The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1874-04-25

j'ints, and leave no timber on anothe
Ev'ry brother is welcome Der come q
go when he pleases, an the thanks I
Uncle Tucker tew all. A stranger CON
among ye and We took i'm in. NJ
thanks agin, gentlemen, an good night.
he added hastily, as he turned an
closed the door. r.
Ihe lace OF every man wore a please
expression. The satisfaction OF doin
a good turn for the honest.hearte6
kindly old man was ample eompenss
tion Tor lost time mot counting in th
look of gratitude he gave them as h
retired from view. Uncle Tucker lo
Gated claim, had his declaration fled
and manfully went to work. His frs
assay was encouraging being reporte,
as equal 10 ten dollars O ton, whic
Uncle Tucker said was the best he ha,
done in dogs age, and he could affor,
to pat himself on the back for it.
1t was right cheerful sight to se
the old man grubbing away in the warn
sunlight--his bald head glistening witt
the highest polish, and the clods o
moist earth flying in showers behint
him. He looked so happy that thos,
about him would sometimes rest oi
their picks to gaze on him, and whei
he looked up they would fall to worl
again. The women and children loved
Uncle Tucker, and Sunday afternoons
the old man would take party of little
ones, and they would go away upon the
hills and gather huge punches of deli
clous grapes, which had been planted
by the Franciscan monks a century ago
Uncle Tucker had been nearly year
at Poor Mans Gulch when another
stranger arriv, d. Not that it was unusual
for strangers to arrive--and go, too, fol
that matter-but this was a stranger oi
Importance. 1t was this way. Uncle
Tucker was working in his claim one
day when his eyes caught 0.uuthful
figure coming toward him. fone figure
seemed to be that of bSJ' of about
fourteen years of age. He had fresh,
clear complexion, a fine, dark eye,
and black hair, which fell in curls
upon his shoulders. In his hand he
carried small black bag, aud he had
the appearance of having travelled from
a distance. He walked straight up to
the old man, who regarded him in per-
plexity. He whispered to the miner,
who dropped his pick, stared at him a
moment in speechless surprise, and then
clasped him in his arms. !" Come all
the way from Down Yeast tew see his
old uncle! Come yere, boys, come
yere !" The boys "came," and Uncle
Tucker addressed them thus
"Yere's me, boys-Hiram Tucker |
An yere's my nevvy, Joseph Tucker,
come all the way from Down Yeast tew
see his old uncle - And once iaore the
delighted old man embraced his new
found nephew.
"Not another stroke tew-day, Joe" +"
said he, shouldering his tools and taking
the boy by the hand. &c me tew Ho-
tel Independence an tell us all about
it !" And they moved off followed by
such EXPLANATIONS as "Fine boy"
"Good luck, ole hoss p " Sarves ye
right p etc,
Arriving at Hotel Independence, it
was found full of children who were
told by Uncle Tucker to run home and
tell nanny that he had got new
nephew. The tired boy was laid upon
the rude bed, and then he told his story.
What he said we know not, for it was
not intended for the general ear we
only know that it was attended with
some tears and great many consola-
tory remarks from Uncle Tucker.
Young Joe speedily became a favorite
in Poor Mans Gulch. His quiet, unas-
suming ways and cheerful disposition
won him many friends. He had a way,
too, of Frightening up the rough cabin,
putting punches of wild flowers here
and there, and making various useful
ornaments. Games with cards were grad
ually abolished in Hotel Independence,
and instead Joe read to the guests from
books which his uncle sent to Frisco"
for. Then sometimes they would joke
Joe about his mustache, which was yet
to come, at which Joe would blush and
laugh, though at his own expense.
Two years passed away, and then
young lady residing in the Gulch took
it into her head to fall in love with Joe.
A change came over Uncle Tucker from
the time of the discovery Of this pas
sion. He did not lose any of his good
traits-he was the same good-hearted
old man, but he was more silent. Some
said things didn't pan ont as they
should but that could not be the rea-
son, as he was getting along very we'll.
Something weighed heavily on his mind,
at all even ). and Joe seemed to be in
the same frame of mind as his uncle.
This was source of distress to their
friends, as they would confde in no
one, and so could not be advised.
Among the lower classes at the gulch
was Mexican half-breed by the name
of Pedro, but called "Lobos" on ac-
count of his evil disposition. 1t had
often been proposed to drive him and
his companions from the camp, but
through the wishes of Uncle Tucker
they were permitted to remain. Better
had his kind interference been unheeded,
for the objects of his good Offices did
very little but sit in the sun and play
with their curious-looking, greasy cards.
One evening Uncle Tucker was return
ing from his work when he met Joe at
the door, pale as death and all in a
tremble. "My boy my boy What
is the matter ?" cried the astonished old
man.
Nothing, uncle; nothing Of conse-
quence," returned Joe.
"But ther is, my son yer pale and
tremblin' Tell ole uncle"
"Pedro went in and frightened him, "
squeaked youngster, standing by.
"Was he insultin' tew my boy !" de-
manded Uncle Tucker, throwing his
tools to the ground.
Joe did not answer, and the now an
CRY man strobe rapidly towards the
back shed. From there he procured n
heavy black ksDake whip, and started
down the gulch. He presently came
upon Pedro, lounging along, but who
saw him in time TO lay his hand upon q