South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-02-23

WV VI mussereo Mr.. Grumbiet.
Tea VS. brought In Is this n,oment-,-
a little smoaky Il mase be confessed. ana
The toast considerably charred, bat. ja5t
~ Nj! Grnm0lsf vas opening his nodth
TO comment on those facts, Uncle Tomn
kins forestalled him by exclaimed
"Wiiatr stuff this tea is - One would
suppose 1t was made Of cabbage leaves.
The toast. too, IL as black as 4 cinder.
Isn't there slice OF stale bread in this
house,? Inn q dyspcptic, and have to
be very careful As to what cat"
Mr.. Grumbler silently devoureti his
meal, secretly wondering how long Sir.
ToDphins meant TO stay. No sooner
was the table cleared than the irascible
old gentleman began again." "Sfr. G rum.
bier said he, Il wish you'd stop that
creaking OF your chair; my nerves are
so weak; and. il you could keep your
children up stairs, that racket wouldn't
disturb me quite so much. rcally
don't know how I am going to stand
that baby's noise.
Il don't think it is very noisy ba-
by" said Mr.. Grumbler, meekly. "Its
teeth are very painful Just mt present.
Mrs. Grumbler, who was stirring the
fire, in accordance with her uncle's net
ulent request. said nothing, but smiled
quietly to hear her husband trying to
extenuate the baby's sins.
WELL" remarked Uncle Tompkins.
"all babies are noisy. And, by the way,
Grumbler. 1 wish You would oil the
hinges OF that squeaking door, and
don't like the smell of that geranium i'm
the window. Halo! you haven't any
top button on your shirt front I hope
my niece isn't a careless wife,"
Not at ALL sir" said Mr.. Grumbler
nervously; ''but the care of her child
and housekeeping duties absorb great
deal Of her time. The instant she finds
leisure she will look to my clothes"
II don't see how 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 accompa-
MED by procession of medicine walls
tubs ofhot water, WOODEN dressing gowns,
and heated blankets for his feet; and
his absence created quite general relief.
"What an insufferable old eeotist thet
is" exclaimed Mr.. Grumbler, throwing
himself with sigh Of satisfaction, into
his favorite seat once more. "My dear
Bessie, how could you bear this eternal
fault-iinding?"
II am accustomed 70 that, Harry it
IL the lesson that most women are o.
bligcd to learn" replied Mrs. Grumbler
with little sigh.
Her husband picked up his cars a
little uneasy. Accustomed to it ="
What did she mean! 1t was not posi-
ble-it could not be possible-that he
was like that otlious old Uncle Tomp.
kins. And yet lie wished Bessie had
not spoken that way. Somehow it made
him feel uneasy.
Day after day passed away. Uncle
Tompkins growing more and more in :
tolerable the whole time, Will, Mr..
Grumblcr improved the occasion by
making sort OF mental looking glass
OF that worthy old gentleman.
"Upon-my-word," said lie to him.
self, II must have been a perfect nui.
sance all these years. Why didn't some
body 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 temporary ab-
sence, no one knew where.
80 Uncle has been visiting you?" he
said gayly, to Mr. Grumbler.
Yes" said the latter with n slight
grimace.
What sort Of looking man is hep"
Mr.. Grumbler was silent for a mo-
ment; "Do you know" he exclaimed,
breaking into n perpiexed laugh, 81
couldn't describe single feature in his
face. He was always enveloped like an
Egyptian mummy, in silk handker-
chief something like that one you have
in your hand. However. I'm heartily
glad he's gone. With my permission
lie shall never set foot in this house
again 20
"Now said Tom. archly.
"The most intolerable fault.fnder I
ever met with. said Mr.. Grumbler; cab
solutely the most disagreoable man who
ever numbered the earth. don't see
how 10 is possible TO take the exceptions
TO everything rs he did"
That's not an uncommon failing, 7
believe, observed Tom, demurely smil-
Ing.
VERY uKely.' said his brother-in.
law, emphaticaIly but his visit has
been at least productive OF one good ef.
fect-it has completely cured me Of any
tendency might have had that way. I
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 mp in dis.
may. scarcely believing the evidence Of
his senses, "a Tom twisted the silk
handkerchief s<illfully round his head.
and bent himself nearly double with an
asthmatic sound between n groan and
a grunt.
why You don't mean to say that
you are Uncle Tompkins?" exclaimed
Mr. f-rurotIor