The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-06-10
RUTH'S CHOICE.


First, Mrs. Dermot herself fair, fat and
well no matter about the age--ten
years widow with not over plenty of
means, and the mother of three girls,
Miss Laura the eldest and the beauty,
Miss Isabel, beauty also, and a musi-
clan besides, and little Ruth who was re-
garded by the family as neither very
brilliant nor very beautiful, but very
useful to help mother and the sole
servant with the household affairs.
This morning there was one more In
the group, Mrs. Dermot's brother Ed
ward, an improvident youth who had
run away to California years ago and
just come back, not much the better, as
Mrs. Dermot could discover, for his long
wanderings.
"We never need have expected poor
uncle Ed. to make anything" she re-
marked to her daughters the night after
his sudden return. 81 He says he has
saved enough to buy himself little
home somewhere, but 1 suppose that is
all. I'm sorry, for did hope he would
have been able to do something for you
girls. But suppose we must make the
best of it, and treat him as well as we
can. l do hope he won't try to buy a
house in the city, for it won't help you
any to have shabby relations close. /
shall advise him as his means are small,
10 buy over on the Jersey shore.
Uncle Ed. received this advice and
consented to adopt it, with sly twinkle
in his gray eyes, which Mrs. Dermot
did not notice.
She rather expected to be asked to
assist in the selection of the little place,
but as uncle Ed. did not invite her to
accompany him, she did not offer her
services.
AT the table this morning, uncle Ed.
announced that the little house was
ready for occupancy and that he was
going to take possession in two or three
days.
" And now want housekeeper,"
he said in his slow way. Won't you
lend me one of your girls, Mary ?"
Everybody looked up as uncle Ed.
made this amazing request, Laura
blushed with vexation; Isabel shrugged
her pretty shoulders and smiled, and
even Ruth looked astonished.
"Of course she needn't do the rough
L.
a kitchen girl for that but 1 thought
I'D rather have one of my own relations
to look after things. You see I'll not
have many more years to live, and I'd
like to be among my own kim"
Nobody answered so poor uncle Ed.
went on, slowly: "I'll tell you what
I'll do. If one of you girls go over to
my new home and live there with me
I'll give her her board and clothing
while she stays and whenever she mar
ries I'll give her what can for setting
out. Now, I'll leave you to think over
it. Pm going over to-day and when L
come back this evening, you can have
your choice made"
After uncle Ed. left the room there
was a chorus of EXPLANATIONS.
Isabel leaned back in her chair and
laughed till she was tired.
Wouldn't look pretty playing the
piano in uncle Eds six by nine parlor,
with an ingram carpet and wooden
chairs ?" she exclaimed.
"And wouldn't 1 feel like asking
Colonel Richardson to call on me in
some little muffy, stuffy, Jersey place ~
cried Laura Indignantly.
It's pity, know" said Mrs. Der
mot but don't see but what some of
you ought to go. 1t would relieve US
and you know uncle Ed. would dress
you, he said so."
" Dress! !" cried Laura Indignantly.
Yes, calico gowns and cotton shawls
and may be a cheap alpaca for Sunday.
Thank you; not for me; let Ruth gol
they'll suit her."
" If ma is willing, 1 will CO." said
Ruth, speaking for the first time. eff
uncle Ed. feels lonely and wants one of
us we ought to go and stay with him,
and am willing to go.
" Well, do suppose you would be
best for him. said Mrs. Dermot,
thoughtfully. 1t would leave me
more, too, for the other girls, and then
when they marry they can help YOU"
You forgot uncle Ed. has promised
her setting-out," said Isabel with a
scornful laugh.