Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-27
UNCLE SIMCN'S ADVICE.
BY HELEN F. MORE.

mail brought me letter from Uncle Simon
Iohnes. To my surprise, the letter contained a
request that / should come up and make
rreat-him visit. Uncle Simon Is Georges
uncle as we'll as mine. and tor the past
two years Georges home mas been at Old Farm.
Nobody knows why the arrangement was
broken up. bat it was and George is now earn
ing his living as q CLERK III the bank at u
''Shall go. George" asked.
please Yourself. said George. laughing.
Don't make permanent engagement. though.
FOR don't believe you can stand if long"
reelected. The school II which am teach
er has been broken m by scarlet fever have
been unable TO obtain another engagement and
my money is fast melting away. Under the circum-
stances | could do nothing better than accept.
especially as George assured me that he should
not feel ct all a@grieyed by my dec sion. So
wrote to Uncle Simon that would come for
visit. and here am.
Uncle Simon is rather a fine looking man. tall.
broa.i-shnuldered. and rudy. with fne full
beard of silvery white On the way home from
the station he startled me once by asking
abruptly. Il forget whether you know my nephew
George MAXWELL"
Ny heart gave a thump. Know George? Well,
But only said, ''Oh yes have known him all
my life"
Il was disappointed in George-much dis
appointed" Uncle Simon went on. ''He prom
ised well at first, but he had one great fault.
hope that yc't are not above taking advice from
your elders and betters, young Lady,"
] was IL little startled at the sharpness of his
manner. bat assured HIM that am always crate
ful fer good advice; not thinking it necessary to
add that use my own discretion III regard to fol-
lowing it.
Old Farm is not much of farm. after all.
Since George left, Uncle Simon has let most of
the land. The house is large. low and rawbling
by no means imposing. but very quaint and COM
Portable. crowning the tOpmost swell of the lawn
with its creamy. rOugh-cast walls. There is but
one servant in the kitchen. middle-aged woman,
whose lace wears an expression of constant irri-
tation and vexation. 1t cleared little when she
saw ne. but clOuded again. as she shook her
head slowly. saying. "Ah. you won't stand 1t
long: not long. you won't-worse luckI"
''Why not. Anianada?" asked. But she only
shook her head and groaned in reply
don't see why one should not be very happy
here. unless. indeed, Uncle Simon is confirmed
lunatic. as they halt lead me to believe. How
ever, will wait until see some definite sign
ofunacy before take fright.
November 5.
! had visitor yesterday. Such pretty girl!
plump. brown-eyed, dmped little thing. with
a wonderful peachy-pearl complexion and masses
of golden brown hair. | had begun to wonder
whether Uncle Simon has any neighhors. for not
q creature had as yet crossed the threshold
Miss Lulu Belden seems inclined to be soclabe,
however.
lam so glad you have comet" she began. before
she was we'll seated. II know Mr. Johnes has
been dreadfully lonely since Geo-Mr. Maxwell
left though wild horses would not draw the adj
mission from him."
That Geo" ranked in my mind, and am
afraid that / did not respond DIS cordially as
might have done. However. Miss Belden seems
a bright, innocent little body and. after all. 1t
is natural enough that she should call him George
as she cid after while without stopping to cor
rect herself.
''Did George tell you why he left?" she asked
at last.
Nothing definitely" said, shortly. vexed
hardly knew why.
Now that was nice of him, especially as he
has no idea that / know" cried Miss Lulu
'George IS good fellow / think 1 must tell
you. though. for have made a guess which
may be right or not
Don't" | cried. putting my fingers into my
ears. Il don't want to know anything but
what comes to me naturally. 1t would only
make things harder for me-
Perhaps you are right" said Miss Lulu, after
medtating moment
don't mind her calling him George-of
course That would be too absurd-but do think
1t high time that | began to call him Mr. Max
We'll 1t is quite enough for one woman to call
a man by his first name. She seems to know
all about me- and bout Mr. MaXwell's and my
Childish intimacy. | answered all her questions
ABOUT him as well as could and she LETT at last
after making me promise to come and see her
very soon.
Uncle Simon brought another visitor home to
tea with him, Mr.. Arthur Parker-rather a
gOOd-lOoking young fellow tall and fair with
nice honest eyes and a frank smile. Somehow
though. | fanced that he wished himself any
where else. Tor cat in q strange garnet would
nave been at Its ease compared to him. As for
me, was rneditating upon Miss LuIus visit
ana | an afraid that | was rather stupid and
absent-minded- | was Mortified at last to catch
myself in the midst Of tremendous yawn
just as recovered myself, in disrnay and per-
turbatiOn caught Mr.. Parker's eye There was
sympathetic twinkle in it which. instead of
embarrassing. quite treasured me, and we burst
out laughing simultaneously. was afraid that
Uncle Simon would be veXed, but he smiled and
Deamed as | had never seen him do before
Nhen MI. Parker had left. Uncle Simon ex-
pressed his appreciation in modified terms.
It ism generally well to yawn in COMPANY
Maddie, but this time it was perhaps. the best
thing you could do, as it broke the ice com
pletely- Parker is an uncommonly fine fellow
and was glad to see that you made good i'm
preston"
Before went to bed scrubbed short note to
Geo-Mr. Maxwell. rs / had promised, telling
him of my safe arrival, and mentioning the
visits OF our two neighbors. OF both l spoke
In terms OF unbounded praise. Why? wonder
Perhaps Mir Maxwell will know, but don't.
NOrennber H.
think | am beginning to understand WHY
people consider Uncle Simon difficult to live
with 1t began the day after | CAME but it
began temporarily, out Of Difference to my rank
as stranger 1t was spiced, too with compll-
ments.
Niece, you walk well, very well; but II You
would put down your feet little more firmly
the effect would be better
Niece, you have very smooth, pretty COM
plexion. but it is a trife dark for blue. Red
now, would be much more becoming Take INV
advice. and always wear red"
Uncle Simon has placed horse at nv dis
posal L always supposed that rode tolerably
wen, but after my first ride with him | could
only conclude that was most lawful duffer"
at it.
Hands lower. body frmer. That's better.
but-ah, well, keen on trying. Whip little
higher Don't be discouraged. Well make a
horscwoman OF you yet You have been dread
fully taught, but that's not your fault"
III was an immense relief when Uncle Simon
was laying a stone fence. The man no sooner
saw Uncle Simon, however, than he fairly took
to MS heels and boited across the fields. Uncle
Simon returned to my side with crest fallen
air.
1T Is the most extraordinary thing" he said.
II nave been TRYING TO give Ben Grimes some
ldea OF The proper way Of laying fences |
Thought he was getting quite fair idea Of It,
OF him."
But. Uncle Simon" said, 'isn't fence-lay.
ing his trade:"
''Eh!-oh, certainly" said Uncle Simon look
ING puzzled. But what of that? Do YOU sup
pose half the men in the world unders. and
their own trades? Lookers-on see most of the
game. you know
1t was singular to see how every man we an
preached suddenly found it necessary to dart