The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-02-19
UNCLE SllAS' WAY.

ice EAdullHdUlOus
'Tut-tut-tut!" exclaimed old Silas
Wetherel, as he entered his Office, one
morning.
He had advertised for boy, and no
less than twenty applicants were pres
emit After cursory examination, he
dismissed all of them but three, who
were about the same age.
Two of them, Fred Baylis and Harry
ST. Clair, were evidently the sons of
well-to-do parents The attire OF the
other boy, whose name was Charley
Benson, indicated that he belonged to
the poorer class.
"Well, l want but one boy" Uncle
Silas said, as he settled down into his
chair, Illuminating look on his face.
slow am to make selection"
He was stout, jovial, loud-voiced
gentleman, eccentric in his ways, par
tial to boys, and always ready to poke
fun" at them.
"Well have civil-service examina-
tion," he announced, flash of humor
Frightening his face. where is the
Westminster Abbey of American"
That WAS a puzzler, and the boys
glanced into one another's faces.
Sat Cambridge" Frad Baylis hesitat-
ingly said.
"At Princeton" suggested Harry St.
Clair.
81 don't know was Charlie Benson's
reply.
'Question number two," Uncle Silas
said. Glow is the word sometimes
pronounced?" and he spelled the word
with the pauses indicated.
"So-met-i-mes," replied Fred Baylis
plunging headlong into the trap set fol
him.
st is Latin, isn't it?" asked Harry st.
Clair.
81 would pronounce it sometimes, ~
said Charlie Benson.
Uncle Silas laughed heartily, and
Fred and Harry grew red in the face
"Please hang up this picture Uncle
Silas said. as he offered Harry st. Clail
small picture, and pointed to the wall
No sooner had Harry complied than he
was ordered TO return to his desk.
Where was it that twenty-seveh
thousand mon we're killed by the fall
ing of WALTZ" asked Uncle Silas.
1t was an odd question, and rather an
indefinite one.
81 don't know" frankly admitted Har
ry ST. Clair
81 never heard of such dreadful &C
cident," said Fred.
"An account of it is given in the Bi
ble," quietly replied Charlie Benson.
Uncle Silas flung up his head in &
pleased way.
"Where?" he asked.
SIN the first Book of Kings. 1t hap
pened in the city of Aphek."
"How many Israelites were killed?'
."None, sir" replied Charlie. "They
we're Syrians."
"You are right, declared Uncle Silas
He rubbed the end of his nose fol ;
few moments, and then, designating
Fred, ordered him to hang up the pict
ure. Fred complied, but thought it
funny proceeding.
"You may bring it to me again, I'm
Gle Silas said. The picture on his desk
once more, he asked: is this correc
sentence: Your trunk has Gomez"
A short silence ensued.
ut is" said Fred Baylis.
sit is" declared Harry st. Clair.
Uncle Silas looked at Charlie Benson
who said:
at is dramatically correct"
"But is it correct?" asked Uncle Silas
st isn't correct statement" Charlie
SLOWLY said. IA trunk is an inanimat
thing. 1t can not come. To say you
trunk has been brought would be NOR
precise"
pretty well taken," Uncle Silas said
laughingly.
"Of course. l thought you meant 1t
grammatical construction" Fred re
marked.
1T is bubble" declared Harry.
"Please hang up this picture" INCL
Silas said, extending it to Charlie, VIII
complied with the request, and it wa
not followed with another to return it.
Il am sorry that two of you are to
disappointed" Uncle Silas said. "Bu
how can l help it? There are thre
nails in the wall. Master Benson hun
it on the proper one, with dellber;
ton and an artistic eye. You will Of
serve that it is equally distant from tn
, corners of the wall. and the same heigl
from the border that the other picture
are. 1t was trifing test, but there
good deal in it | have concluded
engage Charlie Benson"
"All right" said Fred, rising. Too
, for Charlie Benson: he scored one eve
, time!"
Twas fair field, and you wo
t every time. good for you, old fellow
: said Harry.
The boys showed their admiration