70 I've with YOU" and thereupon the old
fellow gave such look, 80 important and earn
est, as IL my marriage business was Of more &C.
count to him than to myself. Still, the fun was
to 60 good bit further.
around 20 much, purposely refrained from 60
ing to the mill, for was ashamed to appear be-
fore her eyes. But Ii occurred TO me to 90 upon
the ice of the lake little while, to see the skst
ing and seighing. That did, and when came
back TO the shanty where beer and brandy and
punch and grog are sold, stepped In bit. just
in time to see Uncle Matthias lay an eight gros-
chen piece upon the table and call for four
groschen worth of cookies and four -groschen
worth Of punch. Now, that struck me very
queeriy, for he drank ordinarily grog rather
mouth. What does this meanP 1 thought per-
haps he was treating some children. But no;
without noticing me he went out with his noun
tain tain Of cookies and his glass of punch to a
He bowed his body back and forward so low
that he well nigh dislocated his hips, and scrap
ed with his legs SO nimb!y and recklessly, upon
the ice that thought the old man would lose
his balance, and that 1 ought to rush forw ard
and carry him OFF under my arm. Then the
lady drew back her vail, and what do see?
1t was like couple of slaps in the mouth, right
and left. That shows the cuckoo. said /. The
old man has spoiled the whole marriage busi-
ness for me, this side the grave. And 1 went
1 sat 10 the dark aud gloomed in xardly till the
door opened and my uncle came in. sgd eve
S,nE s nSnt ne "why are you in the dark?
This was the first time In my life that had
not bid good day to my mothers brother; but
got up, lit q candle, and looked as sour as a salt
herring fourteen days in vinegar
"What Is the natter" said he.
"Notbing," said ], shortly, considering il was
my uncle. 81 am not in good trim"
as an old donkey that has fed on Oats in the
stall a fortnight. 81 have spoken with her
For aught care"
"What do you mean by tbat?" he asked,
drawing on his earnest face again.
81! am through with the dream" said 1.
"Aren't you going on?" he asked, laying both
arms upon the arms of the chair and looking
me sharply in the face across his nose. 81 have
fixed 1t SO nicely that it is enough to make a
dog howl to see it come to nothing-and now
eyes, 1 won't have anything more to do with
it. Do you suppose I'll let you have all the
cream and take the sour mili?''
81 ask you for the last time" said he, "will
you marry the girl or not?"
"No."
"very WE'LL" said he, with solemn air of a
man signing his will. Very well, the girl
her myself, and he stalked out OF the door with
all the pride OF a cavalier.
was dumbfOunded. That my uncle, a good
twenty years older than 1, should venture iii
mstrimOny-I laughed outright, and yet was
not in a laughing mood. caught sight of the
dolefulest face in the looking lass and paced
do 1t, 1 knew he would. L dreamed OF the
Christmas tree again, that night, and of
gigantic interrogation point, which kept saying
"Will che have you, them" In the morning 1t
struck me that nobody could answer that better
than she herself. When the gray winter morn
ing shone into my colo room and thrilled
through all my bones as made the coffee, said:
81 am through with this. What must be, must
be! Wife Byton, go to Merchant Beanba2's and
buy me pair OF nice yellow gloves, such as the
young lawyers always wear when they have
something important on hand. Bat right
yellow"
About IL L arrayed myself in black, swallow
tail and black brooches and shiny boots and the
new yellow gloves. Before putting on my hat
never would have thought it! l threw look
around the room. In that condition thugs
should no longer remain L looked at my old
slippers, which stood before the bed, and won.
dered If 1 should succeed, and if within that
almanac pair OF neat little slipperlings would
come to keep them company.
l went into the street, and as l passed my
the world, when one goes on such an errand,"
for 1t seemed to me as If was going the last
journey. Knocked on his door therefore and
Now had seen many things in the world. /
had seen fellow eat fire and tow and spit out
elk ribbon, but it never was so blue before my
eyes as the instant on that morning when got
sight of Uncle Matthias!
There he stood in his room In the self same
rig as j, except that his black coat was q green
hunting frock, and that his yellow gloves were
or buckskin and mine OF sheep, and that his
white moustache hung down right and left OF
his mouth like pair of icicles, while mine had
their tails tucked up and sp0rted q COMPOUNDED
variety of cOlOrs.
"Uncle!" ! gasped, my hat dropping from my
hand and rolling into the room.
"Boy, what do you WANT"
"What do you WANT" retorted.
NJ anf he
peace"
"Is that your will?,' said he, sitting down in
would do You good. learned in my campaign
ing time that 4 fright presses q man together
little more solid and braces him up. Dishonor
won't stand in your way, won't wrinkle the
linen OF your happiness, for the lass was born
for you, and she is q right good one, tOo,n
gripping my arm as if to emphasize her
My uncle now brought out glass of his old
port r Tome boy" said he, "stiffen up, how
Indeed, If / knew that?~
"Put your feet up here in the chair" said he,
and proceeded to loosen the bOot-straps Of
my pants; "You will begin, you know, with
kDeeling;"
"a nice beginning that" saidI.
"But what Is proper. is proper" said he. "I
my self have never in my day been through it,
but have seen 1t so in pictures. But what will
thereupOn he drew out his trunk and looked in
the compartment which held his most sacred
treasures. Right, there 1t lay, his album. Now
1t seldom happened that he distur bed this book
and, when he did, it was only upon some even
ing, when every thing was solemn and still. On
such occasions he dressed himself in clean linen
and his best suit, sat down at q table between
pair Of candles, turned the leaves, one BY one,
deep In thought, read all the verses and noted
in order all the black crosses Of the death regis
ter. On the next morning, he was generally
very melancholy, and, only the last time, he
came to me and said, $50 far a. 1 know, there
Is now only one left alive; that is Krischan
Burger, son Of old Tailor Bunger, who used
TO live near my parents, house to house.
They say that he is the t0ll-keeper at Par
chen, and II God lets me live, will visit him
this summer"
"Here," said he, as he drew out the book and
laid it on the table, "here, sit down and hunt I'D
a verse and learn it by heart. There are some
In there addressed to our Lord God in Heaven,
and you certainly ought to find one for the best
girl upon earth.
"Uncle," said I, taking the book and turning
over the leaves, 81 know what do. speak as
my heart prompts me, and this morning nay
heart prompts pretty loudly"
every we'll, my boy" said he, "perhaps still
better. Be about il then! Watt" he added, as
turned around to 60, "here's the white string
Of your shirt bosom hanging half an ell down
your back" and tucking the string under my
neckcloth, he gave me his blessing. "There,