The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-19
"That's better"

"That's better"
Sand get Uncle Zeb Larliin to 90 with
u.s."
'Jolly blue, that trould be lark. Bless
you, Will, but do you suppose we can get
him to goa"
Nothing like trying" Will was evil
IDENTIFY in condensed state this morning,
and his words were like his mothers
cookies, crisp and right to the point.
Uncle Zeb Larkin was character, and as
such source of delight to his neighbors,
and especially Of the younger fry, who took
especial pleasure in rousing his excitable
temper and bringing out his peculiarities
for their amusement.
He was q small, withered man, with
smooth, round face in which shrcw mess
and good humor were about equally blend
ed; bachelor and living by himself, in tho
oldest of queer little houses, where he
patched his clothes and boarded himself in
his own eccentric fashion.
He had horror of new inventions, and
when the railroad came tearing through
Jones' Hollow, whistling past within few
rods of his own door, he was justly indig-
nant.
1.-THE murderin' thing! All on airth its
good fur is to run down calves an chick
ems, an blowup PASSENGERS" he exclaimed,
wrathfully.
1t had long since ceased to be an object of
curiosity, however, and Uncle Zeb was
forced to admit that it did come handy for
that scurrying class of people who were al
ways in hurry, but he had never trusted
his own precious body to its prccarious
mercies, and his short journeys had always
been made on foot, stumping along with his
knotty, rugged cane in hand, his baggage
provided he had any, slung on the end of his
old cotton umbrella over his shoulder.
The city was only twenty miles away, but
Uncle Zeb had never been there but once,
and that was on the occasion of favorite
Presidents inauguration, and he had been
SO Disguised with the noise and hustle Of
the place that he had declared that nothing
should ever tempt him there again, so that
the task which the boys had set for them
selves promised to be one requiring both
strategy and perseverance.
mop, tell you mop" he replied, obsti-
nately, when they preached the subject.
<'Ive never rid ON them ere keers, an
never intend to. Eff young ones like you
wants ter risk yer necks, We ken. Two err
three boys more err less wont be 10 gret
loss to tn community no how" with sly
twinkle Of his shrewd old eyes.
Sam. "You know the whole town 'ud be in
mournin' if any thing should happen to u.s.
But we're going anyhow, and it's your
duty to 60 along and look after US. IT'S
now, really"
We'll pay your fare, uncle, and your bill
at the hotel, and take you around to see
the elephant, BESIDES" said Will Warner.
His father was well-to-do and he had plenty
of spending money.
one, and he put his big hoof straight
through my melon patch. l don't want to
see another.n
"Oh! its not real elephant we mean, Un-
Gle Zeb," laughed Sam, "but the sights OF
the city, you know; the theater, the gardens
or the museum. Wherever you want to
60"
''They say the theater is a marster wicked
place." cautiously replied Uncle Zeb.
"Wel what if it is. Just one little wicked
won't hurt US, and we can go to meetin'
regular all summer to pay for It" Will fore
saw u rich fund of amusement if they could
only get the old man started, and he was
much more pliable than they had expected
to find him.
''Say, Uncle Zeb, didn't I hear you say you
had to buy new suit of clothes" Sam
was stricken by bright idea
''Wall, yes. Ihev been thlnkin' ont, that's
fact"
''Then Of course you want to go to the city
to pick them out. You can't get any thing
Stylish" with wink at Will, 'in the coun-