The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-07
ODD UNCLE BILL.
BY NARY KYLE DALLAS.

Any one who visited Mr. Norris at hi:
fine place on the Hudson would be sure
to notice, after awhile, an old man who
wandered about the place dressed al
summer in white shirt and linen vest
and trousers, and fisherman's hat, and
all winter in wool dressing gown. He
was meek, tall old man, and people al
first took him for q superannuated old
servant but, finally, his nice linen, bis
neat hands, and certain well-bred tone
of voice, if, by chance, they heard him
ask
"Who is that?"
If they inquired Of Miss Belle, the eld-
est unmarried daughter, she would an
swer:
"An old connection of mammals
can't see why pa has him here-horrid
thing e
Ifthey asked Mr.. Norris's maiden sis
ter, she would reply:
Zone Of the blessings my late sister-in-
law brought with her into the family
A miserable, ne'er-do-weII of q reIa-
ton"
1.-THE question was propounded to POM
pous Mr.. Norris, as he sat in his arm
chair on the piazza, or drove about his
property in one of his handsome vehicles
he would answer:
Well, that's sort Of relation of nay
wife's, ne'er-do-well. The black sheep
ofthe flock, you know Always is one in
every family. For her sake-she was 3
very benevolent woman-we let him
stay about. He prefers eating by him
self; he's very stupid. very; but she
wanted him here, and she had her way
poor soul. grudged her nothing. Yes
that's poor Bill"
But if it was Miss Phemie Of whom the
question was asked, she always an
swered
Why, that is Uncle Bill. He lit
tie eccentric, but the dearest old soul. I'm
very, very fond of him, and he of me.
Dear old Uncle Bill
Certainly Phemie was the old mans
only frie nd in that pompous household.
She it was who went up to his little room
with his meals, and sat with him while
he ate them who saw that he had the
newspaper and his pipe who had fixed
that little, out-of-the-way place with a
pretty carpet, book shelves, a Students
lamp, lots of ornaments in worsted and
painted silk; who meyer received her
monthly allowance without buying some
thing for him.
His pretty, snow white shirts were her
eift, and she saw that they were done
up" properly. The flannel dressing
gown he wore in winter was of her con-
trivance. In fact, up in that dormer roof
ed room there were hours that were more
home-like than any spent in the great
parlors or the big .dining-room, where
Miss Belle was only ahectionate to pa
when she wanted him to give her more
money to spend and Miss Norris, the ell
der sister of the master of the house
made bitter speeches in the pauses of the
needle work in which she was perpetual
" engaged. Sometimes directed at her
brother, sometimes at Belle, sometimes
at Phemie, but all worded 50 circum-
specify and clothed in such a guise of
piety that no one dared resent them.
What comfort you are, Uncle Bill"
Phemie would say. as she poured out the
old mans coffee.
And what comfort you are, Phemie.
If was rich uncle, just home from In
dia, like those in plays and novels, you
couldn't make more of me-"
q" shouldn't make SO much, uncle" !"
Phemie would answer, for you'd be
victim Of liver complaint, and that would
make you ill-natured and you'd scold
me, and say naughty words. They all
do, you know. Now, you haven't any
money or stocks TO worry about like poor
pa and you're not irritable, and / like
to be with you. You're like mamma, too.
You have her eyes
You are Susan's image" the old man
would say. Do you remember the day
that you came to the hospital with
her -
Yes" said Phemie. was just 12
years old, and mamma was crying over
the telegram.
Ny only brother, Phemie,' she said.
So sick that he may die, and so poor
that he's in hospital
Then We came and ] saw you in bed,
and after awhile we brought you home,
and ma nunsed you well again
"And died herself, just as got about" !"
said Uncle Bill. And your father and
the rest did not like shabby old man
around the house. Well. was lucky to