The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-03-07
miscellaneous.
DESIGNING UNCLE JOHN.

We were thriftIess family; we were
always in debt; we were badly clothed,
badly housed, badly fed, and we children
were badly educated, and all owing to
Uncle John. We children called him
uncle. The real fact is that he was our
great uncle, and my father was entitled
to the reversion of $4,000 on his death.
1t was like the house that Jack built; if
it hadn't been for Uncle John and the
reversion, my father would have consent
ed to work like the rest of mankind. If
he had submitted to the common lot,
should have had a proper education; and,
if had had proper education, my fate
might have been different and happier.
NY great uncle never did anything for
any of us.
My father used to go to see him oc-
casionally; and when he came back he
was always depressed for several days.
Uncle John is looking younger than
ever; / shall never come into that
money, my boy" he would say to me in
a melancholy tone. ''Low diet and hope
deferred, my boy, have made wreck of
me-" (He might have added "laziness
and whisky and water.') He'll outlive
me, my boy; I'm sure he will. But
you've got fine constitution, and, bar
accidents, you'll come into it after ALL"
And so in due course my father died
and 1 was left an orphan. On his death
bed he gave me my Uncle Johns adj
dress. Its all I can do for you, Joseph,
my boy" he said, land it isn't much"
And as soon as the breath was out of my
fathers body the landlord came in and
seized the furniture; and l, having no
other home in the world, proceeded to
seek my only living relative, Uncle
John. He received my father once a
year, as has been stated; but, though /
had never seen him, knew all about
him. ''Hes all hair and spectacles," my
father had said, "and he wears a cap
with flaps to it."
Now, some six or Eeven years prior to
my fathers death, Uncle John had mar
ried his cook When my father heard
of that event he was overjoyed. ''That's
the last straw, Joseph, my boy" my
father had said to me; "thatI settle him.
Why, she's regular horse grenadier."
On his next visit to my Uncle John he
declared that the old man was "gaining
hesh," and then he q1arreled with the
horse grenadier. Of course it was over
the annual e5 note, which was all that
my father ever succeeded in extracting
from his relative. The fact is that it was
to the cooks interest to keep Uncle John
alive, for besides the eS, 900 that was to
come to us on his death there was moth
ing but his furniture and his savings.
As Uncle Johns widow the cooks posi-
ton would be a precarious one; but with
one bedridden old man to keep out of
ESQ year, as Uncle Johns wife, the
cook had a very good bargain.
It was fine morning in June when
screwed my courage up to the sticking
point, and in the interests of my three
sisters, whom 1 had to keep on thirty
shillings week, l determined to call on
my Uncle John and try and extract the
annual "fiver." My Uncle Johns house
was in Araminta terrace, Hoxton. l
knocked gently at tine door, lest should
disturb my bedridden uncle; slatternly
girl opened it on the chain and asked my
business.
"rve called to see Mr.. Worleybone,
my uncle" replied. As soon as had
said the words look of terror passed
across the girls face.
'Can't you call in an hour?" said the
girl; ''the old gentleman's asleep I
think"
eff you don't mind, think I'd like to
come in and see my aunt" replied.
Mothers out" said the slatternly
girl, ''but I'll step up and ask the old
gentleman" s|-..
She didn't let me in though; she left
me waiting on the door step and she left
the door upon the chain. She wasn't
gone long, and when she returned she
opened the door slowly enough and, ush-
ering me into little front parlor, she
said: "Will you please to take chair,
and Mr.. Worleybone will see you in a
minute or two"
did as was bid l sat down and l
waited The houses in the Araminta
terrace are little two story dwellings,
masterpieces of the jerry builders art.
could hear great running about in
the floor above and the trampGng of
heavy footsteps, which, if l hadn't
known that Mrs. Worleybone was out, !
should have taken for those of my aunt.
the horse -dier.
''Will you step up, please" said the
slatternly girl, as she flung the door open,
and l followed her 10 the first floor front,
my uncles bedroom.
AS l entered the room detected a
strong odor of spirits. The Venetian
blinds were drawn down, and, in addi-
ton, there were heavy curtains to the
window which made the room unpleas-
antly dark.
81 hope find you well, Uncle John"
said, walking towards the bed; and a
husky voice answered me from the pill
lows. .aEt ss
ST amt long for this world, Joseph.
Please to take a chair"
Now, for the last ten years, I knew
perfectly well that my Uncle John had
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