The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-02-03
- ele ct Tale
Taking A Stud, OF.

"Well, girls" said my Uncle Bar
nabas, ''and now what do you pro,
pose to do about it -
We sat abound the fire in dis
cOusolate semi-circle that dreary,
drizzling May night, when tho rain
battered against the window panes
and .h, poor little daifodils in the
borders shook and shlvsred MS 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 1 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 a sort Of coronal 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 Bsrnabas Berkelin sat in the
middle Of the circle, erect, stiff and
rather grim. He was stout and
snort, With u grizzled mustache, II
little round, bald spot on the crown
Of his head. aud two glitteriug black
eyes that were always sending their
dusky lishtnings in the direction
least expected. Uncle Birnabas was
rich and We were very poor. Uncle
l'arnabas 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 a
matter OF course, we looked up to
Uncle Barnabss, and reverenced his
opinions.
"What do we propose to do about
it = Eleanor slowly repeated, lift
ing her beautiful jotty brows.
"Yes, that's exactly it" said my
mother, nervously; because, Brother
Barnabss, 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 who's
to do it =
Another dead silence succeeded.
II suppose you girls are educated,
said Uncle Barnabas II know !
found enough old school-bills when
I VAS looking over my brothers pa
pers."
"Of course" said my mother, with
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 I"
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 sit
uation 7"
"A situationi'
The color fluttered in Eleanor's
cheeks like pink and white apple
blossoms.
~ spoke plain enough, didn't II"
said Uncle Barnabas, dryly. "Yes,s
situati m"
"what sort Of a situation, Uncle
Barnabas 7"
swell, / can't hardly say. Part
servant, part companion to au elder
ly lady" explained the old gentle.
man.
20, Uncle Barnabas, I couldn't do
that"
Not do itP And why not 7"
"It's too much-too muoh,' whis-
pered Eleanor, losing her regal dig
nifty in thepressurs Of the emergency,
"like going out to service >
sand that ia precisely what II is,"
Uncle Barnabas. nodding
bis head. Service Why, we're al
out TO service, in one way or another,
10 this world"
'Oh. yes, / know ialtered poor
Eleanor, who. between her distasts