Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-08-23
UNCLE PETER.

L M HI 1 IL l LI(.
 From constantly telling the story of Uncle Peter and his wealth, good old Captain CoEolin had come to believe in it himself. The truth really was that the said Uncle Peter had been the de- spair of his family from his very child hood, and lad finally embarked on an American ship as cabin boy, after which nothing more had been heard of him.
 This was the plain. unvarnished truth, but Captain Cogolin was native of Marseilles and had an imaginative mind, consequently this plain truth had to be embellished. One day he happened to come across a sailor who had just re- turned from the United States, and after drinking glass or two of spirits toge- ther the two men became cOmmuniCa- tive. The captain happened to mention the fact that he had an uncle living out in America. lie drew upon his imagin- ative mind and was able to describe the said uncle.
 llc d(NN'lIllLINt4tillli, Sttl4NI ltlhSLA bered having met just such an individ- ual, and, what was more, the supposed Uncle Peter had even confded box of presents to the care of the sailor for dis tribution among his relations on the other side of the water. | Unfortunately on the way home there had been a ter rible storm. and the box had been dropped overboarl. ht.t still the fact re mained that Uncle r-tcr had made a fortune out in the new country and had sent word to his friends that he should not forget them.
 Two or three years went by, and at the end of that time Uncle Peter owned plantations, slaves, god mines, petro- leum mines, and everything, in fact. that an American uncle is expected to possess.
 , The Cogolin family became the envy of the little village where they lived, and in the evenings. when the women gath cred together round the doorsteps of the steep. narrow streets for their daily gossip, the name of the famous Uncle Peter was frequently heard. The CogoIins themselves waited pa | tiently.
 "Poor fellow" the captain would say; let him live as long as God wills. We are in no hurry"
 One day q letter arrived for Captain Cogolin. It was from New York, and | the envelope had the embassy stamp. I; was a heavy letter and might have con- tained any number of bank notes.
 There was. however. nothing more 1T it. and nothing less than the certificate of death of Peter CoEolin.
 He is really dead, them" said the captains wife.
 "Of course he iS, since inc ambassador has taken the trouble tu send Hs this | There w;ls q solemn silence. and then although no one but the captain had 1 ever set eyes on the American uncle, q few tears were shed in honor of his mem ory.
 The wife then spoke again. All the same, your cml'ae-a,lor does not say ; word about his m"ury.,
 You would perhaps hdv" liked hin to have written al,nutth.t first and the1 told us of his death in second letter Nc. no. they don't tln like that i'll Amer ica Thcv know whats what. and the, N'NAl' il''b N' iNN l' '4-iN 'L'R--+A 'A ''>'A money as ;huU-h tIiry thought We wcr starving. We Lav,. only to want. and q soon as h.. l"-c1I5}y y..u the cmbasSado will write 10 us "bour the money mat ttrs.
 Unfortunately the cmbaseador, IL doubt through negligence, did not sen' another let; -. l,!.l il place of the peace ful dreams w.,h which they had delude, thrmsrlv,s a f,yrr-ihe money fever seized the wlsrl, Cu-ulin family. The, lid nothing now but dream of Uncl Peters millions, and oM Sundays whel } they were all gathered together ill thei cabin it seemed as though the sun ha lost its brightness and @s though eve: the garlic had no flavor.
 One morning the captain announce his intention of taking a trip.
 T can very well get off for month 0 3 so," he said. Tine lads will manage tn boat during my absence, and feel a = though I can't rest without seeing fc myself whats going on in New York"
 He had to embark from Havre, whic made him furious, as he looked upo money spent in railway travelling [ | money stolen from him.
 The enormous ship, however, with a its sailors and passengers, the gilt of th saloons and the bright, marvellous m; cbinery, threw him into an almost rel giouS admiration.
 From 8 o'clock in the morning unt = evening he never uttered a word, br just wandered about from one end of u deck to the other or gazcd at the foam , ing waves.
 His speech only returned to him t, = ward the end of the journey, when I
 began to speculate on what he shoul find awaiting him in New York.
 He began to be restless and wanted 1
 talk to some one about his errand. IT
 steward was a comPatriot, and therefor
 inspired him with confidence. but u
 steward was busy and referred him
 two tall, lanky. sunburned men WI
 were always strollinE up and down u
 deck together. and who looked lii
 Americans.
 ''Those gentlemen will tell you z
 pr. O'Connor1