Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-04-10

had failed somehow.
He advanced towards me, holding out
his hands.
" Are you Sam Courcy ?" he said.
my namo is Samuel Courcy," re-
piled, drawing back.
For l disNked the tone Of familiarity in
which he addressed me.
"Then tip us your fipper, my boy
Why, Lord love ye, don't you know
your old Uncle Joe ?"
| looked at him, but did not recognize
him. This was not extraordinary, as I
had never seen him before. However,
| had heard that | had an Uncle Joe at
the Antipodes somcwhere-whom, by the
by, had always thought of as Uncle
"Joseph." But it was all right. So this
was my long lost uncle. l " tipped him
my tlippcr" at once.
took him up stairs and introduced
him to my wife. That dear creature,
whose impressions Of people are always
very quickly formed, did not seem to be
greatly delighted with my relation. And
| must confess that, after the enthusiasm
OF the first greeting had sub,ided-and
cold indeed must bc the heart OF him
who is not moved when he grasps the
hand of new found uncle myself was
disposed to receive him somewhat distant
ly. His language was coarse and the
mans manner exhibited a peculiar meas
urc of self-assertion and dihidence that
was not prepossessing.
But as he warmed into confidence, and
rs he related to us the simple story Of his
life and his wauderings, our heart,
turned towards him and we felt how base
had been the prcjudices which had caused
as to be repellcd by n rough and homely
exterior. lie had not been in England
for twenty years, During that time he
had travcrsed many strange and distant
lands. lie had undergone many priva
tions. lie had been soldier in Mexico
He had been shipwrecked ON the bleak
linhospitable shores OF the Auckland
Isles, in the far South Seas. He bad
hunted the wild buffalo in the bouudles,
plains OF the West He had dug for
god in the deep and sunless mines o
BaIlarat. He had been a shepherd or
the lonely plains Of Warnambool anc
now, in his old age, he had returned t,
the land OF his fathers TO lay his bone,
with theirs, and to leave his gold, til,
fruit Of long years Of toll, to his friend.
and relations.
1t was at this point OF his narrative that
wife, who is OF a very tender disposition
was affected to tears.
Aye, ma'am, it's an old saying that
blood is thicker thnn water and though
he don't raco.lcct it, many's the time I've
dandIed your husband on my knee when
he was no bigger than little sonny there.
Come, Tommy, and kiss your old uncle
This was addressed to our eldest hope,
an urohin Of somo five years old. The
boy, however, did not seem inclined to
accept the invitation.
" Run and kiss your uncle, you naugn-
ty, wili,ul boy, do" said my wife.
The boy obcyed with very bad grace
and immediately atterward ran and hid
his face in his mothers lap.
" No, thank you, ma'am, don't seen
TO care for another cup Of tea But i
you have drain Of anything handy, ]
think could take drop along with my
pipe. RUNS my lavorite tipple, maam
not TO put you to no noinconvenience.
He was actually smoking a pipe in on
drawing-roon, aud my wife wa, looking
on and smiling,
"0h, certainly" said my wife, in re
ply to the last demand, tits no trouble
| assure you. II think we have som,
in the house"
"Of course we have Emily" said |
" Why, rum is our iayorte tpple, yol
know"
Ny wife said nothing, but she gave m,
one Of those looks with which she some
times layors her devoted slave.
She went down stairs, and shortly af
terward, / heard the front door close, by
which / understood that our domesti,
had been despatched to the nearest pub
lie house for a bottle Of rum.
was not mistaken. In a short time
she returned with a bottle and two glasses
" And now" she said, 81 will leave
you two together while | 60 out and put
the children to bed. Say good night to
your uncle, Tommy"
" Goodnight, little one" said Uncle
Joe. " VIII be take little OF this rum,
ma'am ?"
"Oh, no, J." said my wife, hastily draw
ing the child toward her.
But Tommy had seen the rum in the
glass and liked the look Of it, and decar-
ed stoutly that he would have some.
"A little drop won't hurt him ma'am, "
said Uncle Joe.
And before my wife could interfere,
Lhe child had the glass to his lips and
bad drunk OFF half OF it.
/ IL nearly choked him, and after brief
interval, during which his countenance
presented an amusing picture Of surprise
and consternatior, he was led from the
room bowling.
Uncle Joe remained with US some time,
during which he developed some pleasing
traits Of character.
Il Ike you, Sammy, my boy" he
would say to me, " have more money
than III have any use for, aud you'll not
regret your kindness to your poor old
uncle.
Still bis presence in our household was
productive Of some discomfort. He had
great iondness forum, which he drank