The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-04-20
WHO WOULD IT BE.

IL wis DlbteT cOiu HipnC III Il tpiudi "
snow lying high heaped along the village
street, and icicles tinkling in the bleak
wind at every gust that swept through the
boughs Of the old cherry tree in front of
our door, while full moon, shining in
the frozen dome of heaven, made the outer
world look even more fngid than its act
ual reality.
The little clock on the mantel-an an
Gent Japanned toy that had once belonged
to our grandmother-fo we had ancestors,
although we were poverty stricken enough
now--had just chimed 8, the faded moreen
window curtains were closely drawn, and
we were all three of us sitting around the
dining room fire (our parlor was only
warmed on state occassions) trying to
keep up the caloiic, when mamma came
in, holding a newly opened letter, with a
sort of scared look on her face.
"Another unpaid bill, mammal" said l.,
but she paid no attention to me.
"Girls," said she, 1--WE got letter
from your uncle Rudolph. And he's com
ing to visit u.s."
jumped up and clapped my hands.
splendid, /" cried T. 81 should be thank
full for anything to rouse us up, even if it
were an earthquake.
Philippa (our beauty contracted her
dark eyebrows.
"Oh, DEAR" cried she, what a pity it
is we haven't got those new Turkey red
curtains for the best bed ROOM"
''Not decent new dress among the lot
of us, groaned Laura Mamma, when
is lie coming?"
Nov Tonight. Probably within an
hour"
ooh, my goodness. said Philippe
jumping up. Light fire in the best
parlor, Laura" Polly" to me, fget
down the flower china teapot at once.
Mamma, think you'd better open can
of Holsters, and"
''Quite unnecessary, spoke up gruff
voice, Just back of mammals shoulder,
and then we all became conscious of
round, red face, like full harvest moon,
pair Of leg of mutton whiskers, and
head as bald and smooth and polished as
the ball of vegetable ivory on the parlor
mantel.
"Uncle Rudolph" We all cried in
chorus.
eyes" said Uncle Rudolph, beginning
to unroll about six yards of spotted red
muffler from around his neck ''Camo by
the evening train. All want is sight
of the fire and an old-fashioned bowl of
Your mothers tea. So you are my three
nieces, ell? Come and kiss me.
And this was the off hand manner in
rich and eccentric uncle We had hitherto
known only by reputation.
We had lived in Sibleyville all our lives,
and Uncle Rudolph had been wanderer
over the face of the globe-a far-off and
distinguished individual, of whom our
mother had spoken reyerently, as people
will speak of their relations.
"a pretty good looking set of YOU" re-
marked Uncle Rudolph, as he viewed us
over the edge of the teacup. ''Let me see.
think I've got your identity pretty well
decided in my mind This is Philippa, the
beauty; this is Laura, the literary one,
and this" with kindly touch of my
curls, lis Polly, the one that has no parti-
cular vocation. and consequently is set to
do everything. Well, girls, I've brought
you each a present.
Philippa's Imagination, as she after
wards told me, jumped at once to dia-
monds. Uncle Rudolph might have strung
us over with precious jewels and never
missed it out of his wealth. Laura thought
vaguely of new set of parlor furniture;
hoped it might be a black silk dress for
each of us, not forgetting mamma, whose
Sunday gown was positively shabby.
But Uncle Rudolph's next words dispel
led the illusion.
Here's $50 bill apiece said he.
''Alind, now, you spend it sensibly."
OF course we thanked him and express
ed our gratitude in the choicest terms We
could select at SO short notice, but our
tongues were not fairly loosened until we
were in our room at night, crimping our
hair and putting away our ribbons and
furbelows.
''Mean old hunksl" said Philippa, in
dignantly. ''If it had been $500, now, it
wouldn't have been SO disgraceful But
$50 My graeiousr'
''Never mind,' said Laura, laughing, as
she crouched on the hearthrug, warming
her hands--Laura always contrived to Sc
cure the best and suggest place-''it
serves very well for an opening wedge. |
mean to study all the old gentleman's pc
culiarities, and get the blind side of him
Didn't mamma say he meant to adopt one
of usp 1t shall be ms"
at wouldn't hurt him to adopt the
whole family" said grumbling Philippa.
''Dut | wish he didn't talk so abomina-
bly, through his nose. said Laura, mimick-
ing the old gentleman's peculiar accent
with correctness that sent Phlippa off
into peal of laughter.
Girls" cried |, jumping up from the
foot stool, where Twas twisting my yellow
hair over long hair-pin. ''You ought to
be ashamed of yourselves"