Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-05-30
UNCLE PETER.
uo,v the Gossips Unwittingly
Brought About a Wedding.


When the farmers wives in the neigh
,o,bood of Dalton and the residents OF
.ha little country village heard tho
I,,r of the cracked, old hand-bell and,
.ttarward. the shrill, euavering notes
~ cracked old voice singing some such
.beerful ditty as,
II had an old COW,
And my COW loved me;
MIXED my cow
Under a green bay tree"
,bev SIN lied and said: Uncle Peters
,oming" The notes of his songs grew
,briller and more strident as Uncle
psterdrew near in his rickety old fish cart
ritb its canvas covering on the sides of
mich was printed: mr.. Peter 2.
psberry, dealer in fish, oysters, clans
.,d other notions. No trust" AL
though the ''ro trust" part of the sign
bad been made emphatic by being un-
lerscored, Uncle Peter did trust any
nay and every body in such perfectly
reckless and guilelessly confding man
opr that it was a wonder his bank ac-
count was half SO large as it actually
vas,
His bank account and other possessions
we're so great that there was really no
necessity of Uncle Peter pursuing his
ecupation of pellliny fish, clans ''and
,ther notions " as he did, exposing him
glf to the heat of summer and the
winter storms while making his daily
pounds
aye think hadn't ought to do so no
more, do YEP" he often said to friendly
PATRONS who, with the freedom of life
long acquaintance, asked him why he
Lid not give up his occupation and take
things easy" rye reckon now that I'd
yet round doin nothin'?' he would
SIX Nav. sir; that amt the Pills
berry style. I'd be putfectly mizzable
#ttin' round doin' nothin', and peddlin'
aits me. | like to git round an see
The folks. / allus was great for sosha-
tlity an peddlin's SIGH soshable biz
ness, Why, bless We, ! know ev'ry man,
soman an child in this county like a
book, an they all know me. How on
firth would We all git along if old Uncle
Peter left off peddlin'?"
I'VE would miss you uncle, his pa
IRONS always said, heartily; ''and we're
llways glad to see you"
The old man would smile like pleased
hid and say:
Il reckon ye would miss me. Where'd
iou git your paddock an mack'rel an
aallybut an big fat clans an Providence
sters if Uncle Peterd stop peddlin'?
You'd have to go clean to Smithield,
line mile away, fer EN-, that's what
TOu'd have to do. But l amt callatin'
N givin' up peddlin' though Rindy an
Becky an the the rest of 'em want me
oquit it an go to keepin' little store"
That would be easier for you,
sOuldn't it?"
Nary time it wouldn' t." the old man
Eould reply, shaking his head vigorous
| " housekeeping neverd suit me.
It'd list natchelly war me out to be
nddlin' round a little sto' all the time.
But Rindy an Becky an the rest of EN-
mink it'd be more genteelern peddlin'
Sh that's the idee with them. It's
Under gallin' to Becky in pertickler to
aVe her old dad peddlin' fish, an
nellin' of 'em when she has company,
aough allus try to get out'n the way
ten; fish do smell, I'll allow"
Uncle Peters wife had been dead sew
al years. His daughter Dorinda,
pnster of thirty-three and Becky, a .
luch younger daughter, kept house for .
lin in the old home. Becky had had
he advantage, or disadvantage, of at .
Rlding a would-be fashionable board /
d agschool for a year, where she had early I
earned that thesociety to which she as
ired could never tolerate the daughter
4 i fish peddling father, notwithstand-
I lg the fact that that father was one of
/ he kindest and best and most honora-
Ne OF men, and Becky had come home
etermined to bring Uncle Peters fish
Adling career to a close.
n He had simply laughed at her first at
Rnpt hiding the pain he felt behind
ever smiling and kindly face. He
: cit that Becky had come home ashamed
him and his occupation, but he did
lot say so to her, for he was a peaceable
anded man VINO despised Jaw of any
4 ind.
Dorinda had an idea that a store might
Prove more profitable than fish and
lotion wagon, and she was too thrifty
"allow any opportunity to pass for IN
3eaSing her fathers account, which she
expected to divide with her brothers
anu sisters some day.
Uncle Peter had several married sons
ana daughters living near him, and all
VI them, being thrifty like their sister,
'ept their eyes fixed on their fathers
pNSessions, which aggregated several
aoasand dollars. They had even sug-
seS'ed to him the propriety of dividing
~e property among them before his de-
a'se and allowing them, in return there
W. 10 take care of him" the remainder
ahis life.
But Uncle Peter was wiser and firm
man than he seemed. lie had q
'lOng' logged will, Notwithstanding
~ childish manner and his smooth,
iVuAa' eiteminate and ever smiling face.
ae met this suggestion with a smile,
ns dismissed it with joke, but there
s look in his faded old blue eyes
4S' forbade recurrence of the subject.
ueeame home from his rounds one day
~ vac merriest mood. He had CLEANED
Wv MS entire stock in trade and his
''OAed old voice sang annie Laurie
la perfectly excruciating manner a
sstove cheerily up the long lane lead
og to his house.
az 'he gate he met Mrs. Harriet Glib
HS woman from the village nea
s y whose highest earthly joy was tel
n, Nh 1t was her privilege to be first Il
,Nllng new hit of crnsai n Of nnnSnA