Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-29
UNCLE BRUNO.

mhhy rcvcrses OF fortune. Her eldest son,
Ewho had been her only support, had
persisted by shipwrcck and left his four
motherlcss children to her care Tins
misfortune had indefinitely postponed, il
not entirely prevented the marriage of
her daughter, besides cuttiu,; short The
studies Of her second son who was Obliged
TO come home and seek for work. But
III the midst of the anX;ctics of the poor
family IN unexpected ray Of hope ap.
peared.
letter was received from Bruno
Mauvairc, the widows brother-in law
who had left home us Il sailor twenty
years before. He wrote from Dlcpbc.
which was but few miles away, and
said that he had just come from America
with all his worldly goods, and intended
immediately to visit Ornontvillc his
native place. At that time it is not very
unusual to see at Dicppc merchants,
whose ships crowded the hurbor, and
who had left home years before, in the
dress of common sailors, and the sight of
these fortunate ones was Il constant
Source of encouragement to the am
biticIs, and of hope to the pcnnilcss.
The unexpected news Of their uncle from
America, therefore, gave rise to the most
delightful conjcctures in the NIauvarc
family, for although he did not state the
exact amount of his fortune, it was easy
TO see from the jovial tone OF his letter
Tthat he was man Of wealth and pros
perity. Once started, imagination ran
riot, each one adding something to the
first supposition.
''Pcrhaps if he had come before. nv
poor Didier need not have worked so
hard" sighed the widow.
Sulicnne, her granddaughter, who
helped with the house work, replied
quickly: "But there arc his children to
be provided for, and besides the rich
uncle will, no doubt, see to 1t that Miss
Clcmcnce has rich marriage dowry."
''l'hat would be no use now" said the
young girl, shaking her head hope
lessly.
''No use!' repeated Juliennc. as it
not Tor the want of dowry that Mr..
Marks parents have refused their con
sent TO his marriage, and sent him of to
sea- Your uncle has but to say the word
and the young man will soon come back
again"
"Perhaps he does moi want to come
back, !" said Clemcncc in Il low tone, and
turned away.
But her brother, thinking less of the
man than of the marriage, added con-
solingly: eff he docs not, another will.
You may be sure, sister, that pretty
girl with an uncle from America need
never want for Il husband. Very likely
he will bring a young friend with him,
some millionaire that he has chosen for
nephew"
81 hope he will do nothing Of the
kindl" cried Clcmcnce in dismay. II
an in no hurry to get married.
"What is most urgent is to find II
good position for You, Martini" said the
widow i'll an anxious tone to her son.
''Thc Count has almost promised me
the overseer's place" said the Young
man.
His mother answered: "But he seems
to be in no hurry. That is always the
way with the rich. They think only of
'heir own pleasures, and when at last
they happen to remember the bit of bread
promised TO fellow creature, the poor
man has starved to death"
"Uncle Bruno will not forget us"
said Martin. The letter says: Il shall be
in Ormondvillc tomorrow with all my
worldly goods FIc will soon be here. !"
Cemencc, is everything rcady?"
asked the mother bustling about.
For answer, her daughter opened the
pantry and showed the well-iillcd shelves.
The widow had taken from her linen
chest her best tablc-cloth, which had
grown yellow through want Of use. and
JWicnnc now hastened TO set the table,
putting in the place Of honor the only
Al
dren who had been Watching outside
rushed into the house cxclaming, "Hcrc
he is; here he is"
"Who is it?" asked the others.
'Unclc Bruno, of COURSE" answered
CHEEKY voice, and there appeared in the
doorway an old bearded sailor, holding in
one hand a small bundle and on his other
wrista green parrot, while on his shoulder
pcrched n monkey. The younger chill
drcn, in alright, ram behind their grand
mothers chair and the grown persons
gazcd at the newcomer in silence.
"You need not DC afraid of my men
agcrie," said the sailor laughing ''Comc
and kiss me, children, for have tray
cled three thousand leagues to have that
pleasure"
Martin Mauvairc was the first to rccov-
CT himself sufficiently to greet his rcla.
ton, then Clemence, her mother and the
eldest of the children followed his exam
pie, but nothing could induce the three
little onesfo stir.
a "A1y faith l thought I would never be
here" said the uncle, ''it is long wall,
from Dicppc."
His nephew glanced down and saw
that the travellers boots were covered with
mud.
"Do you mean to say that You walked
all the way?" he cried.
''Indeed did. Do you think 7 could
sail across the iieldsl"
'tBut-your baggagc2"
~ have my baggage on me-"
~ beg your pardon, Uncle; but we
thought from your letter that YOU