Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-12
OLD UNCLE DAvY.


be married to-day? I almost forgot to
tell you, we had so many other things to
talk about. want you all to guess.
The speaker, lively young lady by
the name of Carrie Hart, had come from
the village that day to visit the Smiths,
who lived in the country. She had been
Mrs. Smith and her four daughters.
They were all in the sitting room, en-
gagged in sewing and fancy work; but at
the mention of the marriage, needles,
thimbles, sewing, all were forgotten as
the fair owners gave their whole atten-
ton to guessing who had made up their
minds to venture out on the sea of matri-
mony in search of happiness.
ct knew you would never guess, :"
said Carrie. 1t Is old Uncle Davy
Henderson,"
"Not Uncle Davy p said Mrs. Smith.
ssYou are just joking, aren't you, Car
rie?" while the girls were making all
sorts of CALCULATIONS.
cit is true, [ am sure, ;" said Carrie;
IS for his daughter Sue, who has been
keeping house for him since her mother
died, told me so yesterday. She is
dreadfully out of sorts about it.
s'And no wonder!' said Mrs. Smith.
s'It's fine thing she is married and can
have home of her own, or fear there
would be trouble between her and her
stepmother. But what does the old
man mean in marrying now, after being
a widower so many years %
'sTell us all about it, Carrie" cried
the girls altogether.
<sJust think of that little old man get
ting married again !" said Mary. GIVE
often wondered how he came to be mar
ried at all; do not believe he is four feet
tall, is he, girls ?"
"Four feet? No, indeed" said Sally.
'sOh, pshaw! girls, he is taller than
that; but he is short enough, goodness
knows" from Lucy, who was not very
tall herself ''But I do wonder if his
new wife is as large woman as his 9TH
er one was. Father said that he remem-
bered, long ago, when everybody went
to church on horseback, Uncle Davy and
his wife would come, both riding on the
same horse. You could not see him at
all, she was so much larger than he.
EYES," said Katy, 81 have often
heard him laugh about it. You remem-
Der that time they roasted an OK at a
political meeting, and Uncle Davy rode
all around town mounted upon the stuff
ed ox-skin upon a platform? Wasn't he
proud? Oh, dear, dear 1t was too
killing"
Such chorus of laughter as followed
this recital would have scared the old
gentleman himself.
"Be still, girls p said Mrs. Smith.
81 won't have you making sport of an
old gentleman and a good friend to you
all. Let Carrie tell us about the we'd
ding, and who he is going to marry. Is
it anybody we know, Carrie ?"
"No, indeed, girls, you must not make
fun OF Uncle Davy," said Carrie. He
may be little but he is mighty. But |
will tell you ali I know about it, which
Ii part of their house last spring,
mother and I, while our house was
building, and Sue and I became such
great friends that we were almost like
one family. For long time Uncle Davy
has been talking of marrying again, but
the thee boys and Sue have opposed ii
so strongly, that he did not say very
much about it, but [ knew he thought a
great deal. Sue and her husband lived
there, and she kept house; but she has a
terrible temper and the old man had nc
peace with her. Why, there is not one
one of his children who would be willing
to take the old man into his home and
treat him right without wrangling about
money. I don't blame him much for
wanting a home of his own He said
last summer that he would give his house
In town, where he lives, and his cow
pasture, to any woman who would mar
ry him. / told him L would marry him
he would give me his farm, but he
too stingy for that"
ooh, you naughty girl p said Mrs.
Smith, while the girls giggled and won
dered how Carrie could talk that way to
any man, even an old man like Uncle
Davy, who was more than old enough to
be her father.