Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-02-24
BARBARA'S UNCLE.

small, the sunlight came in and tinged !
everything with its golden light. The /
sun is no respsctor Of persons, and steps |
as freely into the mansion OF the rich as
into the dwellings Of the poor.
The young girl paused in her work to
listen to the song Of robin under her
window; then she began TO sing to her
selfin careless, happy way. Just then
she heard a hobbling on the stairs, and
Rfterward came a knock at her door.
Barbara went to open it. Anaged man
stood before her-nnety he might have
been, to judge by bis wizened face.
as this Barbara Heinrich ?" he inquir-
ed, in piping voice.
YES" said Barbara, in cheerful
tone. "Come in"
The old man put his hand to his ear, as
# quite unable to catch sound.
"Come in," she shouted, and he follow
ed her into the room.
"l'm your Uncle Jacob" he yelled, as
if she we're deaf as himself, "your moth
er's only brother, and have come to find
you"
"Ay, ay," said Barbara, with whom
the love of kindred was very strong.
The longer she gazed into his face the
moro she saw the Likeness Of her mother.
There was the same kind smile, the same
merry glance in the twinkling gray eyes.
So she fell to hand-shaking in hearty
German fashion then came the tears,
and it all ended by throwing her arms
around his neck and kissing him.
A short time afterward Barbara began
TO set the table, for to talk with her old
uncle was impossible. Just as she had
finished, upstairs came her brothers, Con-
rad and Joe. They were much the worse
for lager, as they usually wero at night,
and when they saw an old man sitting at
their table they were all but pleasant.
ITS our Uncle Jacob, said barbara,
softly, "come to rs from Germany-our
dear mothers only brother. | wish be
wasn't deaf, for so want to talk with
him."
A moment arerward, as Conrad and
Joe began to swear, she was glad he was
unable to hear them. Barbara gave the
old man her bed than she set down to
do little extra work, that she might buy
comforts for him. At length she lay
down upon hard couch, but sleep soon
came, for she was young and in good
health. Next morning Uncle Jacob was
too i'll to rise.
'Send the Old body to the poor-house,"
said the brothers in q breath it's too
much to expect us to support all our
pauper relations"
Indeed he shall not 60" said Barba-
IN, with spirit; "our mother loved him
too well for that. Don't you remember
how she used to talk of him lie was
her only brother, and has neither chick
nor child to care for him. Just see how
like mother he oolEs-as she did in her
last Sickness"
The young men answered gruilly, and
stalked out of the room. Barbara bath
ed the old mans head, and, with a few
soft touches about the pillow tina: love
alone can give went back to work.
That night the brothers came home
drunker than usual-to pick up their
things and start for the West they said.
You'd better 90 with US Barbara
We're going to made money like dirt
and as to staying here and supporting an
old pauper, we won't do It,"
"No, indeed, l will not leave him, >"
said Barbara. But when she saw them
going down stairs with their satchels on
their arms the love Of kindred, which
was so strong in her heart, made her fol-
low them. "Let us shake hands," she
said, softly. "We may never meet
again" Rough as they were, they re-
turned her warm kisses, and said "God
bless you ~ ere they departed.
When they were gone Barbara went
back to her room and cried as though her
heart would break. In the midst of her
weeping there was well known footstep
on the stair, and in minute more her
friend Fred lIeiberger was beside her.
Don't fret" said the young man,
kindly, taking her hand in his you'll
get along better without Conrad and
Joe"
81 couldn't turn away my mothers
brother" said Barbara sobbng.
"No, indeed. You're a brave girl,
and you have done right"
Then he began to tell her about little
baker shop that was then vacant and
could be had for two hundred dollars a
year. There were two rooms above,
with sunny windows, in which he said,
her lilies and roses could grow.
"Shall ! take them, and we be married
at once ?" he asked.
mo-" said Barbara "something
might happen-et us wait. You would
have to borrow the money, and | could
not sleep with an unpaid debt"
"Yes," said Fred, there is somo risk,
but it is such a good stand, and my hear.
ran away with me, | said to myself
that l would make good bread, and give
honest weight, and perhaps have penny
for the poor and needy"
Barbara's face frightened while he
spoke, but she answered
at will come right in tme-let us
wo and wait"
perhaps So" said Fred, with n sigh,
Barbara resolved to sew harder than
ever, SO that, beside supporting her aged
uncle, she might now and then lay up a
penny.
The next day Uncle Jacob requested
his littln ynlise 10 be hrnnpht 10 him and