Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-01-31

/ tnls mouse Z. W hat : tiidi lloioc up clails.
| beg, niece, that your baby won't cry
the whole time am here. Is tea ready?
If so, will take cup right here by
the fire."
"What does this mean, my dear?"
calculated Mr.. Grumble, iu hurried
whisper; and his wife whose arm he
had caught on the way TO the kitchen
for more hot water for Uncle Tompkins,
replied in the same tone, ''Oh, you
! mustn't mind my uncle, dear; he didn't
mean anything, only he is old and
whimsical"
'But man has no reason to make
every body else uncomfortable in this
sort of a way" "muttered Mr.. Grumbler.
Tea was brought in at this moment
little smoky ii must be confessed, and
the toast considerably eharred, but, just
as Mr.. Grumble was opening his mouth
to comment on these facts, Uncle Tomp-
kins forestalled him by eXclaiming,
what stuff this tea isl One would
suppose it was made of cabbage leaves.
The toast, too, is as black as cinder.
Isn't there slice of stale bread in this
house? I'm a dyspeptie, and have to
be very careful as TO what eat"
Mr.. Grumbler silently devoured his
meal, secretly wondering how long Mr..
Tompkins m2nt TO stay. No sooner
was the table cleared than the irascible
old gentleman began again. ''Mr. Grum-
bler," SAID he, 81 wish you'd stop that
creaking of your chair, my nerves are
so weak; and if yOu could keep your
children up stairs, that racket wouldn't
disturb me quite so much. l really
don't know how | am going to stand
that baby's noise.
'Idon' think it is a very noisy baby"
said Mr.. Grumtler, meekly. ''It's teeth
are very painful just at present"
Mrs. Grumbler, who was stirring the
fire, in accordance with her uncle's pet
ulent request, said nothing, but smiled
quietly to hear her husband trying to
extenuate the baby's sins.
"Well," remarked Uncle Tompkins,
sail babies are noisy. And, by the
way, Grumbler, | wish you would oil
the hinges of that squeaking door, and
don Z like the smell of that geranium
in the window. Hallol you haven't
any top button on your shirt front! l
hope my niece isn't careless wife,"
'NOt at all, SIR" said Mr.. Grumbler.
nervously; "but the care of her child
and house keeping duties absorb great
deal of her time. The instant she finds
leisure she will look to my Clothes"
81 don't see how a woman can spend
all her time keeping house and looking
after pack of children" observed I'M
Gle Tompkins incredulously.
About ten o'clock the old gentleman
was ushered to the spare room accom-
panied by procession of medicine
vials; tubs of hot water, woOle2 dress
ing gowns, and heated blankets for his
feet; and his absence created quite a
general relief.
"What an insufTerable old egotist that
is !" exclaimed Mr.. GIumbler, throwing
himself with sigh of satisfaction, into
his favorite seat once more. ''My dear
Bessie, how could you bear this eternal
fault-iinding?"
Il am accustomed to that, Harry; it
is the lesson that most women are
Obliged to learn, replied Mrs. .Grumbler
with little sigh.
,,I u n
tied uneasy. Accustomed to it"'
What did she meant 1t was not possible
it could not be possible-that he was
like that odious old Uncle Tompkins.
And yet he wished Bessie had not
spoken that way. Somehow il made
him feel uneasy.
Day after day passed away. Uncle
TOmpkins growing more and more in
Grumbler improved the occasion by
making a sort Of mental looking glass
of that worthy old gentleman.
Upon-my-word," said he to him
self. 81 must have been a perfect nui
sance all these years. Why didn't
somebody tell me of it?''
At length Uncle Tompkins went
away, flannel gowns, medicine bottles,
and all, and on the evening Of the same
day Tom Carlton arrived from a tempo
rary absence no one knew where.
$50 Uncle has been visiting you?"
he said gsyly, to Mr. Grumbler.
- Il, IL III. Il
grimace.
"What sort of looking man is he?"
Mr.. Grumbler was silent for a mo-
ment; ''Do you know" lre exclaimed,
breaking into a pe-plexed laugh, 81
couldn't describe single feature in his
face. lie was always enveloped like an
Egyptian mummy, in a silk handker-
chief something like that one you have
in your hand. However, I'm heartily
glad he's gone. With my permission
he shall never set foot in this house
again! :"
"No," said Tom, archly.
'sThe most intolerable fault-finder i
ever met with. said Mr.. Grumbler; ''ab-
solutely the most disagreeable man who
ever numbered the earth. L don't see
how it is possible to take the exceptions
to everything as he did,"
"That's not an uncommon failing, i
believe" observed Tom, demurely smil-
ing.
every likely" said his brother-in
law, emphatically; "but his visit has
been at least productive of one good eff
fect-it has completely cured me of any
tendency ! might have had that way. ],
for one, mean TO leave off grumbling."
"I'm happy to hear you say it, ne
phew Grumbler, exclaimed a cracked
voice.
The victimized man started up in dis
may, scarcely believing the evidence of
his senses, as Tom twisted the silk
handkerchief skillfully round his head,