The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-11-19
IN THE OLD WELL.

"There's no use talking" said Phi
ney Metz despondently. ''Uncle Jede-
diah never was known to help any
body"
But we might ask him. That
wouldn't cost anything" said her Sis
ter Tilda, who sat on the table swing
ing her pretty, shabby little feet to and
fro in perplcxed fashion.
Josephine and Mathilda-those were
the real names of these brown-faced,
sturdy little lassies who were trying to
battle with the hard, uncompromising
world. Old Mr.. Metz was dead; the
Metz farm had passed into other
hands; and all the distant relatives had
made up their minds that Phiney and
Tilda were really no business of theirs.
There was only one pound in the
slender purse, which belonged to their
joint firm, and something, they felt,
must be done. And SO their thoughts
reverted to an ancient grand uncle,
one Jedediah Jackson, who had gone
to Harpersville and there vegetated in
dim old jewelly shop, where he
mended watches, replated white ware,
and repaired damaged spectacles for
all the old gentlemen and ladies of the
neighborhood.
To Uncle Jedediah they went He
viewed them with lacklustre eyes, with
a magnifying-glass in one hand, and
chamois leather in the other
..Eh?" said he. MY niece Mary's
daughters? 1t seems to me that L do
remember something about her dying,
and there being lawsuit about the
farm. Fathers gone, too-eh? Well,
well, this is a world of changes"
'.If you could find something for US
to do. Uncle Jedediah-n family be-
gan Phiney.
There's always something for peo-
pie to do in this world" said Uncle
Jedediah. ''At least, that's my ex-
perience. Take off your bonnets, girls.
You are welcome to Il home here, such
as it is. "
Uncle Jedediah was very kind, in an
odd, absentminded way, to his grand
nieces He obtained place as shop
girl for Phiney, and kept Iilda at home
as housekeeper and general factotum-
and the fresh rosy country girls lost
never shade of bloom in this quaint
city home.
Two leafy trees whispered over the
bow-window where hung the watches
and Eyeglasses, and just opposite the
door u singular depression IN the pave
ment held the light July rains long af-
ter they had melted away from all the
other spots.
Uncle Jedediah," said Phiney,
why don't you have that place filed
,up?"
! And she looked despairingly at the
little shoe splashed with wet which she
had unguardedly placed in the treach-
erous pool.
My dear, l have" said the old
man; ''but the pavement settles again.
It's the site of an old well that used to
be here long before the houses were
built
Phiney looked up and down the
quiet elm-shaded street. Was it posi-
bic that farmhouse we'll once bub-
bled up here, that cool plaintain-leaves
icarpeted the ground. and thirsty child
jdren came to drink?
+ '.It can't be healthy" said Tilda.
: ''lt amt unhealthy that ever found
fout," said Uncle Jedediah, searching
among drawer full of tiny screws fol
The next morning was Sunday. All
the simple household slept an hour OF
so later on this day of rest, as gener-
al thing, so that the sun was shining
through the shutter-cracks of the little
shop when Phiuey came to call her
uncle to breakfast; but, to her surprise,
the faded moreeu lounge. upon which
he usually slept, was empty; he sat in
his armchair near the flickering gas
Eght-which shone so yellow and
murky in contrast with the golden
morning beams bending over his
work
Uncle Jedediahr' cried out Phiney
in dismay; didn't you know that it
was Sundayp"
But Uncle Jedediah did not answer
her. He never spoke word more in
this world. He was Guite dead.
Eighty odd years old,i said the
neighbors. What can you expect?
Folks are not born immortal nova
days. And such nice little business
he had! Dear, dear! there wasn't
man near could repair watch as he
couldr
The place, the property, and all were
lett to windfal, for Uncle Jedediah
jackson had always been an honest
hardworking man.
''What are we to do?" said Tilia,
Eve can't carry on the business OF
repairing jewelry," asserted Phiney.
Old Major Deeply suggested that the
place should be sold. Alderman Doub-
lechin intimated that the city might
perhaps pay fair price for The site for
a hospital Mr.. Chippendale offered
thousand pounds for the right to trans
form it into DRY Goods Emporium.
But while the girls were considering
these various offers, strange thing
came to pass. Matilda came down to
breakfast with a troubled face.
'Phiney," said she, Il have had