Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-10-04

at last.
"Well, my dear, please yourself; it
shall be rs you like. only wish We
could have maoe the old man comfort
able: he was very Kind To me when
was a school boy"
So sat in my room and planned
how We could manage, gradually be-
ginning to think | had been selfish in
my opposition. l thought it might be
arranged l could give up this yer,
morning-room for him to sit in, and
let him sleep i'll the south room next
door. Walter might wait upon him if
j the stable-boy helped in the pantry;
and if we gave up the pretty pony
phrton we might keep the brougham.
As to the dlsarrangementS of our fam
I lily enloyments, We must put up with it.
The kindness would bring its own re-
compense, somehow.
| went down stairs with lighter
heart for was conscious of praise
worthy resolution; and sending oil the
children to bed, knelt down 10y my
husbands side, and said
Shall we write the invitation, Ron
aid
4 lie answered me with kiss and a
Frightening Of the eye, which WAS Ill
most enough recompense for the sacri-
/ flee.
/ The invitation was written. accepted,
and before the end of fortnight old
Mr.. David Turton-"Uncle Davy" rs
we called him-made his appearance.
| went out to meet him, and tried to
/ give him hearty welcome; but he WAS
seemingly II very unamiable old man.
His manner was short and snappish;
his little grey eyes looked MT mo sus-
piciously, and when he attempted to
smile he sneered sarcasticaly. ] led
HIM into the drawing-room, and offered
to relieve him of his great coat and
stick. But, no; he growled nj me rs if
had taken an objectionable liberty,
and setting his stick across his knees,
leaning forward on it, aud stared me
| full in the face. tried TO look uncon-
eerned, but my cheeks had flushed, and
my tone was sharp when desired Lucy
to run up stairs to the school-room
The old mans eyes twinkled, and the
sneering smile came to his lips.
"Iou are offended with me, madam,
he said. 4" / beg your pardon, but my
staff is an old friend-the best friend
have. | never allow it to leave my
side"
lie never did. Bv day it rested on
his knees; by night II lay on the bed be-
side him. His brain had evidently been
affected by his illness, and showed its
disorder by strange attachment to
that wooden staff with its round knob
for handle. 1t was II perfect mono
mania
/ remember once one of my little
| boys seized it when he was doing, and
converting it into horse raced up and
down the room with il. Uncle Davy
woke, and his anger knew no bounds.
| ran out of the room with the child,
imagining him i'll positive danger, and
when Ireturned / found the old man sob
bing and crying like an infant, with his
head bent down on the much-loyed statl.
Truly Uncle Davy's stay at Turton was
trial to me. Over and over again |
regretted that we had invited him; and
so, | am sure, did Ronald, too. He said |
mt last, that we must seek him lodg
ing elsewhere; but the plan was hardly
/ formed when the old man fell sick and
/ died
/ lie had lingering illness, and
wached beside him day and night. Then
for the first time, / found that ne had
! formed sort Of attachment to me and
/ the children and given us little corner
of the heart that had supposed to be
wholly devoted to his stall.
But he was trying invalid, and at
| last / was fairly worn out with the in
cessant watching. He protested against
nurse or servant, and kept me constant
l " Mt his bedside. From no one else
would he receive food or medicine, and
/ if left him for moment he was mis-
i erable. But his child-like dependence
and elinging affection touched my heart
i in spite Of myself. / began to love and
tend him gently, like baby, ruling and
chidng him as | should have done one
Of my little ones when 1t was naughty. |
4 Under this treatment we got on better,
and should have managed without any
outbarst had It not happened that one
Iunlucky morning, in pressure Of 0c-
cupation, | neglected to rub and polish
the staff as he had desired ne 10 do.
Before his illness, this had been the one
important duty of his day, about which .
he set in the most scientific manner,
with clean towels and wash-leather.
Since himself incapacitated, he had re-
quested me: as an especial favor 70 IN
dertake tile process, and anxious to IN
dulge him in all small matters, | had
complied holding the knobbed handle,
a. lie directed, iii cambric handker-
chief. and rubbing from right to left.
This morning he had been in singu
larly peryerse humor, nothing pleased
linn md the snnunsnd nncleci Of al.