Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-25
THE UNCLE FROM ABROAD.

iu0 WluOW MauNdlT0 udu suffered ulauy
reverses CT fortgne. Her eldest son, who had
been her sole support, had persisted by ship
wreck and left his four motherless children
to her care. This misfortune had indefinitely
postponed, if not entirely prevented, the
marriage of her daughter, besides cutting
short the studies of her second son, who was
obliged to come home at once and seek for
work. But in the midst Of the anxieties of
the poor family an unexpected ray of hope
appeared.
letter was received from Bruno Maui
vaire, the widows brother-in-law, who had
left home as sailor twenty years before. He
wrote from Dieppe, which was but a few
miles away, and said that he had Just come
from America with all his worldly goods, and
intended Immediately to visit Ormondville,
his native place. At that time it was not
very unusual to see at Dieppe merchants,
whose ships crowded the harbor, and who
had left home years before, in the dress of
common sailors, and the sight of these fortu-
nate ones was q constant source of encourage
ment to the ambitious, and of hope to the
penniless. The unexpected news of their I'M
Gle from America, therefore, gave rise to the
most delightful conjectures in the Mauvaire
family, for although he did not state the ex-
act amount of his fortune it was easy to see
from the joval tone of his letter that he was
a man of wealth and prosperity. Once start
ed, imagination ran riot, each one adding
something to the first superstition
"Ferhaps if be had come before, my poor
Didier need not have worked SO hard u sighed
the widow.
Julienne, her goddaughter, who helped with
the housework, replied quickly, But there are
his children to be provided for, and besides
the rich uncle will no doubt see to it that
Miss Clemence has a rich marriage dowry."
THAT would be no use now, said the young
girl, shaking her head hopelessly.
"No use!n repeated Julienne. SIS itnot for
the want of dowry that Mr.. Marks parents
have refused their consent to his marriage
and sent him off to sea? Your uncle has but
to say the word and the young man will soon
come back again"
perhaps he does not want to come back, !"
said Clemence in a low tone, and turned away.
But her brother, thinking less of the man
than of the marriage, added consolingly: "H
he does not another will. You may be sure,
sister, that pretty girl with an uncle from
America need never want for husband.
Very likely he will bring young friend with
him, some millionaire that he has chosen for
a nephew"
HOpO AO Will w IlOUuluS VI UuC XIII,
cried Clemence in dislnay. 81 am in no
hurry to get married"
'What is most urgent is to find good posi-
ton for you, Martini" said the widow in an
anxious tone to her son.
''The count has almost promised me the
overseer's place" said the young man.
His mother answered: 'tBut he seems to be
in no hurry. That is always the way with
the rich. They think only of their own pleas
ures, and when at last they happen to remem-
Der the bit of bread promised to fellow
creature the poor man has starved to death"
'Uncle Bruno will not forget u.s." said
Martin. 1.-THE letter says L shall be in Or
mondville tomorrow with all my worldly
goods He will soon be here"
"Clemence, is everything ready?" asked the
mother, bustling about.
For answer her daughter opened the pantry
and showed the well filled shelves Near to
roast leg of lamb was huge ham, fanlzed
by two dishes of wheat cakes and a bowl of
sweet cream, while several jugs Of cider and
butter tart completed bill of fare which
made the children exclaim in delight. The
widow had taken from her linen chest her
best tablecloth, which had grown yellow
through want of use and Julienne now hast
ened to set the table, putting in the place of
honor the only silver spoon. just then one
of the children who had been watching out
side rushed into the house exclaiming: ''Here
he is; here he isl'
'Who is its" asked tie others.
"Uncle Bruno, of course!n answered a
CHEEKY voice. and there appeared in the door
way an old, bearded sailor, holding in one
hand small bundle and on his other wrist
green parrot while on his shoulder perched
a monkey The younger children in alright
ran behind their grandmothers chair and
the grown persons gazed at the newcomer in
disnayed silence.
''You need not be afraid of my menagerie,"
said the sailor laughing. Come and kiss
me, children, for l have Travelled three thou
sand leagues to have that pleasure"
Martin Mauvaire was the first to recove:
himself sufficiently to greet his relation; then
Clemence, her mother and the eldest of the
children followed his example, but nothing
could induce the three little ones to STIR
'sMy faith! I thought I would never be
here" said the uncle; sit is a long walk from
Dieppe."
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.n he cried.
Indeed, uid DO you tHllk Goulu Sdl
across the fields!"
''But-your baggage?"
81 have my baggage on me-"
al beg your pardon, uncle, but we thought
from your letter that you would"-
i'That would come in a three decker, my
boyg'
stNo," replied Martin, forcing laugh, 'but
with your trunks for a long stay"
''Me? Trunks"
eyes; you said you would bring all your
goods"
''And | have brought them-iny parrot and
my monkey"
SIS that all?'
sAll excepting my bundle, and there is
nothing i'll this but some heelless socks and
old shirts But what does it matter. as long
as ones conscience and digestion are good?
Excuse Inc, sister-in-law, but l see cider in
your pantry, and 1 am thirsty after my walk,
Come, Rochambeau, say how-do to your re-
lations"
He made sign to the monkey, who leaped
from his shoulder and turned three somer-
saults across the room, then sat up, gripning
and scratching his head His master then
seated himself at the table and, with glance
ut the half open pantry, declared that he was
nearly famished. There was nothing to be-
done but to set before him the ham and tho
cider which he had seen, but Mime. Mauvairs
smut Jne pantry ooor on the resi- OF the dalh
ties. While he was eating and drinking, the
traveller gave his relations an account of his
life at sea, and ended by declaring that he
had saved nothing, his pay always being
spent as soon as earned.
In less than an hour the Mauvaire family
were aware that the uncle from whom they
had expected so much, possessed no other
wealth than cheerful disposition and an ex-
cellent appetite, and their disappointment
was 50 keen that it soon became apparent to
him. Martin grew thoughtful and silent,
Clemence sadly left the room, and their
mother, on seeing that the youngest grand
child was in terror of the monkey, insisted on
hanishing it to the garden. At last the uncle
found himself alone with his nephew; and
having drained his glass, be threw himself
back in his chair whistled softly for minute
and then, fixing his eyes on the young man,
said slowly:
hot ha win