Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-12-17


mice and spiders had done their worst
since then. Many Of the window panes
besides were broken, and indeed this
was SO common feature in that house
that l believe my uncle must at some
time have stood a siege from his indig-
nant neighbors-perhaps with Jennet
Clouston at their head.
Meanwhile the sun was shining out
side, and being very cold in that miser-
able room l knocked and shouted till
my jailer came and let me out. He
carried me to the back of the house,
where was draw WELL and told me to
"wash my face there, if l wanted" and
when that was done, made the best of
my own way back to the kitchen, where
he had lit the fire and was making the
porlidge. The table was laid with two
bowls and two horn spoons, but the
same single measure of small beer. Per-
haps my eye rested on this particular
with some surprise, and perhaps my
uncle observed it; for he spoke up as if
in answer to my thought, asking me if
would like to drink ale-for so he called
it.
told him such was my habit, but not
to put himself about.
mae, nae," said he; ''T'll deny you
nothing in reason" He fetched an
her cup from the shelf, and then, to
my great surprise, instead Of drawing
more beer, he poured an accurate half
from one cup to the other. There was
a kind Of nobleness in this that took my
breath away. If my uncle was certain
ly miser he was one of that thorough
breed that goes near to make the vice
respectable.
When we had made an end Of our
meal my uncle Ebenezer unlocked a
drawer, and drew out of it a clay pipe
and lump Of tobacco from which he
cut one fill before he locked it up again.
Then he SIT down in the sun at one of
the windows and silently smoked. From
time to time his eyes came coastipg round
to me, and he shot out one of his ques-
tions. Once it was, And your mother?"
and when | had told him that SHE, too,
was dead, "Aye, she was bonnie lassier
Then after another long pause, "Whae
were these friends o yoursY
told him they were different gentle
men of the name of, Campbell; though
indeed there was only one, and that the
minister, that had ever taken the least
note of me, but l began to think my
uncle made too light of my position,
and finding myself alone with him did
not wish him to suppose me helpless.
He seemed to turn this over in his
mind; and then. "Davie, my man" said
he, "ye've come to the right bit when ye
came to your Uncle Ebenezer. I've a
great notion of the family, and l mean
to DO the right by you, but while I'm
taking bit think to myself of what's
the best thing to put you to-whether
the law, or the meenistry, or may be the
army, whilk is what boys are fondest of
Il wouldnae like the Balfours to be
humbled before wheen Hieland Camp
bells, and I'll ask you to keep your
tongue within your teeth. Nae letters,
nae messages, nae kind Of word to ony-
body, or else-there's my door"
"Uncle Ebenezer," said l, i've no
manner Of reason to suppose you mean
would have You to know that have a
pride Of my own. 1t was by no will of
mine that l came seeking you, and if
you show me your door again I'll take
you at the word"
Heseemed grievously put out. "Hoots
toots," said he, "oa' cannie man-ca'
cannie! Bide a day or two. I'm nae
warlock, to find fortune for you in the
bottom of pGrritch bowl; but just you
give me a day or two and say naething
to naebody, and as sure as sure I'll do
the right by you"
Every well, said ], 'enough said. If
you want to help me there's no doubt
but I'll be glad of it, and none but I'll
be grateful"
1t seemed to me (too soon, dare say)
that | was getting the upper hand Of my
uncle, and l began next to say that 1
must have the bed and bedclothes aired
and put to sun dry. for nothing would
make me sleep in such pickle.
"Is this my house or yours?" said he in
his keen voice, and then all of Sudden
broke of. mae, nae, said he; Il dinnae
mean that. What's mine is yours, Da-
vie, my man, and what's yours is mine.
Blood's thicker than water, and there's
naebody but you and me that ought the
name And then on he rambled about
the family, and its ancient greatness,
and his father that began to enlarge the
house, and himself that stopped the
building as sinful waste.
CHAPTER ".