The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-03-20
4 LOns-Lost Uncle.

A L0nS-LoSt Uncle.
have an Office in the city. I do n
little in wine and cigars on commission,
and occasionally Nayel in tea.
! am married man with II small fami-
~. My income, l regret to say, is also
small. The former Of late years, has
been increasing; the latter has not. Nv
Emily is an excellent manager, and, I
honestly believe, lays out to the best ad-
vantage the limited amount that l nm
able to allow for Our household cxpendi-
turc. But we are exceedingly pinchcd at
times. Thcnaturc Of my business Obligcs
me to reside in II gcnteel ncighbOrh0od,
and we are frequently forced to sacrifice
comfort Tor the sake of appearances.
My wife's aunt lives in the country, but
she is good enough To visit us two or
three times in the course Of the year and
spend week or two with us.
On these occasions need not say that
we do all in our power TO make her COM
Portable. This is not always task I'M
attended with difficulty. Like many
elderly maiden ladies in easy circum-
stances, she possesses IL peculiar talent for
making other people uneasy. The re-
marks which she frequently feels herself
called upon to make concerning our do
mcstic arrangements, are generally more
distinguished for freedom than politencss.
And though the spirit Of picty which
prompts the uttcrancc may bc undoubtcd,
It Is not pleasant for n man to be told
that lie is "a heathen," and that he is
"leading his family in the broad path of
dcstructinn." This, too, when my con-
science acQuits mc of any such improper
designs.
"l'nt VIC must bear with her little weak
neSSes," says my wife, "YOu know, SAM
ucl, she does not possess the blessings
which we do, i'll these dear children. BE-
sides, we are her nearest relations, and"
"Ah, true" / return. "Thc old girl
will cut up well, one of thesc days, no
doubt; and, in the meantime, we must bc
civil TO her, l suppose. That is what you
mean TO say, my dcnrl"
81 mean 10 say nothing of the kind,
sir; and you ought to be ashamed of
yourself"
] was sitting at home one evening, in
rather melancholy mood-fnr [ had lust
been reading letter from sour" nunt, in
which slo announced her intention of
coming 10 see us in II day or two, and
making "long, long visit,"-whcn there
came loud ring at the street dOor-bcll.
| started up.
THAT can'i be her, surcly1" I said to
my wife.
"Oh, no, that is not Aunt james ring"
replied Emily. "Bcsidcs, did not hear
any carriage drive up to the door"
! felt confortcd. Ii could not very
well he Aunt Jane. No; the idea was
absurd. But, you see. had just been
reading her letter, and felt nervous and
easily startled.
Presently our little maid of all work
came upstairs, and informed me that
there was gentleman below who wished
To see me.
| went down and saw n man standing
in the hall. lie was tall stout, elderly
man,. with wcathcr-bcatcn face. lie was
well dressed, and displayed II quantity of
icwclry about his person. Bat his clothes
littcd him badly. lie seemed like n gen
tlcman, but the attempt had failed some.
how.
lie advanced towards inc, holding out
his hands.
"Arc you Sam Courcyl" he said.
"My name is Samuel Courcy," replied,
drawing back.
For | dislikcd the tone Of familiarity
in which hc addressed me.
"Thcn tip MS your ilippcr, my boy.
Why, Lord love yc, don't you know your
old Uncle J0c!"
looked ut him, but did not rccog-
nizc linn. This was not extraordinary, ms
had never seen him before. However,
] hnd heard that had mn Uncle Joe nj
the AHiipOHcs solncwhCrc-whum, by the
by, had always thought of as Uncle
"JOscph." But il was nll right.
So this was my long. lost uncle.
| clipped him my ilippcr" at once.
took him upstairs and introduced him
to my wife. That dear creature, whose
impression Of people are always very
quickly formed, did not sccm to be greatly
delighted with my relation. And / must
confess that, after the enthusiasm Of the
frs. greeting had sulsidcd, and cold In.
deed must be tho heart of him who IL not
moved when hc grasps the hand of new.
Found unclc,--l myself was disposed 10
receive linn somewhat distantiy. Ills
langunGc was coarse; and tho mans man
ncr exhibited II peculiar mixture Of self.
assertion and dilldcnCc that was not pre-
russcasing.
But ns he warmed into confidence, and
rs lIc related la us the simple story Of his
life and his wandcrings, our hearts turned
toward him, and we felt how base had
been the prciudiccs which had caused IL,
to he rcpclcd by II rough and homcly OK,
terror. lie had not been in England fol
twenty years. During that time he hat
trdYcrscd many strange and distant lands
lie had undergone numerous privntions
He hal been soldier in Mexico. lie hat
been sIipwrcckcd on the bleak, inhospit