The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-01-19

bushes, where they were speedily devoured by
Cato, the Newfoundland dog, and Rob and
Roy, the two settlers.
"But what am to eat for breakfast p
bewailed Uncle Black.
Crackers, of course" said Joscelind.-
Anything is better than imperilng ones
digestion with such stuff as this And, Betty
if you send up any more fish in month, you
may consider yourself discharged-do you
hear ?"
but, my dear, am rather fond of fish,
put in the old gentleman.
"One can't eat fish the whole time" said
Josceind, imperiously. Here, Betty-this
coffee isn't fit to drink and the toast is burn
ed and you must have put the cooking but
ter on the table by mistake Let these er.
rors be rectfied at once~
Betty retired, with an ominous rustic OF
her stitfiy starched apron.
"My dear" said Uncle Black, apprehensive-
ly, Betty is very old servant, and"
81 don't care if she is the age of Methu-
selah," said Josceind "nobody can be ex-
pected to put up with such wretched cook
cry as this!"
| 81 really think she is not so bad, if"
ooh, pray don't apologize for her Uncle
Black !" said Joscellnd "They are all shift
less, lazy creatures, who must be discharged
promptly, if they don't do their duties"
Uncle Black began to look frightened. He
had kept Betty, Sylvia and old John for ten
years, Was it possible that he had scolded
at them for ten years, only to have Joscelind
Darkridge outscold him now%
81 wouldn't be too short with 'em, my
dear, if were you p he demonstrated.
"Then let them do their duty" and Joscc-
lind, with the air of an empress.
ave are all mortal" pleaded Uncle Black.
| In n
to their conditions" said Joscelind
| Uncle Black ate his breakfast with but
little appetite. Sylvia, the house maid, was
finishing busting his library as he enter
ed it.
mot through yet?' growled Uncle Black,
the fret work of wrinkles once more coming
into his brow.
Sylvia" said Miss Darkridge, severely,
eff this happens again l shall dispense with
your services Look at the clock Is this the
time of day to be dawdling about the rooms
with broom and aduster! Remember that
Mr.. Black does not pay you eXorbitant wages
to lie in bed until noon"
"My DEAR" said Uncle Black, Sylvia is
generally very good girl, if"
Dear Uncle" interrupted Joscelnd, "pray
permit me to be the judge of these matters.-
You have ruled your household with slack
and indulgent hand altogether too long.
shall now institute reform"
And poor Sylvia had never moved about so
briskly as she did that day.
Old John, the gardener, was not exempt
from his share of the general turmoil. Miss
DarkIidge CHANGED to overhear her uncle re-
preaching the old man for some fancied neg.
lect in the flower.beds, whose diamonds, ovals
and crescents of brilliant colors were the
pride of his horticultural heart, and she came
promptly to his aid.
Gardening, indeed Do you call this gar
dening?" she said. "Uncle Black, Pm as
tonshed that you keep such man as this
about the placer
And the torrent of taunts and reproaches
which she showered upon the luckless head
of poor old John was enough, as that indivi-
dual observed, Ito make ones flesh creep"
| "My niece is q young lady of spirit and
energy" apologized Mr.. Black, when at last
Joscelind had gone back to the house.
| "Verra like you, sir-vcrra like you !" said
old John, scratching his head.
Like mel" said Mr. Black, slowly.
| And he stood still for full five minutes,
quite speechless and motionless, staring
down at the messy rim of an ancient sun dial,
half sunk in the velvety grass. And at the
end of the five minutes he spoke two other
words, and two only:
| "Like-meW
"Theres no KNOWN the masther, he's that
changed" said Betty, in the kitchen, q week
or so after. Hes as mild as lamb and as
peaceable as a kitten"
"Sure, isn't that just what the young lady
told us ?" said Sylvia, "when she came down
into the kitchen the first morning before the
fire was lighted, and told us she was goin' to
try an experiment, and we wasn't TO mind a
word she said, cause it was all by contrares.
HE don't know what his temper has got to
be- said she, and I'm going to show him.
And, bless her sweet heart, her plan has work
ed like charm"
1t had, in good truth. Uncle Black was a
changed man. And Joscelind had relapsed
into the original sunshine of her temper
and all the domestic wheels of Black Grange
seemed to revolve on velvet.
But Uncle Black took all the credit to
himself He never knew that Joscelnd had
taught him lesson.
ave get along very nicely" said he, "now
that my niece has subdued that little temper
of hers"
And Joscelnd was his heiress and darling
after all-for he will always believe that il
was he who formed her character"
|