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

81 can get along with him, I'm very sure,
said Joscelind Darkridge.
"Nobody could get along with him !"
chorused the three other Misses Darkridge
in unison.
Uncle Black was the parsonage of whom
they spoke-a grabbed, Ill. tempered little old
man-who lived in superb old country-seat
among the Catskills.
He had money to leave, but his nieces and
nephews secretly believed that it would be a
deal easier 10 go to California or Golconda,
or some of those fabulous places, and dig for
tunes out, nugget by nugget, than to stay at
home and earn them by making themselves
acceptable to an old gentleman who had as
many angles as arose-damond, and as many
prickly spikes of temper and disposition as a
porcupine.
Naomi Darkridge had tried it first. Naomi
was soft-voiced, slender girl, with head
which reminded one ola dropping lily,
mo one can help loving Naomi" said Mrs.
Darkridge, as she kissed her daughter good
bye.
But in three weeks Naomi came back, half
frightened out of her wits.
"He scolds me dreadfully" said Naomi
"And he looks at me as the wolf must have
mamma, could not stay there, not if | was
to be made richer than Miss Burdett Coutts
herself"
Magdalen Darkridge went next; but Mag
dalen, although fine, tall girl, with spirit
of her own, was cowed by Uncle Blacks
savage eyes in less than week
"Id sooner sweep crossings for living,
said she, ethan to be Uncle Blacks heiress. "
And SO she came home without loss of
| time.
Rhoda Darkridge, not in the least abashed
| by the successive failures of her sisters, was
| the third one to try Black Grange and its
possibilities. But she also succumbed before
| the terrible scourge of Uncle Blacks tongue.
"Its scold, snarl, scold, from morning till
| night |" said Rhoda, as in three days time
| she tearfully related her experience to her
parents "Oh, you don't know-nobody can
know-what a dreadful man Uncle Black
isW
"Oh, hang the old scampr' said Mr.. Dark.
ridge, who was of free-and easy nature and
thought his girls great deal too sweet and
nice to be snarled at by any rich old mser
| "Let him alone My daughters need not &c
begging for any old mans money"
But here Joscelind, the youngest, tallesi
and prettiest of the four girls, spoke up:
"Tll go" said she.
"You don't know what you are undertak,
ing" said Naomi, with shudder.
aHe'd wear out a stone" said Magdalen.
"He's ghoulp' shuddered Rhoda.
II can get along with him, / am very sure,
said Joscelind, brightly.
And she packed her little trunk, and wen
to Black Grange.
1t was sunset-a red, flaming sunset, lik'
one of Gitford's pictures-when she came VI
the terraced fight OF steps that led to the ole
house. Everything blushed bood.red in tn
deep light and Joscelind could see how love
" was the scenery how substantial this oil
gray house, with square towers and semi
circular, colonnaded porch. Uncle Blacl
stood on the steps, in wig and black Sill
stockings, surmounted by huge silver knee
buckles
$50 YOU are Joscelind ?" said Uncle Black
surveying her with little twinkling eyes, Xix
black beads.
"Yes, am Joscelind," said the bright
checked girl, giving him kiss
you're late |" said Uncle Black.
II am late" said Joscelind 81 though
the old beast of a stage never would get here
The horses fairly crept and tho roads wer
horrid."
ats dreadfully warm day." growled Ur
Gle Black.
"Pm almost roasted" sighed Joscelind.
1.-THE whole summer has been intolerabl
warm" said the old gentleman.
1--WE might as well be in the tropics an
be done with it," retorted Joscelind, fiingin
off her shawl and tanning herself vehement.
Uncle Black gave here the keys that nigh
Just as he had three times before given ther
} to her three sisters.
: ~ shall expect you to take charge of til
whole establishment" said he. 1.-The SCI
wants are miserable"
"No more than one might expect" intel
rupted Josceind, with deprecatOry motto
of the hand. Servants are mere fraud
nowadaysw
"And nothing goes right about the place
"Nothing ever does p said Joscelind
Uncle Black eyed her queerly. This WI
quite different from the determined cheerful
ness and systematic good spirits OF her thr'
: sisters.
9 At breakfast. next morning, Uncle Blae
= began to scold, as usual.
, "Fish again |" said he This makes fol-
} mornings in the week we've had fish"
II detest fish" said Joscelind, pushir
away her plate with grimace.
"And the rolls heavy againp growled U
Gle Black" breaking one open.
!, "Please give me the plate, Uncle Black
. said Joscelind; and she rang the table b.
sharply"
Betty, the cook, stout, good humort
). Irishwoman, made her appearance.
d Betty" said Miss Darkridge, "be so go,
D as to throw these rolls out of the window
Betty stared.
r. "Do you hear what tell your" said Mi