The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-06-26
SELECTED.
HOW Ii hAPPENEn.

borhood of Dalton. and the residents o
the little country village. heard the clans
Of cracked old hand-bell and, afterward
the shfill, quaverlng notes of a cracked
Old voice singing some cheerful dity. as
81 had an old COW,
And my COW loved me,
l MIXED my COW,
Under green bay tree"
they smiled and said, Uncle Peters com
ing" The notes Of his songs grew shril
Ter and more strident as Uncle Pete
drew near in his old fish cart with Its can
vas covering on the sides of which wa,
printed, "Mr. Peter B. Philsberry, dealer
In fish, oysters, clans and other notions
No trust" Although the mo trust par
of the sign had been made emphatic BY
being UNDERSIGNED, Uncle Peter did trus
anybody and everybody in such a per
feet reckless and guileless confdine
manner that it was wonder his banl
account was half SO large as 1t actually
was.
His bank account and other possession.
were so great that there WAS really nc
necessity of Uncle Peter pursuing hi.
occupation Of peddling fish, clans, "and
other notions" as he did, exposing him
self to the heat of summer and the win
ter storms while making his daily rounds
"Ye think hadn't ought to do 80 nc
more. do YEP" he often said to friendly
patrons who, with the freedom of life
long acquaintance, asked him why he
did not give up his occupation and take
things easy" "Ye reckon now that I'd
set round dom nothin'?" he would ask
Nav sir; that amt the Pillsberry style
I'd be perfectly mizzable settin round
dom nothin. and peddlin' suits me.
like to git round AN see the folks.
allus was great for soshabilty, an ped.
dlin's such soshable business. Why, bless
ye' know ev'ry man, woman an child
In this county like book, an they all
know me. How on airth would We all
git along II old Uncle Peter left OF ped
dlin'i'
I'VE would miss you, uncle" his pat.
rons always said heartily, land we're
always glad to see you"
The old man would smile like pleased
child and say
81 reckon ye would miss me. Whered
you git your paddock an mackrel an
hallyont an big fat clans an Providence
istsfs q tt: ssee..;os- notoi Il sIop peddlini'
You'd have to go clean to Smithfleld, nine
mile away, fer EN-, that's what you'd
have TO do. But l amt calcalatin' on
givln' up peddlin' though Rindy an Becky
an the rest of EN-. want me to quit 1t an
60 to keeping little store"
That would be easier for you,
wouldn't it2"
Mary time it wouldn't" the old man
would reply, shaking his head vigorously
store keepin' never'd suit me, It'd list
naturally wear me out to be puddin'
a ar all ha unt Av
and Becky an the rest Of 'em they think
It'd b. more genteeler'n peddlin' fish !;
that's the idea with them. It's kinder
gallin' to Becky In pertickler to have her
old dad peddlin' fish, an smellin' Of em
when she has company, though 1 allus
try to get out'n the way then: fish do
smell, III allow"
Uncle Peters wife had been dead sew
eral years. His daughter Dorinda, a spin
ster Of thirty.three, and Becky, q much
younger daughter kept house for him in
the old home. Becky had had the ad-
vantage, or disadvantage, of attending
a would BE- fashionable boarding school
for a year, where she had only learned
tina. the society to which she had aspired
could never tolerate the daughter of a
fish peddling father, notwithstanding the
fact that that father was one of the kind
est and best and most honorable Of men
and Becky had come home determined to
bring Uncle Peters fish peddling career
to close.
He had simply laughed at her first at
tempt hiding the pain he felt behind An
ever ready smiling and kindly face. He
felt that Becky had come home ashamed
of him and his occupation, but he did not
say SO to her, for he was a peaceable
minded man who dlsliked jaw of any
kind.
Dorinda had an idea, that a storei might
prove more profitable than a fish notion
wagon, and she was too thrifty to allow
any opportunity to pass for increasing
her fathers account, which she expected
to divide with her brothers and sisters
some day.
Uncle Peter had several married sons
and daughters living near him, and all of
them being thrifty like their sister. kept
their eyes fixed on their fathers posses
sions, which aggregated several thou
sand dollars. They had even suggested
to him the propriety of dividing tho
property among them before his demise
and allowing them In return therefor. to
take care of him" the remainder of his
life.
But Uncle Peter was wiser and trmer
man than he seemed He had strong,
logged will, Notwithstanding his child
ish manner aud his smooth, round, effem-
mate and ever smiling face. He met this
suggestion with smile, and dismissed
it with joke, but there was a look In
his faded old blue eyes that forbade q
recurrence Of the subject. He came home
from his rounds one day In the merriest
mood. He had "cleaued out" his entire
stock In trade and his cracked old voice
sang annie Laurie" In a perfectly ex-
circulating manner as he drove cheerfully
up the long lane leading to his house.
At the gate he met Mrs. Harriet Glib
bons, a woman from the village near by,
whose highest earthly JOY was felt when
1t was her privilege to be first In retail
ing new bit of gossip Of unusual inter-
est.
She was one of the few people on the
face of the earth whom good old Uncle
Peter did not like, but he had never given
utterance to this dislike, and now he
bobbed his head to and fro and greeted
her with a cordial "Howdy do, Mis- Glib
bons Folks all well at homer they be-!
That's right. Can't ye stay to teal 1t must
be bout ready"
0uL N1Eo. 0iUUOuS utSliucu tuo tuNk-
ton somewhat stifly, and went on her
way.
When Uncle Peter went into the house
he noted an unusually severe look on Rim
dy's always grim face, while Becky look
Cd reproachfully toward him: His son
william. who lived In the village, hap
soon followed by his married daughter,
Mrs. Gibbons Downing.
Uncle Peter heard them whispering to.
gether - he steppd into bis own little
room for q scrap Of paper to "hgGer some
on" He had noted a peculiar coldness
toward him on the part Of all Of them,
and now he stepped to the door and
said:
whats goin' on here tibet oil Of 70
act sof Your old pa hurt yer feelins
some wayf
Miss Dorinda. after waiting . moment,
for some Of the others 10 speak said cold.
~:
Eyes. you have done, or are going 70
do something We can't help disliking, II
al reports are true"
Ye don't sayi" said Uncle Peter, thu
smilh still on bis face, "Well, what 70 I'll
Out With It an go II poor pa can't olsal
his skirts Of anything 10 very heeuyous.'
Mis-. Dorinda came out with Il natly
"It's he talk Of The village and III
whole county that you are going 70 Das
q he Widdsf Newtoai"
| Unclo Peter dropped Into hls old spliat
bossoaed rocking chair. hls axns hang
ling hnply ~ III side, - sxpeeooloa q
NJ Ue1 "a opea- aea1Aed anoaoaes
= ~ rod, ~ fasA HI WAeoD naa
-. srs,osGI ~ nnnhan knnnoanna - -