Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-09-12
DESIGNING UNCLE JOHN.

badly housed, badly fed, and we children
were badly educated, ard 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 e5,0OO on his death.
It 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 l had had a proper education, my fate
might have been different and happier.
My great uncle never did anything for
any Of ms.
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; I 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 a wreck of
me-" lie might have added 'laziness
and whisky and water.") "HeI outlive
me, my boy; I'm sure he will. But
you've got a fine constitution, and, bar
accidents, you'll come into it after all"
And so in due course my father died
and l was left an orphan. On his death
bed he gave me my Uncle Johns ad-
dress. Its all / can do for you, Joseph,
my boy" he said, land it isn't much
And as Don as the breath was out of my
fathers body the landlord tame 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 sever years prior to
my fathers death, Uncle John had mar
ried his cook. When my father heard
of that event ne was overioyed. ''That's
the last straw, Joseph, my boy" my
father had said to ne; ''thatn settle him.
Why, she's a regular horse grenadier. y
My father was out in his calculations,
On his next visit to my Uncle John he
declared that the old man was gaining
nGonf anu biACn It QuhAlIAtA WIN LAS
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
anve, Tor DesIdes the 8 ,UOU 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 n precarious one; but with
one bedridden old man to keep out Of
$3.50 a year, as Uncle Johns wife, the
cook had q very good bargain.
1t was a 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 a week, l determined to call OF
my Uncle John and try and extract thu
annual "fiver." My Uncle Johns housc
was in Araninta terrace. Hoxton.
knocked gently at the door, lest 1 shoulC
disturb my bedridden uncle; q slatternll
girl opened it on the chain and asked m,
business.
Eve called to see Mr.. Worleybone
my uncle" 1 replied. AS soon as l ha'
said the words a look of terror passe'
across the girls face.
Cant you call in In hour said tn
girl; 'the old ~gentleman's asleep
think"
IF you don't mind, / think I'd like t
come in and see my aunt" l replied.
''Mother's out" said the slatternl,
girl. ''but I'll step up and ask the oil,
gentleman"
She didn't let me in though; she lief
me waiting en- the door step and she lief
the door upon the chain. She WASH
gone long, and when she returned sh
opened the door slowly enough and, ush
ering me into a little front parlor, sh
said: "Wil you please to take a chair
and Mr.. Worleybone will see you in
minute or two"
l did as l was bid. / sat down and
waited. The houses in the Aramint
terrace are little two story dwellings
masterpieces Of the jerry builders arr
/ could hear a great running about i
the floor aboye and the trampling G
heavy footsteps, which, if 1 hadn'
known that Mrs. Worleybone was oat,
should have taken for those Of my aunt
the horse der.
"Will you step up, please" said tn
slatternly girl. as she flung the door open
aud / followed her to the first floor front
my uncle's bedroom.
As l entered the room l detected
strong odor Of spirits. The Venetiai
blinds were drawn down, and, in add
ton, there were heavy curtains 10 tn
window which made the room unpleas
antly dark.
81 hope / find you well, Uncle John,
said, walking towards the bed; and
husky voice answered me FROM the pill
lows.
Il amt long for this world, Joseph
Please to take a CHAIR
Now, for the last ten years, l kney
perfestly well That my Uncle John haI
been In the habit Of replying to. m.
fathers inquiries after his health ii
these very words. At first ] hadn't beeI
able TO see my Uncle John. bptas m.
eyes grew accustomed 70 the elie
ious light Of my u%ncle'sb edfo peI
ceived that my UDcls John wa b,
father had described h6 vch