Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-01-02

appearance of the neat looking servant
who opened the door. But | may a.
well use the brief opportunity to tell you
that Uncle Joseph was not my uncle al
ALL and that my habit Of calling him so
had grown out OF long intimacy with
certain nephews and nieces who were
very dear TO the old gentleman's heart.
They were all scattered now-the older
girls married and gone, the younger away
at school, and the two boys, my child
hood and boyhood friends, completing 2
their professional education at a foreign
university. But still loved to visit Ur-
Gle Joseph, and be always had warm
and kindly welcome for me. None knew
better than he the kind OF entertainment
most likely to please young friend and
attract him from places OF idle amuse-
ment; and | knew that a well-timed
evening-call at his bachelor home mean.
Il dozen or Two of oysters. glass of old
brown sherry, fragrant cigar and an
hours chat which was often instructive
ard never prosy.
On that particular night the oysters
were fried to exactly the right shade OF
brown. and the delicate "mill-poud" fls-
vor, so well known 10 every Charleston
taste, was especially fine; The old sherry
Just two glasses OF it apiece-seemed
mi der and warmer and richer than ever
before; and the Ilavanas never seen ed
so fragrant. These were not limited, TOR
Uncle Joseph smoked only in the evening
and he liked 10 keep an open box within
reach OF his hand. A little fire would
have been more cheerful, but it was
hardly late enough in the season. and we
made cut very well for a cozy evening
by drawing our easy chairs TO the sides
OF the little center-table. and getting the
cigsI-box and ash-holder at convenient
distance between US.
Uncle Joseph was not eccentric, nor
was there anything extravagant in the
general style OF his housekeeping; but
the furniture OF this LITTLE sitting room
was unique. and could not have been du-
/ p'icated for q very large sum OF money
/ IL required close degree OF observation
to discover that several articles in com
mon use were really specimens OF rare
yirtu, aud every thing indicated that the
owner had been traveller, fond of col
leciipg memen,os OF the distant lands
which be had visited; but whether his
travels had been those Of mercantile
ses-captaiu or OF wandering gentleman
OF leisure would have been hard 10 de
,ermine. There vas neat walnut book
case with wellfilled shelves. on the top
Of which stood large glass case con-
tanning a huge stuffed albatross, and just
opposite was small but exquisitely-
carved Venetian cabinet adorned with
grotesque heads OF men ard animals, and
surmounted by small square case in
which was = beautifully mounted speci-
men of the little spotted brown owl of
Greece, the species 30 common among
the ruins OF the Acropolis. On the man
tlepiece were small bronze clock, q
quaint Chinese teapot and pair of deli
calely lowered Sevres vases. On the
table the engraved tooth of q sperm
whale did duty as d paper weight, q
miniature gondols held an inkstand and
pens, and sprig OF red coral with a
sabre shaped ivory blade formed the most
beautiful paper knife l ever saw. A
single oil-painting hung on the wall-a
hnely-executed marine. representing two
stately ships becalmed near each other
on CLASSY sea under the glare of q trop-
ical sun-and in corner. resting upon
| light stand the top OF which was charm
ing Florentine mosaic. was polished
b;ass box containing ships compass. |
had been from boy hood familiar with sll
these things. but never tired of looking
at them, especially at the slbatross and
the owl-the former so suggestive OF
Co,eridge snd the Questionable depths
of The far-away Indian Ocean. and the
latter always leading my thoughts away
back to the fierce-eyed Athene and her
Homeric compeers.
Uncle Joseph got up and unlocked the
Venetian cabinet to put away the decan-
ter, his invariable habit as soon as the
second glass was filled. AS he did so
there was click as of glass against glass.
and the old gentleman hastily took out a
small, dusty black bottle. examined it
with great care and returned it with evil
dent relief; 81 was afraid had carelessly
broken the las: bottle OF that precious
Couslantia which brought with me from
the Cape of Good Hope. 1t is strange
that no soil viii grow that wine but that
OF one little vineyard under the South
African SUM-"
Uncle Joseph, you never told me
anything about your voyages. But what
are you keeping that wine for ?"
ITO drink a welcome home to Joe
when he returns from Europe next month.
You must dine with US the day after he
gets back. Will has still another year at
Got,ingen."
Nothing would give me more pleas
ure."
"You spoke of my voy ages Just now