Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-12-24

Ola persisted .-Na.r he zsid, mo
.u.I-.. ...-rur
u.- ...u.. Uoriad prophecy proved
true. .A- .LutuIer OF the dag ship
ses...gu he served through the
Civil War and escaped without .
scratch
His us.laws and uieses grew up to
have homes and children Of their own.
sud in each OF their homes and hearts
vas always warm corner for their
uncle Percy. lie was known to be
rich. u- birthday remembrances
were always .f costly nature. But
Le never n.at the slightest attention To
Chris,uaS
Twenty-Five wears after the conver-
cation he had held with his grsndniece
regarding lls peculiar habit ST Christ
uas--.ue, while he was making her
lis ge.G--gmed annual visit, he was
stTiSeu .Il and obliged to remain her
guest over Christmas. She had grown
~ tv a handsome m3tron, ana had
three ss beautiful children as one could
test an eve upon
ON Christmas morning the tiny trio
0uIst into ,ae room where the old man
was uy.-.e.ld up in bed. His wavy
suow-wl.-g hair and beard framed q
swatLy, weI.-tanned face that, con-
uary to its usually pleasant expression,
Lsd become stern and forbidding. As
the little cherubs innocently shouted
forth their loving greeting, "'Merwy
Iwlsuas Untle Pussy!" he uttered d
gToau, and sank back with closed eyes
on the cherry cushions.
Mamma. mamma! Tum twick
Luky sick.' cried the youngest,
Ola, in deep concern, to her mother.
Uncle. dear, what is the matter
Can ! do anything for you;" asked
their mother, a moment later.
No. nothing, but keep the children
away from me. | cannot enjoy theiE
company today" he replied, as be
turned his face 20 the wall"
Uncle, queried their mother, when
the door had closed behind the children
why do YOU say Christmas Is your
mouruiug-dav, aud why have you al
WAYS refused Invitations to sIend the
day with your re.1tivesS"
Don't ask me, Ola; it is long
story, and had best never be told"
Yes. shall ask YOU. And further,
more / sha.. remind you Of your pro.
ulse % me, when | was little girl, &c
tell me. if YOU were alive when 1 hsC
grown 90 wgm3uhood, why il was YOU
always went away the night before
Christmas and no one ever saw you un
b. the t8v after it"
Il don't mind who knows Of il, Ola
after l am dead; but / cannot look any
one IN the face, feeling that they know
nv story. | have kept the secret fifty
i've years, and il would be great re
let 70 me 70 tell il TO some one If
thought such a friead could respect ms
stterwarG. / have always felt that yoU
loved NE for myself alone, and not be
cause YOU were born nv relative, anC
trained, as so many children are, e
treat nc with the feigued affection tha
custom sanctions as the duty of on'
relative 20 another, when true regSrC
Is really absent"
"Ou. uncle. couldn't do such
hlng You know yourself, If l dis
uAe any one, | am far too prompt II
showing il 10 be a fact"
That i trait you inherited iron
your grandfather, who was yer.
hery, qui-k-temPered man, prone Il
show his likes and dislikes with sn I'm
petuus.ty that caused most men to looi
upon him as an unpleasant acqualnt
ahee. We were brought up 10 regsr'
each other a. cousins, and, as far as
Anow, he thought was his cousin L
I'd. n laA .r y
uetam- You were too young TO recol
Iect about it,
oh, 10, uncle; l remember
well.7
He fought for the Confederstes
'lde, IN the infantry, and l was WIZ
lhe Cuion Navy. He was the innocen
cause of the blight on my life, or, 8
least, he precipitated, in . roundaoou
way. al accident that brought th