The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-11

:" Then" went on Saba, " I've laid
up six dollars towards a winter cloak.
Uncle John wants it more than | do.
I'll keep it for him."
" There is my ten dollars in the saw
ings bank" added Helen. " l did want
a pair of thick boots and a warm winter
shawl. But if Uncle John is really in
need -
" havn't saved any money!" said
little Kate, sorrowfully How could
I, with my wages of two dollars week?
But | will do all can to help"
" You are dear, generous girls, both
of YOU" said Saba. " 1t may be lit
tie hard just at first, but it is clearly
our duty to go to Uncle John. And /
will write and tell him this very night
edo" said Helen. cpl borrow
Miss Clitch's ink-bottle, and there are
pen and two sheets of paper in the
washstand drawer. l can buy a post
age-stamp at the druggists on the cor
nern
Wouldn'ta postal-card be cheaper"
said little Kate.
But Saba shook her head.
Would you put Uncle Johns pov-
erty on postal-card, for all the world
| 10 readE" SAID Sne.
And little Kate answered, somewhat
abashed, 81 didn't think of that. l
only thought of economizing a cent. /
wonder if the time will ever come when
we don't have to think of saving?"
And little Kate put on her bonnet
and tripped around to the druggists,
where one particular clerk put himself
out to wait on her.
"She has got face like a daisy"
said the druggists clerk. IF / ever
marry, l should like wife like her.
! No, she's not much of customer of
ours, but l have seen her at church
meetings, and l walk with her some
times of an evening She lives in
Timms' tenement-house with her SIS
ter and cousin, and works in Gracey's
store. That's all L know about her.
But she always makes one think of
wild flower"
Uncle John JaycoX was sitting by
the fireside when his niece's letter
came The fire of birch logs blazed
gloriously up the chimney. A pair of
table. In all the room there was no
eNlueuCe VI SIlpluS pONeIty'
Yes" said Uncle John, to a tall
young man who sat opposite, " guess
I'll have you here to run the farm for
me, Israel Penfeld. It's gettin' too
much for me to manage alone. But as
for some woman to keep house for me,
now that Anastasia Grixson has been
fool enough to marry old Simpson-Eh?
what? letter? Pm very much obleeged
to you, Mrs. Pinkey! Stop and take a
warm while read it, and I'll get you
basket of Gillifower apples to carry
home afterwards. They are jest spilin'
to be eaten, them Gillifowers."
But, as he perused his letter, curious
expression stole over his rugged fea-
lures.
"Sakes alive!" said he, stamping one
foot on the floor. " What in creation
does this all mean? 1 guess we'll have
enough housekeepers, Israel Here's
my three nieces from New York
acomin' to live with me, because Mrs
Pinkey here has writ 'em that I've lost
my property. And they're goin' to take
care of me. Well, swami"
Il didn't write no sich?" whined
Mrs. Pinkey, with an alarmed air. Il
only said you was dreadful poor in
health. / meant the lumbago and
rheumatic. didn't say nothin' about
money!"
"Well, no matter what you said,' re-
marked Uncle John, crumpling up the
letter in his hand and staring at the
fire. g The gals think I'm poor, and
they're comm here to support me, and
make home for me in my old age
bless their hearts! | don't know why
they should do it," he added, with
conscience-stricken face. "I never
did nothin' for them. And Kate and
Helen are my sister James darters, and
Saba is Hepsey's only child. And
they're workin' for livin', and I've
got more than | know what to do with
It's shame, now amt it, that things
is so unevenly divided?"
:" Just exactly what I've always said"
quietly remarked Israel Penfield.
Uncle John JaycoX looked at him,
queer twinkle in his Opaque blue eyes.
declare" said he, "them gals
has taught me lesson. / don't need
to be took care of in my old age; but /
swan to goodness! it would be kind o.
pleasant to have three gals around
lookin' arter the old man. Pm a mind
to try it,"
~ would if were you," said Israel
Penfeld.
So when Saba, Helen and little Kate
arrived, Uncle John received them
with a welcome.
" Nieces," said he, " l amt poor,
nor amt likely to be; but I'm glad to
see you. Pm glad to know there's
any one in the world that cares enough
for the old man to come and look arter
him, without no expectation of bein'
paid for it. 1t sort o. shores up my
confidence in human natur'. Come in
come in! There's plenty of room in
the old farmhouse for you all. Come
in and welcomed
The three girls looked at each other.
-" Ought we to stay?'' they asked each
other.
Yes" whispered little Kate.
There are two red cows in the field.
saw them"
And the air smells so sweet" said
pale Helen.
And Uncle John spoke as if he was
really glad to see u.s." said Saba. " Oh,
yes, let us stayn
Nor did any of the contracting parties
ever regret the Misunderstanding which