McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-12-27

Dir. Andrews said, suddenly:
h'os'Patty; does your Uncle Amasy talk
much about me dye kDow!p with. q
malicious twinkle under his bushy eye
brows. 81 .l i'a.l#
os'Somtimes. Patty then hung her
head.
''Oh, he does, does hep What does
be call me, childP"
to"An OF Duffer," said Patty, with her
finger in her mouth.
Uncle Joshua turned and strobe
away, flirging "There, now, SALLY"
over his shoulder at his dismayed sister
as he went.
That night he sat before the open
''Franklin" in his great rocking chair,
while Aunt Sally knitted in the corner,
and Patty, on the floor, unlaced her
shoes preparatory to going up stairs.
Ye like us here, don't We, Patty?"
asked her uncle, finally, after long ST.
lence. ......-......
"Yes, sir, o. course I do" laying her
pink cheek against his knee. r
Uncle Joshua's hard hand was very
light on the yellow head, as he stroked
her hair.
III cam would ye like to live with usP''
he asked again. ....#. .,
=. t.'An' not go home eyer?"
tt'Why, yes-meoby-for visit. But
live here'
Patty raised her head to stare at him.
"Oh, couldn't, Uncle Joshua; not to
live, We know. | think Il lot o. you an
Aunt Sally. But we know there's all
the rest o. tn folks-Uncle Amasy and
Aunt Polly and George; Georges my
brother!'
I Uncle Joshua drew away his hand,
and Aunt Sally, in her corner, frowned
over her knitting.
Innocent Patty went on, presently, in
q musing tone: ''This place is awful
nice, but like Uncle Amasy's JUS ez
well, 1 guess, if it wasn't fer-fer tn
moggage.n "a Z
7 s'The what?' ......
eth mOggage we've got on our farm
It home Mike said so, an George an
me we've hunted for it lots o. times"
The child's voice had grown low and
fearful, and she knitted her brows as
she spoke. "I'm scat of it, too; it's
somethin' awful. George thought
twas bear, mebby; but Mike he said
twas more like wolf. Dye ever see
one, Uncle Joshua?''
The old man did not answer, but be-
gan raking down the fire with great
deal of noise.
"Jos' ua!" called his sister, winding
the clock. "t'
"Wal!" he snarled. ..
"Amasy Andrews ez good mans
ever trod sole leather. | declare fer it
it's shame" -.
''Shet up, Sally! VIII yep Mr.
Andrews turned upon her. "Amassy
no use fer inn
Patty sprang TO her feet, with her
shoes in her hand. "You didn't ought
er to talk sol" she cried, Indignantly.
"Uncle Amasy's so good to mel" and
then she broke down and cried.
''Sally, take that child to bed!" COM
manded her uncle, and disappeared.
Patty went home soon after this; and
when the stage stopped at the door,
Aunt Sally held her fast, saying between
her tears: eye mus come ag'in, dar
lin. Promise us ye will" While I'M
Gle Joshua snapped, in his crossest
tones:
. "O' course she'll come ag'in. Don't
be fool. Here, Patty, come to me.
That's somethin' to remember me by"
thrusting gold piece into her hand.
can this" holding up little package,
"ye tell yer Aunt Polly to put in your
Stockin' C'ris'mus
And then ne took her to the stage.
When Patty showed her gifts to Aunt
Polly at night, that worthy woman took
the money between her thumb and
finger Glands sakei" she cried, ''ef
that don't beat ali! It's five dollar
gold piece, Amasa Andrews, as sure's
ye live! Who'd a thought tn Of man'd
acted so like folks!"
"He's real good!" loyal Patty in all
her excitement did not forget to say.
81 like Uncle Joshua fustrate. Oh, but
Aunt Polly! won't that buy my new
shoes?"
The man and woman exchanged
glances, and then Mrs. Andrews
stopped and kissed her niece.
The short winter days passed quick |
ly. One night at dusk the two excited |
children hung their stockings in the |
chimney corner before they went up
stairs to bed. The next morning, in the |
dark and cold, two little night-gowned |
figures crept down the back stairs,
shivering and sleepy, but happy beyond
words TO describe.
''Dent lye look? Don't We dass to
look till 1 get tn fire agoin!" COM
manded George, as he lighted the
lamp. ........
'Honest, won't, Georgy." his sis
ter promised, covering her eyes with
her hands.
''There; it's agoin't I'm glad fix't |
it las night. Now look, Patty, oh,
look, guick!"