The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-03-03

Z" But / don't want to be made friends
with i'll that fashion," / said, as well as
, l could speak for crying.
Jack laughed, and caressed me, and
apologized; but it was then that our
troubles began, for all that.
What n nuisance that dog was no one
who has not brought up a Newfoundland
pup can imagine. Now it was one of
the best table-cloths, not only pulled
off, but torn into rags OF my lace set
Aunt Clarice's wedding present-which
had been laid out to bleach, had disap-
peared bodily, all but futteling end
which hung out of Hero's mouth as he
careered about the yard; or it was one
of Jacks dress boots chewed to pulp
and grave enough Master Jack looked
that time. only wished his belongings
had suffered oftener; but unluckily he
took precious good care to keep them
ont of the way.
Jack and | were poor enough, but we
had rich relations. Jack had an uncle,
Mr.. Philip Phelps, and an aunt, Clar-
ice Vaughan, both of whom had de-
clared their intention of leaving us their
respective heirs. Aunt Clarice was Il
childless widow and Uncle Philip Il
bachelor Both of them were peculiar
in their way, and full of whins and
fads." We had never been able to en-
tertain them hitherto, but as soon as we
were settled III our own house each of
them had promised us a visit 1t was
time for Uncle Philips arrival soon after
Jack brought home that wretched dog.
Uncle Philip had always seemed very
fond of me, and | resolved to appeal to
him privately to induce Jack to Danish
the holTid thing from the house
Uncle Philip was stout and rubicund,
with bald pink head flinged with white
hair, and laughing blue eye-two OF
them, in fact. Unluckily for my private
plans, he took most kindly to Hero from
the first and as watched the softening
of his eye over the pups clumsy gam
bols, ! realized that any attempt to in
iluencc him AS | desired would be ut
telly i'll vain. We were all collected il
the back parlor on the night of his ar
rival, he sitting III n large easy-chair il
the window. He was just giving us
graphic description of q recent visit tC
New Mexico, when he started and clap
ped his hand to his head, with suddcl
ejaculation.
"I thought YOU told me you had IL
mosquitoes here" he said, with a puz
zlcd air.
Neither had We, as Jack and | botl
assured him, and aftcra moment he tool
up the thread of his narrative. Crack
another slap at his bald head, and an
other break in his tale. Crack crack
crack
"What do you mean by DENYING
mosquitoes? - he cried Indignantly. "l
know that mosquitoes and malaria arc
two things that the inhabitants of
swamp will never confess to; but !
thought that YOU two We're above sucl
weaknesses"
Our earnest, " But, indeed, dea7
uncle" was suddenly interrupted by
sudden fiutter Of wings, and a douchC
of cold water exactly ON the center O.
Uncle Philips head Jack sprang tC
hi, feet.
ITS those bcastly birds, Madge,
he said. "Thcy've been chucking theil
seeds at Uncle Philip, and now they've
finished up with Il shOwer-bath. TAX
ing their bath in their drinking-cup
too, the little hrutes It's too bad.
) VOW
Uncle Philip was silent, hut his face
as he glared at the cage overhead. was
study. ! apologized, eagerly. abiectly
! and. hoped, to some purpose. Then W,
adjourned to the front parlor. an,
finished the evening quietly.
Uncle Philip was up bright and earl,
the next morning. I was surprised t,
find him i'll the dining-room when wen
down, before the bell rang, to see tina
the table was properly set. Hero wa
beside him, blinking up with his grea
: stupid eyes, one big paw laid upon Uncl
Philips knee, and his red tongue lollin.
ont idiotically. Uncle Philip greeted IN
= "ttectionately. though, / fancied, Will
= rather an air of cOnstlaint
" Did You sleep well, Uncle Philip =
| asked Uncle Philip hesitated.
1T was quiet enough most of tn
: night, he said, "but [ was somewha
disturbed toward morning"
1" Not used to the city noises @
asked but Jack who had come in be
| hind me, laughed.
" Nonsense, Madge !" he said. "Yo,
forget that Uncle Philip lives in Chi
cago, which is not exactly country. [
was all those birds of yours again
Uncle Philips room is directly over m
study, and the things tuned up at day
light, as usual. Nobody could sleep il
such n confounded racket. Now con
fess, Uncle Philip, was not that tn
| trouble? 2"
> "Why, Jack :" l said, half-cryinq
:" 1t is too bad of You. The little dan
) lings couldn't disturb anybody wit
their singing, and You know there i
not another window in the house wher
they can hang. Uncle Philips is tn
only other east room, and they mus
have the morning sun"
"Oh, pray don't disturb your arrange
ments on my account" said Uncl
Philip, rather grimly. "No doubt
shall get used to it in the course q
, time"
Just here Hero made diversion b
! an unexpected and successful spring a
the chop on Jacks plate, with which h
vanished through the back door, Will
Uncle Philip and Jack laughed and az
? plauded,
Uncle Philip stayed with us less tha
a week, growing daily more silent an
testy. When, on the fifth day, he an
? ynounced his intention of leaving us.
could not feel deeply grieved; but Jac
was
1T is all very well for YOU" he said
) "Uncle Philip is no relation of yours
and you have no old claims of affectio
and kinship pulling at You. 1t is nc