The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-01-28
SAVANNAH. GA SATURDAY. JANUARY %. 1888

ming to unrOll about six yards of spotted
red mufier from around his neck.
"Came by the evening train. All 1
want is a sight of the fire and an old
fashioned bowl of your mothers tea.
So you are my three nieces, eh2 Come
and kiss me-"
And this was the off-hand manner in
which we became acquainted with the
rich and eccentric uncle we had hitherto
only known by reputation.
We had lived in sibleyville all our
lives, and Uncle Rudolph had been
wanderer over the face of the globe-a
far-otf and distinguished individual, of
whom our mother had spoken reveren-
TALLY, as people will speak Of their rich
relations.
"a pretty good-looking set of you, "
remarked Uncle Rudolph, as he viewed
us over the edge of his tea-cup. " Let
me see. I 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 particular vocation, and con-
sequently is set to doing everything
Well, girls, I've brought you each apres-
emit"
Philippa's imagination, so she after
ward told me, jumped at once to
diamonds. Uncle Rudolph might have
strung us all over with precious jewels
and never missed it out of his wealth.
Laura thought, vaguely of a new set of
parlor furniture; hoped it might be
black silk dress for each of us, not for
getting mamma, whose Sunday gown
was positively shabby.
But Uncle Rudolph's next words dis
PEELED the illusion:
Here's a fifty-dollar bill apiece"
said he; mind, now, you spend it SEN
sibly."
Of course we thanked him and ex-
pressed our gratitude in the choicest
terms we could select at so short no
tice, but our tongues were not fairly
loosed until we were in our room at
night, crmping our hair and putting
away our ribbons and furbelows.
'Mean old hunks p said Philippa, in
dignantly eff it had been five hun
dred, now, it wouldn't have been SO
disgraceful. But fifty dollars! My
graciousW
'Never min !, ;" said Laura laughing,
as she crouched on the hearth-rug.
warming her hands-Laura always con
trived to secure the best and suggest
place-Fit serves very we'll for an open
ing wedge, mean to study all the old
gentleman's peculiarities, and get the
blind side of him. Didn't mamma say
he meant to adopt one of us? 1t shall
be me-"
'It wouldn't hurt him to adopt the
whole family" said grumbling Phil1ppa.
"But wish he didn't talk so abom-
inably through his nose" said Laura,
mimicking the old gentlcman's peculiar
accent with a correctness that sent
Philippa off into peal of laughter.
"Girlsw cried I, jumping up from
the footstool, where was twisting my
yellow hair over long hair-pin; "you
ought to be ashamed of yourselvesw
'Indeedp pouted Philippe. "Who
are you, Miss Polly to set yourself up
in judgment over your elder sisters, I'd
like to know~
81 don't care" stoutly persisted l,
"Uncle Rudolph is dear, generous
hearted gentleman, and won't sit here
to hear him laughed at. Now you just
keep still, both of you"
Hateful thing, she's jealous" said
Laura. "She can't bear the idea of my
being adopted by the rich uncle of the
family"
II don't care pin whether he adopts
you or not, said /, pulling savagely
away at my hair. "But l won't hear
him made fun of when his back is
4 turned"
He'll not adopt you, anyhow" said
Philippa; nobody wants such an ugly
wide-mouthed little gnome about their
house"
winked back my tears. Philippa
( l-pevv that 7 vros se,ei+ivc nffut INV