Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-02-22
Who Would It Be.

Who Would It Be.
1t was bitter cold night in Febru
airy, snow lying high heaped among
the village streets, and icicles tinkling
in the bleak wind at every gust thai
swept through the boughs of the old
cherry tree in front Of our door, while
a full moon, shining in the frozen dome
Of the heaven, made the outer world
look even more frigid than its actual
reality.
The little clock on the mantel-an
ancient Japanned toy that had once
belonged to our grandmother-for we
had ancestors, although we were pov-
erty-stricken enough now-had Just
chimed eight, the faded moreen win
dow curtains were closely drawn, and
we we're all three of us sitting around
the dining room fire (our parlor was
only warmed ON state occasions) trying
to keep up the caloric, when mamma
came in, holding a newly-opened letter,
with a scared look on her face.
another unpaid bill, mamma ?"
said |, but she paid no attention to me.
"Girls," said she, Owe got letter
from your Uncle Rudolph. And he's
coming to visit us"
jumped up and clapped my hands.
Splendid" cried l. II should be
thankful for anything to rouse us up,
even if it were an earthquake !"
Philippa (our beauty contracted
her dark eyebrows.
"Oh, dear p cried she, "what a pity
it is we haven't got those new Turkey
red curtains for the best bedroom"
"Not a decent new dress among the
lot of u.s. groaned Laura. Mamma,
when is he coming?"
'Now. Tonight. Probably within
an hour"
ooh, my goodness said Philippa,
jumping up. Light a fire in the best
parlor, Laura Polly" to me, get
down the lowered china teapot at
once. Mamma, | think you'd better
open a can of HOLSTERS, and"
"Quite unnecessary" spoke up a
gruf' voice, just back Of mammals
shoulder, and then we all became con-
scious of a round, red face, like full
harvest moon, pair of leg-of mutton
whiskers, and head as bald and
smooth and polished as the ball of
vegetable ivory on the parlor mantel
"Uncle Rudolph p we cried in
chorus.
eyes, said Uncle Rudolph, begin
ming to unroll about six yards Of spot
ted red muffier from around his neck.
Game by the evening train. All |
want is sight of the fire and an old
fashioned bowl of your mothers tea.
So you are my three nieces, eh? Come
and kiss me-
And this was the off hand manner
in which we became acquainted with
the rich and eccentric uncle we had
hitherto known only by reputation.
We had lived in Sibleyville all our
lives and Uncle Rudolph had been a
wanderer over the face of the globe
a far-off and distinguished individual,
Of whom our mother had spoken rever-
emily, as people will speak of their rich
relations.
"a pretty good-looking set of YOU"
remarked Uncle Rudolph, as he viewed
us over the edge Of his teacup. "Let
me see. l think I've got your identity
pretty well fixed in my mind. This is
Philippa, the beauty, this is Laura, the
literary one, and this" with kindly
touch of my curls, sis Polly, the one
that has no particular vocation, and
consequently is depended upon for
everything. Well, girls, I've brought
you each present.
Philippa's Imagination, so she after
ward told me, jumped at once to dia-
monds.-Uncle Rudolph might have
strung us all over with precious jewels
and never missed it out of his wealth.
Laura thought, vaguely, of a new set
of parlor furniture. | hoped it might
be black silk dress for each of us,
not forgetting mamma, whose Sunday
gown was positively shabby.
But Uncle Rudolph's next words
dispelled the illusion.
Here's $50 bill apiece" said he
''mind now, you spend it sensibly."
OF course we thanked him and ex-
pressed our gratitude in the choicest
terms we could select at so short no
tice, but our tongues were not fairly
loosened until we were in our room at
night, crimping our hair and putting
away onr ribbons and furbelows.
"Mean old hunk p said Philippa
Indignantly. eff it had been $500
now, it wouldn't have been so disgrace.
full. But SOL My graciousp'
Never mind p said Laura, laugh.
ing, as she crouched on the hearth-rug
warming her hands-Laura always
contrived to secure the best and snug
] gest place-"It serves very we'll for al
opening wedge. | mean to study al
the old gentlemen's peculiarities anc
get on the blind side of him. Didn'
mamma say he meant to adopt one O
us? 1t shall be me-"
at wouldn't hurt him to adopt tn,
whole family" said grumbling Phil