The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-01-30

that 1 don't mean what I say. Get me
some more-quick ! If 1 hadn't been
bedridden for year, could go twice
as fast as you do I" he added,
grumblingly. at never saw such
shall never walk again -
Uncle Joseph lay counting the
seconds until his niece brought in q
second bowl of Cruel, this time so
deliciously made that even he could not
find fault with it.
Uncle" said Theodore, as she set
it on the table at the bedside, "the
doctor said, yesterday, that he really
thought, if you were to try, you could
walk as well as anybody"
The doctors a fool" said Uncle
Joseph, "and you may tell him so with
my compliments !"
81 will, uncle, the next time he
comes."
Theodora!"
"Sir."
eff you do, I'll disinherit you %
Every well, uncle !"
"Theodora, you'll have to feed me.
This annoyance has weakened me terri
"Yes, uncle"
Stop-stop-it' hot-you're chok-
ing mer But Theodore kept resolutely
on.
Sto.o-pp spluttered Uncle Joseph,
nimbly scrambling to the other side of
the bed. What do you mean, Theodora9
Didn't tell you to stop? Idon't believe
there's an inch of skin left on my
throat ~
''You told me yourself, uncle, that you
don't mean what you say. How was /
to know that this was an exception ~
An irate reioinder trembled on Uncle
Joseph's tongue, when suddenly he
caught sight of blue column of smoke
wreathing up under his window.
What's that smoke ?" he calculated.
90 think it's Mrs. Perkins, sir, putting
fresh kindlings on the kitchen fire.
"No, it isn't r yelled Uncle Jose phi,
the house is on fire p
Theodore dropped the spoon and bowl
and rushed out of the room, shrieking,
"The house is on fire help ! murder /!
thieves ~
The servants below the stairs caught
up the cry and echoed it in shrill dismay.
Uncle Joseph listened with bristled hair
and dilated eyes.
"Help help /" he bawled, but no one
responded. Louder still he yelled, bnt
yet in vain
cam 1 am to stay here in my bed to
be burned to death ?" he asked himself,
and scrambled ont with agility that
fairly surprised himself.
The servants were arrayed on the
lawn, staring in all directions to find
! the exact locality of the fire, when the
gardner uttered shrek.
If there amt master, as hasn't left
/ his bed for year, runnin' as if tiger
J was arter him !"
Where-where's the fire ?" painted
Uncle Joseph, gazing wildly around
! him.
| Mrs. Perkins rushed to the front door,
1 her cap-strings streaming.
CT never saw such a pack of born
| idiots in my life |" she gasped. "There
/ amt no fire-only few pieces of green
wood 1 put in the Kitchen fire ! One
I would think you'd never seen smoke
/ afore, and-why, if there amt master =
"Theodora, said Mr.. White, look
ing somewhat sheepish, where did you
see fire p
"I didn't see it, uncle, but you said
the house was on fire." Theodore made
answer demurely, "and of course
thought you must know. Please
uncle, go back to ged again"
''I won't !" said Uncle Joseph, gather
ing the skirts OF his wrapper closer
about him.
" But, uncle, you're sick.
mo, I'm not -
Uncle, do you really mean il ?"
"Of course 1 do, Theo?"
And he did mean it. The cure hai
been effected and Theodore mental!
congratulated herself on the success o
her plan of treatment. And Uncl,
Joseph never alluded to the day OF
which his niece had taken him so i'm
phcity at his werd.