Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-25
UNCLE BRAINERD'S WILL;
OR,
The Fortunes Of Alice Lynn
CHAPTER I.
A FAMILY COUNCIL.

CHAPTER I.
FAMILY COUNCIL.
"I don't see how under the sun it can be
managed" querulously said Mrs. Fielding, q
high-featured, sharp-voiced dame, who was
Just then engaged in darning one Of a huge
pile of socks and stockings that occupied a
basket on the table near her. 1t was Satur.
day evening, and the family group was assem-
bled in the back parlor, the usual rendezvous
at the close of the days labors. The latter, to-
day, had been more than usually irksome, and
their effect was visible in the added degree OF
acerbity which rendered the voice, manner
and looks of the mistress Of the house trife
less agreeable than usual.
"Well, my dear, reckon it can be man:
aged, some way or other" slowly responded
Mr.. Fielding, quiet-looking, easy-tempered
parsonage, whose mild face and deliberate
speech presented strong contrast to the too
brisk deneanor of his better half.
"Some way or other! Yes, that's always
your way of talking. But when it comes to
the managing part, it's generally l who have
to settle the ways and means of fixing it.
Just look at the thing in common-sense
light, and see if it amt next to impossible for
us to take the child-with ten Of our own to
provide for, and not too much to give them
either"
"My dear, we are not rich, but we always
seem to get on pretty we'll, think. Oul
children want for nothing that is reasonable
or necessary"
"And who have you got to thank for that
Mr.. Fielding?" asked his wife, sagaciously
nodding her head. eff the children, poor
things, had less careful mother to look after
them, they nigh want for a good deal that
they wouldn't get. If you just had thrift
less, wasteful wife, you'd see how you'd get
on Men."
"But don't think that's either here OF
there" said Mr.. Fielding, rubbing his hands
together with a perplexed look. "Pm not
denying my blessings, Caroline, nor am |,
hope, ungrateful; but what l was saying
was
"Bob and Fanny, if you don't stop that
noise, this minute, I'll pack both of you off tc
bed !" interrupted Mrs. Fielding, sharply
raising her voice to quell the tumult arising
from dispute among some of the small try
in distant corner of the room.
"Ma, Bob's taken my biggest apple, and
tore my apron. pulling g, it away from me, and
he won't give it back"
"Ma, she said she'd give me piece of the
apple, and she wouldn't, and her old apron
was tore before you k,,ow it was, miss
"Sh-sh, children" said Mr.. Fielding, re-
provingly. "Tain't right to quarrel-come
here, Fanny"
Fanny came, hanging her head, with one
finger on her pouting lip.
"Look here, little one, did you promise
Bobby piece Of your apple? Speak uE
now, fair and true !''
"Yes-yes," reluctantly murmured Fanny
"But he oughn't to take it, pa"
"Then she oughtn't to be so mean and stin
gy, ought she, pa?" inquired Bob, standing
on the defensive.
"And you oughtn't to be so rude and un
mannerly, my boy. 'Let's see the apple
here"
The apple of discord was accordingly pro
duced. Mr. Fielding's huge clasp-knife wa
brought into play, and the tempting looking
rosy-cheeked fruit speedily divided into two
fair halves, one of which was given to eacf
litigant. Robert retreated contentedly to hi
corner again, while the little girl remained
leaning against her fathers knee. Somehow
Mr.. Fielding had a happy knack of settling
their disputes, and his judgment rarely tailec
to give satisfaction.
"Well, when you've got through with the
children, may be you'll pay some attention tt
what am saying" said Mrs. Fielding, i'm
patiently.
certainly, my DEAR" was the mild response
"Then, as 1 was asking you, how can W.
settle about this plaguey child? | suppos'
we can't keep the folks too long waiting to
an answer"
"No-surely not" said Mr.. Fielding
thoughtfully stroking little Fanny's curls
"I'd best answer the letter at once"
"But the question is, how are you going t
answer it? I want to know"
"My dear, l really don't see how we Cal
refuse"
"And really don't see how we can agre
to do it."
There was an uncomfortable silence. A
this juncture the door was opened, and an ole
gentleman of infrm appearance, leaning on
thick knotted stick, entered the room, ant
took his seat in a vacant armchair by tn
fireplace.
"Well ask uncle Bralnerd," SAID MI
Fielding, in low voice: His wife ;;rsed u
her lips, darned away vig .n>sly at an i'm
mense hole, and said nothing.
"Eh ?" said the old man looking up sharp
ly as he sat down. "Did you speak to me? :?
81 was saying, uncle, that we'd like you
advice on certain point" said Mr.. Fielding
gently putting Fanny aside, and moving hi
Chair closer to that Of the newcomer.
"My advice, eh? Well, nephy,, let's hea
what's it's to be about" said the old man, il
a high, cracked voice, fixing his eyes, at tn
same time, on the dscontented countenance q
Mrs. Fielding, who continued to pay resolut
attention to her work.
"Well, sir, l received, to-day, letter iron
some folks in Columbia, stating that my hall
sister, Mrs. Lynn, had recently died at thel
house, and begged them, on her death-oed,
write to me, asking me to ta ke charge, OF ne
little girl, who's left alone in the world"
"Your halEsister dead ! Why, you neve