Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-07-18
UNCLE PATTERSON.
His Lady-Like Reception by
the Children.

from school one day she brought her
mother letter with a strange post
mark. But, indeed, any letter at all
was such novelty to the family in
the little brown house that they gath
cred around Mrs. Milham as she looked
it all over on the outside, with many
speculations as to whom it had come
from, and at last cut away the end of
the envelope and drew it forth.
''Read it out, read it out, mammal"
chorused the three excited children;
and so their mother began, slowly and
wonderingly:
"BLUE CORNERS, August 8, 49,.
"REsPECrED NIECE BETSY CWho on earth
can it be mC-This is to inform you that
my late housekeeper, Cynthia Brown departed
this life three weeks last Wednesday. Being
in sore need of some one to fill her place, and
hearing from mutual friends that you were in
reduced circumstances, would be pleased to
visit you next week-Saturday. if agreeable
and see il satisfactory arrangements can be
made between US. Ihear that you have three
children, but hope to be able to endure them
unless too noisy and rude.
Respectfully yours,
"HARWOOD PATTERSON
'Well, of all things!'' said Mrs. Mil
ham, as she came to the end of the
page; ''this really looks like special
providence!"
''Who is it, mamma? What does he
want?" cried the children, wild with
curiosity as their mother sat back in
her chair, deep in thought.
It did seem as if these children, with
their bright, earnest faces and affec-
tionate ways, would be any thing but a
drawback to any ones happiness. Yet
it was with much misgiving that Mrs.
Milham surveyed them and meditated
upon the effect of their entrace into
Mr.. HARDWOOD Patterson's peculiar
household establishment.
'Who is it, children? Why, it is
your great-uncle Patterson, your ia
theirs uncle that lives in Blue Corners.
up North. He's an old bachelor, rich,
but very queer. He has always lived
all alone, with nobody but a house.
keeper, in a great big house. I never
saw him but just once-right after your
father and were married. He seemed
then to take quite a fancy to me; talked
to me more than he was accustomed,
folks said. So now his old hOusekeep-
er is dead, and he wants me to 20 to
live with him and keep house for him F.!
And it all depends on whether he takes
a notion to you, children. He is COM
ing to see us next week. Will you be
very quiet and lady-like and good-nat-
ured, so that he will be willing to have
you 60 back home with him?"
''Oh, yes, yes!'' cried the children.
"We'll be osvful dood," said Bess, the
youngest.
Il guess you'd better look out for
yourself, Miss Bess," said Carry. II
guess if you get one of your mighty
screaming spells, Uncle Patterson will
leave you behind"
He won't NEITHER" retorted Bess.
But these symptoms of an outbreak
were quickly dispeled by Mrs. Mil
ham.
There, there! What bad way to
begin! Carry, don't you tease Bess
about that, now. All of you had bet
ter keep practicing to be quiet. and
good all the week, so that you'll be
perfect in it next Saturday.
1t did seem providence that this
letter came just at the time it did to
this family. Mrs. Milham was widow
with these three little girls; the oldest
eleven years old, the youngest four.
For two years she had been struggling
on, trying to make both ends meet-to
pay her rent and bring up her children
respectfully. But it was hard fight
with these three hungry mouths to
feed and these growing bodies Ito
clOthe, and the outlook for the coming
fall and winter was very discourag cling.
Warm clothes were yet to be bought,
and woodshed and potato bin to be
filed, and it was hard to Law
by any thing from the small
wages that she was able to earn by
her daily work. And now there was q
q. chance for an easy and respectable
situation where her children might be