Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-22

france. Uncle J0nn Qlu credit 10 MS
short experience in culinary affairs.
When the contents of Jennies little
bookcase became too familiar, the public
library was at hand and, after an early
tea, in the soft June twilight, Uncle
John would read with that appreciative
feeling which made it real pleasure to
listen to him.
Two months swiftly sped away and
the school year drew to its close. Teach
ers and scholars were alike dispersed.
and Jennie had settled down for the hot
summer months in the little brown cot
tage. 1t had not been so hard as she an
ticipated. Uncle John had proved such
pleasant companion, and, though, from
his coming, she had been compelled to
forego a few personal luxuries, she did
not really regret them.
She was sitting in the parlor, the
shades mostly down to keep out the hot
July sunshine, herself in keeping with
the dainty yet inexpensive furnishings
which surrounded her, when Uncle John
entered, carrying an open letter and ex-
claiming:
"In luck, in luck, at last little girl.
Here is one Of my old customers, who
has long been indeb,ed to me and from
whom never expected to realize PEN
ny, a: last taken pity on me, and sent
me draft for five hundred dollars. Come
little GIRL" and Uncle John snatched
some article Of sewing from her hands
and threw it into one corner, no more
work with the needle this hot weather.
Pack your boxes and We will away to
the White Hills. | know you would
have made the journey if had not come,
and now, with Sue, and myself as bag
gage master, we will see for ourselves
how much of truth and how much Of
poetry there is in Starr King"
1t was needless for Jennie TO indulge
in remonstrance. She could not tell
Uncle John it would be much better to
put the money aside, against future
contingencies. without causing him to
feel that his presence was burden TO
her; and so it was arranged that the
White Hills should be visited.
Uncle John at once put himself in the
hands of a tailor. Was il Jennie's i'm
agina,ion. or did the perfectly fitting
clothes, and the possession of a we'll
filled purse, make difference in Uncle
Johns personal bearing: He certainly
had little difficulty in assuming the pol
ished and courtly bearing that comes
from ningling with the best OF humanity,
and the two girls grew to be very proud
of their escort. The pert hotel clerks,
the obsequious walters, seemed to know
that they had to do with a man of the
world, and everywhere the best rooms,
the choicest service was exacted and rem
dered Before starting Uncle John ad-
monished his companions
Now, little girls" he said, "we are
to consider this five hundred dollars as
so much mamma dropped into our mouths.
| know that you Jennie, have an unex-
pressed idea that the old pauper," (here
his mouth was suddenly covered with a
little white hand "Well. then, that your
Uncle John might better put it aside,
against the unknown demands OF the
future; but | want to take one more
journey, and don't want any thoughts
of the past or fears for the future to mar
its pleasures. In days agone, More
fortunate Well, as regards companions,
certainly not more Fortunately | used to
take long journeys, and | know all the
ins and outs of travel. Now, you, little
girls are not to worry, not even about
your baggage. l carry the checks and
the pocket book, and for once | am go.
ing to play the autocrat. | have put
fifty dollars one side for the fare home.
When the balance is spent, we will come
back to Rifetown, and, well, we will
hope that many more of my delinquent
customers will remember me"
And so they started. They went to
Springfield and up the Connecticut.
They stopped at Northampton that Jen-
ME might visit the female college there
they passed charming day in Brattle-
boro they loitered everywhere. At
Haverhill they engaged an open carriage,
drawn by span Of black horses that
made light of mountain roads. They
put up at cross road hotels, and tutored
BY Uncle John, the girls drew from the
clear mountain streams many speckled
beauty. Finally they reached the en-
chanted land, and then it transpired that
that this was not Uncle Johns first visit.
He was familiar with every desirable
drive, not even Starr King knew better