The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-04-09
UNCLE JOsHUAS ADVICE.

htuDtD DTOWu was III iONt VIII
black-eved Kittie Perkins-there i
no doubt about it.
Kitlie was the prettiest and at tn
same time the most coquettish cir
in Swanto, and, woman like, wa
playing fast and loose" with poo
Reuben.
Reuben had never openly avoweC
his affection, though it was rapidly
becoming "soulfully intense" when
after a particularly exasperatiDg in
terview with the fair Kittie, he re
solved to lay bare his heart to hi
old Uncle Joshua, and seek the lat
ter's advice.
Uncle Joshua was, in fact, hi
nearest relative, and lived only ,
short distance from where Reuber
was employed. Reuben had done
many little kindnesses for the old
man-who, in return, felt almost a
fathers interest in his welfare and
happiness; so Reuben felt, when h,
went to consult him concerning his
tendresse, that his advice would
though comirg from one who might
almost be supposed to have forgot
ten all about the gentle passion, b'
sincere and thoughtful.
With this conclusion, Reuben
with a very "heart hungry" feeling
the immediate result of the above
mentioned interview with Kittie-
wended his way slowly up to the
little red house whore the old man
lived. The last faint traces of the
suns glory were rapidly fading away
in the horizon, the bright stars were
Just commencing to twinkle merriIy,
and all the air held a solemn still
ness" as if waiting for night to draw
more closely her sable mantle.
At such times, if ever, the human
heart turns to thoughts of love, and
Reuben 3, already turned in that di-
rection, was actually filled to ever
flowing with the gentle emotion.
Could he have done so, he would,
without doubt, have woven the
most "woeful ballads" to the fair
Kittie's eyebrows-but he was no
poet, so he simply yearned.
As Reuben came up to the house
he found Uncle Josh, as he used to
call him, seated on the stoop. His
chair was tilted back, his venerable
head, tringed v ith gray scanty locks,
was barred to the evening breeze, and
like tie ill-fated skipper of the Hes
perus, his pipe was in his mouth. "
Wal, Reuben" he said. as peer
ing through the deepening twilight,
be discovered the love-sick youth
approaching, "haow de do? come
right up and set down. Anythin'
new ?"
Nothing much" replied Reuben,
mechanically pulling up a rude
hair, bottomed with strips of raw
aide, and seating himself near by.
You amt beard nothin' about
he old brindle what strayed, hev
you ?" asked the old man, anxious
Y.
No" replied Reuben slowly, Il
,ame on quite a different errand.
The fact is, uncle. II Il might
rs well tell it, I'm in love and |
,ame to ask your advice about it."
wal, naow, you don't say p said
he old granger, and pursing up his
ips, he uttered long, low whistle.
For a few moments he remained
silent, far off look in his aged eyes,
is if the revelation recalled old, al
most forgotten memories, and then
ne said, turning toward Reuben, and
irawing his chair little nearer 10
lim, Wal, tell the old man all
about it-there amt nothin' to COM
nence with, that does so much good
rs to let it aout.
So, leaning back in his chair again,
ne listened while Reuben told the
old, old story"-how the feeling
lad gradually come upon him that
ne loved Kittie with an all-absorb-
ng passion. or words to that effect :;
now he basked in the sunshine Of
ler smiles one day, and was by her
,oldness plunged into the very zap
pathy of despair the next; how he
was beset with fears that she liked
Bill Simpson better than she did
lim how he was afraid, if he asked
ler, that she would say no-that he
was sure if she did, it would kill him,
ETC, etc.
The old man listened attentively
who, of whatever age, never failed
20 take some interest in the oft-told
.ale-and when the young man had
finished he took his pipe from his
mouth, coughed once or twice, aid
delivered himself OF these memora-
de words:
"Reuby, my boy, you've got it
Dad There amt no doubt on it
md III tell vou a secret what no.
body amt heard for nigh onter fifty
years. "
Here the old mans voice grew u
little husky, and he blew his nose
iercely with a large red handker-
chief which he took from his fore.
head for the purpose.
Women is queer creturs. | loved
one onct, and onCt only, and I'm
Just as sure ez | be that I'm settin
here that | lost her by lovin' of her
too much, and lettin her know it toe
soon. That was my experience, an
| hev seen stacks of like cases since.
wal, ez | was sayin' Just so soon
ez a woman feels she hez a man,
heart and soul, just so soon she amt
no use fur him she begins to sigh,
ez the old primer says. fur new
worlds to conquer. What she ken
have she don't want, an what she
can't have, she wants the worst
kind"
"It's what schooed people calls
the unertainable that everybody.
arter. specially women folks. Yor