Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-10-15
MiscELIAREoUs.
BARBARA'S UNCLE.

- 3RBARA sat in her little room, busy
q with her sewing machine. Around her
were great piles of vests, VIII ich she had just
iui.bed. Though the room was small; tho
sunlight came IN and tinged everything with
it's golden light. Indeed, the sun is no re-
srector of persous, and steps "a freely into
the dwellings OF the poor, ns into the man
alons of the rich.
The Young girl paused in her work to lis
ten to the song of robbin under her win
dow then she began to sing to herself in n
care free. happy way. Just then she heard
an old body hobbiing up at her door. Bar
bara went to open it An aged man stood
before her-ninety he might have been, to
Judge hy his Bithcred face
''fs this Barbara Heinrich p he asked in
piping voice.
Yes" said Barbara, smiling. "Come
in"
The old man put his hand to his ear, as if
quite unable to catch a word.
s'Come in." she shouted and he followed
her into tho room.
I'm your Uncle Jacob" he screamed, as
if she were as deaf as himself-'syeur moth
er's only brother; and l have come to find
you"
Gay. ay." said Barbara, with whom the
love of kindred was very strong.
The longer she gnzed into his face, the
! more she saw the look of her mother
There was the came kind smile, the same
merry glance in the twnkling. gray eyes,
So she fell to hand-shaking in her hearty
German fashion then came the tears. and il
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,
by placing a huge platter of cabbage as
centre dish, up the stairs came her brothers,
Conrad and Joe. They were much the
| worse for lager, as they usually were at night,
and when they saw decrepit old man sit
ting at their table, they were anything but
pleasant
"Its our Uncle Jacob" said Barbara soft
", "come to us from GermaDy-our dear
mothers only brother wish he wasn't so
deaf, SO want to talk with him"
moment afterHard, as Conrad and Joe
! began to swear, she was glad that he could
not bear them. Barbara gave the old man
| her bed then she sat down to do little ex-
ira word. that she might buy comforts for
him. At length she lay down upon hard
couch. but sleep soon came. for she WAS
young and healthy. Next morning, Uncle
Jacob was too i'll to rise.
said the bothers in breath 'it's too much
to expect us to support all our pauper rela-
| tions."
"Indecd he shall not CO." said Barbara,
with spirit; our mother loved him too well
for that Don't you remember how she used
to talk about him He was her only broth>
er, and has neither chick nor child to care
for him Just see how like mother he looks
-as she did in her very last sickness"
The young men answered her roughly,
and, putting on their boots, staiked out of
the room Barbara bathed the old mans
head, aud with few soft touches about the
pillow. that love alone can give, she went
back to her work.
That night the brothers came home more
drunk than usual-to pick rp their things
ami start for the West. they said ::
You'd better go with u.s. Barbara. We
are gong to make money like dirt; and as to
staying here and supporting an old psuper,
We will not do it,
mo indeed, 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 follow them "Let us
shake hands," she said, softly, 1--WE may
never meet sgain y and, rough as they were.
they returned her warm kiss. and said God
bless you, ere they departed.
When they were gone, Barbara vent back
TO her room ard cried as if her heart would
! break In the midst of her weeping, there
was a weiikpown football on the stairs, an d
in minute more. her friend Fred Heiber
| ger, vas beside her.
Don't fret" said the young man. kindly,
taking her hand in his you'll get along
| better without Canrad and Joe"
Il couldn't turn away my mothers broth
er," said Barbara, sobbing.
mo. indeed; you're brave girl, and
you've done right"
Then he began to tell her about little
bakers shop that was that day vacant and
could be had for two hundred dollars year
There were two rooms above with sunny
window. in which, be said her lilies and roses
| could hut grow.
"sball take them, and be married at
once ?, he asked.