New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-25
CLIPPED WINGS.

The most trying thing about Uncle Tie,
was his resemblance to his brother. 1t wa
sufficiently disagreeable to have an old maj
with tastes so low and habits so unpleasant
fastened upon the family at all; but to see
and to know all saw, in this person tn,
j.. filler figure, and the Letter features. ant
all the Letter peculiarities to the VERY
singernails was q misfortune which demand
ed The whole of that fortitude which til,
family motto boosted.
All attempts at reforming Uncle Ted hat
long since been abandoned. His brother
the doctor, had now grown accustomed tt
silence the complaints OF his wife and chill
a;ren by half reproachful reminders OF tina,
complete and final release which the
whitening hair and battered frame seemed
to prophesy was near at hand. No other
comfort concerning the old man presented
itself, and even this, suggested by his ap
pearance and sometimes rambling mind
was made faint and doubtful by his good
appetite, long walks, and early hours.
Uncle Ted had Tor years submitted him
self to AFFECT dependence on hia brother.
lie could not work, he could not cope with
strangers. lnnumerable were the situations
his brother had obtained tor him, and the
wardrobes Mrs. Letter with willing fingers
had prepared, and the departures that
Uncle Ted had made, but swift had been
she return on such occasion. pathetic the
tale. irresistible the prayer to be permitted
20 stay.
The doctor continued his efforts from
time to time, but finding them always fol.
lowed by the same results, and finding also
that as the tall old form and noble lOking
halfvacant face grew more and more like
his fathers, it became more and more diff.
cult for him to force him from under his
roof. The doctor, therefore. had settled in
his own mind and made the family aware
he should not again seek situation fox
Uncle Ted until he was compelled to place
him in that from which return was impOs.
6ible.
He was certainly a formidable incum.
brance--one whom it was impossible to eon.
ceal from society as it was to expect SO.
ciety 10 receive. Though his peculiar
habits rendered it necessary for him to be
banished from the room on the arrival of
visitors. no one could be sure he would not
come back for his snuffy pocket handker.
chief left lying on his niece's wOrk.basket.
or one of his enormous slippers dropped in
his precipitate retreat. and In search of
which all the ladies would have to rise. and
turn about, and lock under their chairs.
while the doctor and Mrs. LETTER stood in
sick. smiling patience; and uncle bowed,
and apOlOgized, and uttered most absurd
compliments, and made--as his nieces af.
forward would declare--a Fearful cxhibi.
tion' of himself.
Uncle Ted was full Of admiration Tor
these neces, but they were scarcely able to
appreciate his high opinion OF them, their
beauty, elegance. and accomplishments,
since he was in the habit of cOnfiding his
opinion to the tOOtman and the cook, who
were kept we'll informed by him as to the
cOnquests and matrimonial chances of the
young ladies; and, indeed, as to most of the
family affairs. private or otherwise. with
which he might happen to become ac-
Iuainted.
1t was no longer Of any use trying to
keep him from talking to the servants.
Who else could or would talk to himi His
brother had done his utmost to brighten and
persuade him out of the habit. had insisted
on each member Of the family devoting an
hour q day to him, that he might not be
driven to this extremity. But all was OF no
llseo Uncle Ned was tiresOme, and failed to
keep his appointments. The young people
were tull of their cares. or rather Of the
pleasures which were their cares. The
strong young wings wearied of trying to fly
so low as this manned and degraded old
eagle, so they left it. and pursued their own
bright flight.
Uncle Ted, now. therefore. almost unfor.
hidden. carried his paper down to the
kitchen every morning. and read leading
articles TO the cook. who without ceremony
ordered him from place to place. TO suit her
while the housemaid would
peep over his shoulder. and the too:man sit !
on The table. discussing politics with him. I
undisgnisedly patronizing.
The doctor could do nothing but Sigh !
helpiessly az he, passin: the kitchen stairs |
io- stroll III the garden. heard that tine |
oil. voice losing every day something Of its !
nobility of tone. and tina: pure accent be. I
coming s" uncertain and uisarized. Yet it |
would have been welt for the family had !
Uncle Tie! confined his friendship to his |!
brothers servants solely. This, however.
was not tho casc: for the doctor had more
han once surprised him. before breakfast.
tauding on the step. leaning against the
urea yai!;ngs--his skull cap on the back @. !
lis head. his hands in the pockets Of his old
Pressing .gown.-askins the milkmAu's al.
.is. ~. ..ome delicate family ;ua''.r, h:.',.
" .nppcsed to have bee" -..,.. ..o,n
e I'D himself.
u gently away by ~ b:o;,e''- .g.mb.
x s.'sr' All; s'..u'v. 49, .ni,eat:ngly re.
~. .ie.l .. 4. !. ~ =. .rc.usion of the doe.
-.se. -. Nl.'r ...' defended his conduct
Il the score oi the lnliknans being very
mar, q gentleman under cloud.
person OF considerable mental endOw-
tents; and the interview would be brought
. an ahrNDt csosa nv earnest ropOm- |