The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-04-26
Uncle JOshua's Advice.

Reuben Brown was in love with black
eyed Kittie Perkins-there is no doubt
about it.
Kittie was the prettiest and at the
sane time the most coquettish girl in
Swanto, and, woman-like, was playing
''hst and loose" with poor Reuben.
Reuben had never openly avowed his
affection, though it was rapidly becom-
ing "soulfully intense" when, after a
particularly exasperating interview with
the fair Kittie, he resolved to lay bare
his heart to his Uncle Joshua, and seek
the latter's advice.
Uncle Joshua was, in fact, his nearest
relative, and lived only short dis
lance from where Reuben was employed.
Reuben had done many little kindnesses
for the old man-who, in return, felt
almost fathers interest in his welfare
and happiness SO Rueben felt, when
he went to consult him concerning his
tendresse, that his advice would, though
coming from one who might almost be
supposed to have forgotten all about
the gentle passion, be sincere and
thoughtful.
With this conclusion, Rueben, with a
very "heart hungry" feeling-the i'm
mediate result of the above mentioned
interview with Kittie-wended his way
slowly up to the little red house where
the old man lived. The last faint ira
ces of the suns glory were rapidly ia
ding away in the horizon, the bright stars
were si inst G9mmFqsncing to twinkle merrl
Illness" as if waiting for night to
drew 1aore closely cher sable mantle. "
At such times, II ever, the human
heart turns to thoughts of love anc
Reuben's already turned in that direc
ton, was actually filled to overAowine
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 usually calico
him, seated on the stoop. His chair
was tilted back; his venerable head
fringed with gray scanty locks, wa:
barred to the evening breeze; and, like
the Inflated skipper of the Hesperus.
'his pipe was in his mouth"
"Wal Reuben" he said, as peering
through the deepening twilight, he dis
covered the love-sick youth approach
ing, "haow de do? come right up and
set down. Anythin' newl'
"Nothing much,' replied Reuben,
mechanically pulling up rude chair
| bottomed with strips of rawhide, and
seating himself near by.
"You amt heared nothin' about the
old brindle that strayed, hev YEP" ask
ed the old man anxiously.
"No," replied Reuben, slowly; 81
came on quite different errand. The
fact is uncle, I-I-Q might as we'll
tell it) I'm in love and | came to ask
your advice about it,
"Wal naow, you don't say?" said
the old granger, and pursuing up his lips,
he uttered long, low whistle.
For few moments he remained ST.
lent, far-off look in his aged eye, as
if the revelation recalled old, almost
forgotten memories, and then he said,
turning toward Reuben, and drawing
his chair little nearer to him, "Wal,
tell the old man all about it-thar ain
nothin' to commenced with, tibet does
so much good as to let it aout." So,
leaning back in his chair again, he lis
tened while Reuben told the sold, old
story''-now the feeling had gradually
come upon him that he loved Kittie
with an all-absorbing passion Cor words
to that effecD; how he basked in the
sunshine of her smiles one day, and was
by her GOODNESS plunged into the very
"apathy of despair" the next; how he
was beset with fear that she liked Bill
Simpson better than she did him; how
he was afraid, if he asked her, 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, ever failed to
take some interest in the "oft-told tale"
and when the young man had finished
he took his pipe from his mouth, cough
ed once or twice, and then delivered
himself of these memorable words:
"Reuby, my boy, you've got it bad
there amt no doubt on it-and I'll tell
you secret what nobody amt heard
for nigh onter fifty years"
Here the old mans voice grew lit
tie husky, and he blew his nose fiercely
with large red handkerchief which he
took from his forehead for the purpose.
"Women is queer creturs. 1 loved
one onct, and onct only, and I'm
just as sure ez 1 be that I'm settin' here
that l lost her by lovin' of her too
much, an lettin' her know it too soon.
That was my experience, an I hev seen
stacks of like cases sence."
"Wal, ez was saying, just so soon
ez woman feels she hez a man, heart
and soul, jest so soon she haint 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 worse
4 hind