Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-01
UNCLE BLACKS LUCK,

y
old farmhouse kitchen, as she stood
there with one little child in her arms
and another clinging to her skirts.
'But I've always heard tell that beg
gars mustn't be choosers.
1t was more than a year now since
the Black Farm had been left to the
mercy of the suns and rains, desert
ed shell. People said that the old
house was nearly a hundred years old.
1t certainly looked it, with that huge
mass of chimney stacks, the sloping
roof, the tiny-paned windows, and the
low ceiling, which Sc emed almost to
touch your head as you crossed the
mouldering threshold. But after Mat
thew Black had been lost at sea, and
his old father had grown too feeble
and infirm to work. the place had
fallen to ruin, and the old man was, in
country parlance. ''tb rown on the par
ish." Nobody wanted to rent the
house, which was mortgaged to Squire
Sedley for an amount considerably be-
yond its value, neither was the Squire
willing to make any repairs, so the Ii
lac thickets grew up in rank clusters
around the front door, the pears ripen-
ed and fell in the wilderness of a gar
den, and stray tramps slept now and
then of night on the floor of the old
Black Farm house.
Until George Cores little house took
fire. one windy June night, and was
burned to the ground, and Mrs. Gore
and her little ones could only escape
with their lives.
Its just our luck said Mrs. Gore
plaintively. "Just as you'd got your
shoe-shop fitted up, and the new stock
in, here comes visitation of Provi-
dence and swallows up all we're worth
in the world! I've almost a mind to
give up!'
''Cheer up. mother" said George
temperaments which are absolutely
unquenchable. "It amt SO bad but
what it might have been vuss. You're
safe, and so be /, and SO are the dear
little children! And we amt none of
US hurt. the good Lord be praised! And
Squire Sedley will let me have this
place for ten pounds a year. It's
little ruinous, to be sure, but we can
| make a room or so habitable at least;
| and it's warm weather, so we don't
mind loose place or SO in the boards;
and I can have a little garden, and
there's a power o. fruit down in the
garden. if once we can fight the weeds
out! And if can't make new shoes,
can at least get job among the
neighbors to cobble old ones. And
you shan't starve Sylvy. neither you
nor the children, my girl! Eh! Hello!
Who's that?"
| The Squire hemmed and hawed.
| "Wal." said he, II hope it won't be
no objection; but it's old Uncle Black!
He will come here every day. He
can't get over the notion that he lives
here yet! They've done everything
they can to keep him in the work
house, but he viii wander over here
and sit by the hour on the door
stones!"
As he spoke, the shrivelled little fig
ure of a very old man came slowly up
the weed-grown path, leaning heavily
on staff. As he neared the door, and
saw strange faces around him, he took
off his battered straw-hat, so that the
wind blew his struggling silver hair
about, with a strangely picturesque
effect.
you're welcome, ladies and gentle
men," said he, in q feeble, cracked
voice, ''kindly welcome. My son,
Matthew, and his wife are somewhere
about the place. I'm very old, and
I can't talk much; but you're vel
come.''
30 saying, ne sat down on the sunny
doorstep, and the children crept softly
to him, and looked wonderingly into
his face.
"I'n speak to the relieving officer
said Squire Sedley. They'll keeI
him locked up. SO he won't trouble
you"
mo they won't" said George Gore,
bringing his big fist down on thu
wooden mantel; s'not if know it! d.
you think I'm going to have the ole
creetur bullied from pillar to post?-
bless his old heart! He shall coms
here if he pleases, and there sha'n't Nd
one prevent him. Who knows but wha
: he may bring us luckP"
So it was settled that old Uncle Blacl
should not be disturbed. He wander
ed about at his own will, and led thu
children to where the ripest blackber
mes grew and the talless foxglove.
swung their bells beside the garder
wall. He sat by the hour with thu
. baby in his arms, and erooned Low
. songs to it; he came in so his meals a
If he belonged there, saying simple
grace as If it we're incumbent upoI
Elm to do all the hospitable honors-