River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-07-19
UNCLE PATTERSON.
HIs Lady-Like Reception by
the Children.

lis Lady-Llke Reception by
the Children.
When Lizzy Milham came home
from school one day she brought her
mother a letter with "a strange post
mark But, indeed. any letter at all
was such a novelty to the family in
the little brown house that they gath
cred around Mrs Milham as she looked
IL al over on the outside, with many
rpeculations as to whom il had come
from, and at last cut away the end OF
The envelope and drew it forth
Read it out, read it out. mammal
choruscd the three excited children;
and 50 their mother began. slowly and
wonderingly:
BLTE CoBNEHs, August : Is.
''RESPECTEu NIECE BETSY who on earth
-au IL be from.f-This is 70 inform You that
~ late housekeeper, Cynthia Brown. departed
1his life three weeks last Wednesday. Being
IN sore need 81 some one . MI her place, and
bearing from mutual friends that you were in
reduced circumstance. I would be pleased 10
visit yOu next weck-Saturday. II agreeable
and see If satisfactory arrangements can be
made between Us. hear that you have three
children, but hope % De able 20 endure them
lnless too noisy and rude.
Respectfully yours.
HAYWOOD PATTERSON"
'.Wcll, Of all things" said Mrs. Mil
nam, "a She came To- the end Of the
page this really looks like a special
Providence.'
who Is IT, mammal What does he
waui2' cried the children. wild with
curiosity q, their mother sat back in
her chair, deep in thought
u 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
Il was with much misgiying 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-bucle Patterson. your IA
Tiers 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 house
keeper, in great big house. | never
saw him but just Once-rignt after your
father and | were married lie seemed
then 10 take quite a fancy to me; talked
10 me more than he was accustomed.
folks said. 30 now his old housekeep-
er is dead. and ne wants me to 90 TO
live with him and keep house for him
And. IL all depends ou whether he takes
notion TO you. children He Is com
ing to see as next week. Will YOU be
very quiet and lady-like and good-nat-
urcd, 50 that he will be willing to have
you 20 ba-ck home with him.
''Oh. yes, yesr cried the children.
wen beawtul dood, said Bess. the
youngest.
I guess you'd better look out for
yourself Miss Bess-" said Carry. Il
guess if you get one Of your mighty
screaming spells, Uncle Patterson will
leave YOU behind
''IIc won't neither. rctOrted Bess.
But these symptoms Of an outbreak
were quickly dispelcd 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 bc quiet and
good an the week. 80 that you'll be
perfect in ii next saturday"
II did seem "a providence that this
letter came jus at the time il did 10
this family Mrs. MiIham 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
lay her rent and bring up her children
Respectfully But 1t was "a hard fight
with these three hungry mouths 10
feed and these growing bodies 10
clothc, and the outlook for the coming
fall and winter was very discouraging-
Warm clothes were vet To- be- bought.
and w0CdShed and potato hin TO be
filled. and IL was hard 20 lay
10y amy thing from the small
wages that She was able 10 earn by
her daily work Aud now there was a
chance for an easy and respectable
situation where her children might be
warmed and fed and clothed and get
:; good education, And vet. from what
she knew and had heard of this old
uncle. all depended ON the way in
which he might b. first impressed by
those children They were. plainly
the only doubtful point in his mind.
.-But III never give them up" said
Mrs Milham 20 herself. IN starve
myself first. and Uncle Patterson can
keep house for himself But. oh, il
can only get them 10 keep quiet and
not offend him, Its the first time.
really. that | ever wished they didn't
have quite - much life in them
Goodness only knows what they won't
take 10 into their heads 10 la and say,
Well. suppose / can trust the Lord 10
do what's right. and needn't worry too
! much about it, We've been cared for
SIhus far. and we viii be still
In the meantime the children. in a
state 81 great jubilation. were discuss
ing the wonderful prospect which had
- suddenly opened before them. To
20 and live I'm Blue Corners very
metropolis compared with their little
Village to live i'm big house with a
rich uncle what more in life was left
IL 81 desired
Its ike "a fairy story. said lizzy.
..Dou YOU know how the fairy god
mother came To Cinderella and changed
her old dirty clothes to a silk dress.
and gave her the glass slippers. and
took her Oft To the ball? I always
Thought something Of that kind was
going 70 happen TO Us
Lizzy was a great reader Of stories,
AMI very fond Of day-dreaming-
..Wiu Uncle Patterson give rs silk
dFesses2" asked Garry
Il shouldn't wonder answered
Lizzy. confidently. Il think he viii
take a great fancy 70 us-weu behave
- lady-like, you knOw-and just give