The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-05-21
UNCLE JOB OR UNCLE ARISTIDES

UNCLE JOB OR UNCLE ARISTIDES
"WELL, Harry. baby must have another
godfather, and | don't see why Uncle
Aristides should not be asked. He will,
| know, accept, and is sure to remember
the child" Thus spake Mrs. Highly TO
her husband, as over the tea table they
concerted arrangements for the christening
of their first born.
Mr.. Highly apparently paid little heed
to his wife's remark, and was about to ask
her to again pass him the toast, when
glancing upward towards the lady's face
he perceived indications of a coming storm.
He could tell from certain outward and
visible signs that his Matilda Jane medita-
ted sudden sweep, so. nerving himself
for the encounter, he responded in mild
tone: 1--WE ought not, dear, to forget
Uncle job
The tempest broke. Mr.. Highly had
been expecting it. but not so soon. The
lightning was flashing in his wife's eyes,
and the thunder of Ter majestic voice was
rattling about his ears in couple OF
seconds after he had spoken. The refer
ence to Uncle Job did it.
"Uncle Job, indeedr exclaimed the
irate Matilda Jane, every fiber of her body
seeming to quiver with passion. "WhO
next would you like to stand by your
child?'
When Mrs. Highly tossed her head, and
thus indicated supreme contempt for her
husbands selection of a sponsor, his reply
was as follows: E" With Uncle Job, my
dear, we nave the required number, and
we need not further pursue the subject,
unless, having in Your minds eye
Shakespeare, dcar-thc likelihood of other
christenings to come, you are preparing a
list of eligible persons TO keep by you"
Poor Mr.. Highly made his remark in
his sOttest manner, and the little simper
with which he concluded would have made
it apparent to any one that he was only
giving utterance to a timid joke. Stately
Mrs. Highly, however, did not choose to
accept il as such, but turning savagely up
on her husband. poured out some scathing
remarks. Pausing to see what would be the
effect upon Harry, and observing that he
was uncOncernedly slipping his tea, she
bounced from the room, neiSily banging
the door after her.
While the good lady of the house has
gone to vent her spite on the domestic be
low stairs, the opportunity may be taken
of introducing Mr.. and Mrs. Highly in 9
more satisfactory manner.
From his youth upward, Harry Highly
had been a clerk in Cashit Il BulliOn'S
bank, i'm Threadneedle street, and from be
ing one of the juniors had risen to a conf,
dental and important position. He owed
none of his advancement TO influential rel.
atives. since his parents had been humble
country folk. who died soon after their sOI
came to the metropolis. He was an only
child, and knew no blood relations but ar
uncle on his mothers side. Uncle JOt
Smith. however, was a sort of nobody
that is TO say, he had tried a good many
things, and always failed; he was bache
lOr, but liked company; Uncle Job was
in fact. ''chOice spirit;'' his friends
always welcomed him when they wanted
a bright, jovial. mirth-creating fellow
among them; but the same good people
invariably cut poor Job when they met
him next day i'm crowded thOrOughfare
Ii was all very well to know him in priv,
ate, but in public it was an entirely differ
ent matter. Job was a gOOd-hearted, gen
erous soul, ready to lend his last shilling
to any one who asked him; an act, how
ever, seldom within his power, nasmucl
as he was more often compelled to borrow
than able to lend. OF course, people witt
any reputation wouldn't publicly recOg
niZe Job Smith. for he had three times fig
ured in the Gazette-three times in fifteel
years. Is not that shocking? The frs
occasion was when he was i'm partnership
with Steppit. the grocer in Bristol. A no
ble establishment they had. too. The shoT
was blocked with tea-chestS, but, unfOr
tunately. the chests were empty. The
partnership existed for six months. anC
then Steppit ran away, leaving Job to set
tie all the claims. A good II any people
averred Job had been swindled, but hC
himself did not say much about it. BY tn,
way. you would not have expected Jol
would, for he was never known to utter al
unkind or ill-natured word of any one
Harry. however, stuck TO his uncle annie
this and his other reverSes. for the remem
brance of his former kindnesseS lived il
his memory. When Harry was i'm hi
thirtieth wear. and had obtained good po
sitiOn i'm the banking establishment. h,
looked about him ior wife. He is very
small of stature, and, following the exam
pie of most little men. fell in love with ;
lady who was above the average height o
her sex. Matilda Jane BrOwnjohn, ikt
her suitor, had but few relatives living
mother and an uncle. This was a
the outset a wonderful recOmmenda
ton, but it was not the only
one. Nj. j. BrOwnjohn had money
fifteen hundred pounds in round numbers
left her by deceased connections. in addi
ton to some three hundred more saved by
careful economy during the twenty-eigh
wears of her existence. She was not eX
actly good-looking when Harry marie,
her. and has not improved since; but man,
people know have rather preference fo
sharp features. lurid tinge in the hair,
long neck, and bony figure. Harry, 70
example, considered her very fine woman
"a splendid creature-and he backed hi
opinion by making her Mrs. Highly. TIL
lady had borne this honorable title som
fifteen months when an heir came 10 shar
the family prosperity. Harry, 1t nee
scarcely be said. was immensely proud
his offspring, who was reported by ever
one to be exactly like his father. Had tn
opinion been rice rersa. perhaps Harr
would not have been quite so jubilant, fo
he had discovered (come closer, dear read
er. that L may whisper this that he ha
married deuce OF a temper as We II a
magnificent woman. Happily, the litd
man was not easily reused; and when sh
had tired, his good humor remained undiS
turbed, and the wonted merry twinkle G
his eye was not in the slightest degre
dimmed. When the infant was a couple @
months old, the subject of the christenin;
arose, and many battle-royal was Tough
over the choice of sponsors. When he hal
married, Harry hal taken smaH semi
detached villa Just outside Ealing. an,