The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-02-03
select nle .
Taking A S,luat Oa.

"Well, girls" said my Uncle Bar
nabas, "and now what do you pro-
pose to do about it =
Wo sat around the fire in dis.
cousolato semi.circle that dreary,
drizzling May night. when tho rain
battered against the window panes
anl sh poor little dafodils in the
borders shook and shivsred as il
they would fain hide their golden
heads once more in the mother.soil
My mother, Eleanor and |. The first,
pale and pretty, and silver haired,
with the widows cap and her dress
of black bombazine and Grape the
sweetest looking old lady I think
that ever saw. Eleanor sat beside
her. looking, as she always did, like
II princess, with large. dark eyes,
Diana like features, aud hair twisted
in sort OF coroual around her queen
| head. While l, plain, homespun
Susanna-commonly called, ''for
short" Susy crouched upon foot.
stool in the corner. my elbows on
my knees and my chin in my hands.
Uncle Barnabas Berkelin sat in the
middle Of the circle. erect, stiff and
rather grim. lie was stout and
snort, With u grizzled mustache, II
little round, bald spot on the crown
uf his head. aud two glittering black
eyes that we're always sending THEN
dusky lishtnings in the direction
least expected. Uncle Blrnabas was
rich and We were very poor. Uncle
iSarnabas was wise in the ways OF
the world. and we were inexperi.
enced. Uncle Barnabas was pros-
perious in all he did, while il their
was bad bargain to be made we
were pretty sure to be the ones to
make it. Consequently, and as u
matter OF course, we looked up to
Uncle Barnabas, and roverenced his
opinions.
"What do we propose to do about
it T. Eleanor slowly repeated, lift
ing her beautiful jotty brows.
"Yes, that's exactly it, said my
mother, nervously; because, Brother
Barnabas, we don't pretend to be
business women, aud it's certain we
cannot live comfortably on our pres
ent income. Something has got to
be done
Ny mother leaned back in her
chair with troubled face.
Yes said Uncle Barnabas, some
thing has got to be done but whos q
to do it ~
Another dead silence succeeded.
II suppose you girls are educated,
said Uncle Barnabas 81 know
found enough old school-bills when
/ MAS looking over my brothers pa
pers,'
"Of course" said my mother, will!
evident pride "their education has
been most expensive. Music, draw
ing, use Of the globes"
"Yes, yes, of course interrupted
Uncle Barnabas. "But is it practical'
Can they teach 7"
Eleanor looked dubious / was
quite certain that ] could not. Nine
Lenoir, among all her list Of &C.
complishments, had not included the
art Of practical tuition.
"Humph!" !" grunted Uncle Bar
nabas. "Queer thing, this modern
idea OF education. Well, il you cant
teach you can surely do something,
What do you say, Eleanor, to q sit
uation 7"
"A situationi"
The color Auttered in Eleanor'i
cheeks like pink and white apple
blossoms.
II spoke plain enough, didn't I
said Uncle Barnabas, dryly. "Yes,s
situat IN"
"What sort Of a situation, Uncle
Barnabas 7"
swell, l can't hardly say. Part
servant, part companion to an elder
" lady," explained the old gentle
man.
20, Uncle Barnabas, ! couldn't dc
that"
Not do it2 And why not 7"
"It's too much-too much,' whis'
pered Eleanor, losing her regal dig
nifty in thepressure Of the emergency
"like going out to service
Sand that is precisely what It is,"
re;orted Uncle Barnabas. nodding
his head. Service ! Why, we're oil
out TO service, In ono way or another
in this world"
"Oh. yes, ] know ialtered poor
Eleanor, who, between her distastt
| fOr the proposed plap and her anxiety