The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-17
THE PRODIGAL UNCLE.


Ny family, at the time when this story
begins, lived in Havre. Fhsy were not
rich, and were always hard up Father
worked in an Office, and the wages were
not the highest.
had two sisters.
My mother fretted under our poverty,
and she often addressed harsh words to
my father-perfdious Veiled reproacheS
The expression of the poor mans face
always distressed me; he passed his hand
over it as if to wipe away a perspiration
that was not there, and said nothing.
felt his powerless sadness.
My parents econoraized with every
thing; they often ate dinners unfit to be
served; they bought provisions at the
lowest prices, and yet even at that they
had often to ask for credit.
Ny sisters made their own dresses, and
had long discussions about the price of a
kind of lace costing fifteen centimes q
yard
l well remember many scenes about
lost buttons and torn trousers.
But every Sunday we took walk to
the docks in great style. My father, in
long coat, high hat, and wearing
gloves, offered his arm to my mother.
who was dressed as gayly as ship on a
holiday. Ny sisters, always the first to
be ready, awaited the signal of depart
ure, but at the last moment a forgotten
spot would be discovered on the coat of
paterfamilias, and it had to be quickly
effaced with a rag dipped in benzine.
My father, keeping his hat on his head.
waited in his shirt sleeves until the op-
Grafton was done, while my mother, hav-
ing adjusted her glasses-she was near
sighted hurriedly put on her gloves.
Finally we started with great cere-
mony, my sisters. with linked arms,
going before. They had attained mar
riageable age, and made quite a respect
able appearance in the city.
walked at the left of my mother, my
father at the right. And 1 remember
the pompous air of my poor parents in
these Sunday excursions the rigidity of
their features, the severity of their
aspect. They advanced with grave
step. as if an affair of the greatest inn
portance depended upon their carriage.
And every Sunday, seeing the great
vessels that had returned from unknown
and distant countries, my father invari-
ably repeated the same words:
"Ahl if Jules were on one of these,
what surprise it would beP
My Uncle Jules, my fathers brother,
was the only hope of the family, after
having been its terror.
did not speak Of him, but since my
infancy my thoughts were with him,
and his first culpable act was always
present in my mind | knew all the de-
tails of his life up to the day of his de-
parture for America. He had, it ap-
pears, misconducted himself-that is to
say, he had squandered some money,
which is great crime if it happens in
poor families. A rich man who amuses
himself is simply guilty of follies. He
is called "nobodys enemy but his own. ="
With the poor and needy, a man who
forces his parents to curtail their capital
or income becomes a rascal, a knave.
In short, Uncle Jules had considerably
lessened the inheritance of my father,
after spending his own share to the last
sou. Then he had sailed for America,
as they afterward learned, on board q
merchantmen bound for New York
After having been there some time
my Uncle Jules established himself as q
merchant; and he soon wrote that he
was saving a little money, and hoped
that he would be enabled shortly TO in
demnify my father for the losses he had
caused him.
This letter created a profound emo
ton in the family. Jules, instead of be-
ing a worthless fellow. they said, was an
honest man, q tender hearted man, a
true Davranche. upright as all the Dav-
ranches
In second letter, sent two years
lster, he said:
/ NV DEAR PHuLIPE-I write you so that
( you need have no fears regarding my health,
which is all that can be desired My business
/ also goes we'll 1 start tomorrow on q long
voyage to South America; several years may
| pass perhaps before you will hear from me-
/ shall return TO Havre with fair fortune
hope it win not take too long, and then We
shall ali be happy.
This letter became the gospel Of the
family. 1t was read at every opportu-
nifty, II was shown 10 every one
During ten years, perhaps, we did not
heSr from Uncle Jules; but, as the time
heightened, my fathsr's hopes also grew
in proportion. and my mother often
said:
When Jules is here our situation viii
be entirely changed"
And every Sunday, when regarding
the huge black masses of smoke on the
horizon that ascended TO the sky like an
immense serpent. my father repeated his
eternal phrase:
"Ah. If Jules were on one Of these,
what surprise il would bel"
And then he rubbed bis eyes briskly
with handkerchief