The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-03-21
The House That Dan Built.
RY IL. h.

beginning TO chalk out II diagram on his
carpenters bench; Eyes, it should be a
cottage, and built on the plan OF Ben
Morril's. 1t should have one of those
picturesque, Gothic porticos just here,
facing the west (here Dan made peu-
tagonal addition to the western side of
the diagram), "nod two bay windows"
(making two smaller pentagous), "and
here should be the parlor, aud here the
library, and here the cool, pretty little
breakfast room, where we would break
fast together SO cozily-Minnie and Il"
and Daa smiled 10 himself at the charm
lug pictura his fancy had created.
Minnie" might well have been proud
OF Dan if she had happened to see him
lust then; for be was looking his best.
Men always do when they are thinking
such good, pare thoughts as filed Dan
Derkeiys mind that day.
And Dan Berkely. looking his best,
was not to be eneored at, assure you.
It is not every day that one meets such a
handsome fellow. or one SO manly and
noble.
Ermina Lowering thought so, and
when Dan asked her to be his wife she
very willingly spobs the little word that
made him happy.
II there was any one thing in which
| Dan implicitly believed it was the good.
ness and sweetness aud translucent love-
illness of Minnie Lowering. Aud it was
one OF Minnie's articles Of faith that there
never was man SO worthy of confidence
as Dan.
The one thing that stood in tho way of
their perfect happiness wGs Dams lack
of worldly wealth. He could not afford
to build n house, and E.mina was de.
tsrmined not marry until they could be-
Sin life in q cozy. Independent homo Of
their own,
The subject was one of great anxiety
TO Dan. He spent great deal of time
planning and contriying how he could
raise money enough to build q cottage
like Ben Morrill's.
So now, as he stood there, planning
out hia house for the five hundredth
time. he grew so interested in it that he
fell to thinking aloud, and confiled all
his hopes 10 the carpenters bench and
tools, never dreaming that he had an
other auditor,
How should he know that Uncle
Nathan Hale had just composed himself
for snoo2a on the wide bench under
the open window OF his shop, and was
listening intently TO every word he said 2
There WAS suspicious moisture in Uu-
Gle Nathan = eyes and o suspicious quiv-
er on his lips. lie was very fond of his
nephew and his pretty fanceS, and he
thought 1t really too bad that they could
not have their house.
Here am l., quoth Uncle Nathan to
himself, 'worth snug fortune, and no
earthly use for it, and really"
And then and there Uncle Nathan
formed plan which he resolved TO put
imm 'diately into execution. So be said
to Dan the next morning
fOan, want you 10 build house 70.
me-"
"A house for you, Uncle Nathan9
What in the world do you want of a
hou'eT Are you going to get married."
"Thnt is mono of your business" said
Uncle Nathan, irrascibly. "Will you
undertake the job, or Won't your
"Of course" replied Dan, who under.
stood the old Genlloman's psculiarities
''Rut when. where, au how is it to be
brilt2"
Il want it to be commeneed right ofi, "
said Uncls Nathan, decidedly. Aud I
want it built on that corner lot Of mine
where the big clips stand, That's fine
building spot. II Is to be cottage
You've seen Ben Morrills? Well, that
is the stylei only my cottage is 10 be ever
so much prettier than his. I'll leave it
TO your judgment and taste, Make it
just such a house as you'd like for your.
self. And YOU are not to bother me
about il. Take it entirely iuto your
hands. Hire all the workmen you want;
only Get lit done as soon as possible. Call
on me whenever you want funds ex.
pense ia DO ohjeot'
"Uncle Nathan, do believe you are
going to get married. laughed the aston
ished nephew.
Uncle Nathau's eyes twinklei as he
answered: You build me pretty house,
aud I'll promise you there shall be a
pretty woman in it within q month from
the day il is fnishei.''
That evening Dan told Ermina about
the cottage which he vas to build, aud
that he believed Uncle Nathan had
matrimonial intentions. Wnereat they
both fell to guessing whom he was going
to marry, Dan guessed Miss Nancy
Dawes, bpt Minnie believed It the Widow
Banks.
So Dan went TO work at UAcle Nathan IS
cottage. He threw into it all tho taste
the pride. the enthusiasm which be
would have bestowed upon the ideal
cottage of his own. Once in q while
Uncle Nathan came to look at the build.
ing, nod approyingly and SO away.
When at last it was all finished, and
be had expressed himself delighted at it
and everybody who passed said It was
the prettiest house in town. Uncle Nathan
said TO Dan;
? "Aow I want it furnished. don't
/ know the first thing about the furnishing
+ Of house; it takes woman for that.
So want Ermiua Lowering TO select and
arrange the hIings. She has more taste
| than any woman know"
!, Except Miss Nancy Dawes. Uncle