Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-12-05
UNCLE AARON
or,
A WIFE REDEEMED.
A Pathetic Story OF a Woman's
Folly and a Mans Heroism.
by MRS. IsOBEL III. FLOYD.
copyright, 1889

Lett 10 themselves, ONEtc Aaron anu
| Aunt Kate looked around them in admira-
| Jon at their beautiful surroundings. But
aven their admiration was characteristic
| for Aunt Kates was mixed with feeling
! IF awe and half fear, while Uncle Aaron
nodded his head with a satisfied smile, as
| f he met after a long absence old friends
whom nc was glad to see. Aunt Kate was
Down on her knees and was feeling the
thickness of the Administer carpet, and
Uncle Aaron was standing before fine
water-color, smiling and looking happy,
when suddenly Alice, daiutlly dressed and
augging her beloved dollie in her arms,
stood within the Turkish portieres that
iraped the doorway.
.Oo.oa she said.
Gland sakes ~ cried Aunt Kate
"Why, this must be Alice!' said Uncle
Aaron.
With the swift recognition that children
have of those akin TO them, little Alice
dropped her doll and without q moments
hesitation went to Uncle Aaron's out
stretched hands. He stood up in his great
height and happiness, beautiful picture,
with the child in his arms Aunt Kate
ooked at them as she ever looked at every
thing, doubtfully
MY wee woman my wee woman! ~ said
Uncle Aaron, talking to her as lovers do
And for answer Alice kissed him emphat-
cally several times, pulling her tiny fingers
through his long gray beard. Aunt Kate
stood stiff and straight, looking at them
both
.Beant yer agoin' to speak to mel' she
said at last, primly Pm your grand
mother
SIS seeln questioned Alice, lifting up her
great blue eyes to Uncle Aaron.
ayes; in sartin, your grandmah Kiss
her, there's good child,n
Thus directed, little Alice got down from
Uncle Aaron, smoothed down her pretty
dress, tossed her curls over her shoulder
and said "How dc doc, drandmaP' and
held up her wee mouth for kiss Thank
God that nature is at times too strong for
us. For once Aunt Kate forgot TO carp
and whine. All her woman s heart went
out to the wee mouth held up to hers. "My
babyr' she cried, and then gathering up the
tiny form with all its pretty lace and frills
to her broad, motherly breast, she held her
close. Aud the child felt the mother love
and was not afraid only nestled the closer.
She kissed and crowed over her as mothers
do, and Alice, at last lifting up her tumbled,
curly bead, said wisely:
900 tan 60 now, drandpa; 90 tan go to
bizzeness wiv papa Dood bye"
Uncle Aaron stood, big, nonplussed,
awkward He was surprised, as many Of
his brother men have been before him, and
those after him win be again, at that illogical,
strange freemasonry of woman kind in the
crises of life, be they young or old, of high
or low degree. Plainly ne was not wanted
or needed
III 8. 70
returned home, every sorry that he had
missed them at the boat" He was rather
surprised to see upon what intimate terms
Aunt Kate and wee Alice were, as that little
lady sat upon the old dame's lap, gravely
putting her grandmas big gold earrings
around her dollie's wrists as bracelets.
Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kate remained
with Jacob about two weeks, and then I'm
Gle Aaron, with his gentle, wise under
standing of all things, thought it best that
they should GO He saw that although
Jacob was glad to have them, that the daily
routine of his life was altered, that his
ways We're not their ways.
1t was their last evening at Jacobs house,
when weeAlice had taken grandma up to her
own room, and was happy with her in her
pretty, childish fashion, and Aunt Kate, soft
ened and gentler for the time spent with the
child was sitting there with her, happy and
at peace, too.
In the library, the beautiful room with its
lines of books and corners Of rare curiosi-
ties, seated in two easy chairs drawn up in
front of the blazing fire, were Uncle Aaron
and Jacob, alone together Alike, and yet
not alike. Jacobs face, manly and grave,
stood out like marnlS, chiseled by some
master hand. a face fun Of vigor and
thought and strength II seemed to sug
gest the possibilities in man! But Uncle
Aaron, Of larger frame and grander mold
sublime in his rugged simplicity, seemed to
suggest the possibilities of a God
The two sat looking into the Goals, and at
last Jacob said, with sigh: 'Weil, so you
leave us tomorrow, father Couldn't you
stay longer.'
"It's best not, lad, it's best not We've
had good visit, and your mother has been
like different creature since wee Alice
took to her so. Hum' with a little chuckle
of keen amusement, blood is thicker'n
water, amt it, When | see little Alice
asettin' on her grandma's lap, a-doin' what
she will with hcr, and her a-settin' as gem
tie and quiet as n nestin' hen, feel as if I'd
like to go ont aud flap my wings and say
'Cock-ee d0odle-dooPn
"But you DON'T" said Jacob, with an an
swering laugh.
"No. LAD, | don't, replied Uncle Aaron,
with a quizzcal look, NOR neither would
you If you was Inc"
A moments pause, then Uncle Aaron,
STOPPING down, took hold OF a magnificent
black bear-skin that, mounted as a rug, was
in front Of the CRATE
"How queer it seems, lad, to use the
- a.. Is
I've killed. 10 the past twenty years in the
mountains, al.s vet never thought of put
ting his coat under my feet Why, it's just