The Red Cloud chief., 1893-09-01

a commercial course in an institution
in the city, for a six weeks term,
while l kept steadily on with my work
Of reporting for the press, and applied
myself diligently at the study Of
stenograpby.
But, before We had been thus en-.
gagged for a great while, va were treat
ed to a genuine surprise in manner
and facts as follows:
One evening just as we had left the
dining room and we're b~uttoping up
our heavy listers for an excursion
round town in order that | might pick
. few more locals, We we're startled BY
hssring q voice so familiar thst VIC
both turned toward the clerks desk
where there were . score Of new ar
rivals each In turn registering his
name just IN time to behold Uncle
Pete Is he, with head turned over on
bis shoulder, was slowly scrawling his
name in the book.
just as he had completed the finish
ing stroke, and with a sort Of pious
look, such IS he thought appropriate
to so great On occasion. he looked
up into the face Of the clerk and broke
forth in the following choice bit OF in.
information for the e~di6ication, pre-.
sumo, Of the now greatly interested
spectators:
eyes, sab, dat's my name, Petah
Morgan, sab, Of Ole Kcntuck, gist ar.
rove, and come to see q couple of my
bes' Of friens': Mars. Bill Willougby
an Mars. Dick Nailor, two OF the bcs'
gentlemen wat cher you see, sab. 1
recun 70 knows 'om boat, don't 20
honey, an is mighty proud, sab, to
hab SIGH fine people stop at yo' hotel"
But before the jolly fellow could
further enlighten the now deeply in
terested spectators, Dick had made .
swoop upon him and was hugging him
and shaking his hand by turns, and
plying him with questions concerning
the folk at home in the most e~xtraya-
CANT manner.
But, Uncle Pete finally got sufficient
breath to enquire after me, and in IN.
swer to Dicks remark; "Why, for
goodness sake, Uncle Pete, don't you
see the bashful fellow standing at
your elbow oil this time and crying
like q baby'"
1t would be vain to here attempt to
give anything approaching tho real
state Of affairs. l was simply over
whelmed by this unexpected pleasure
OF meeting in this strange land one
who had stood r%evercntly, with hat in
hand some twenty years ago, and
touched my velvety cheek with the
tip Of his great stumpy index finger,
and then shading his eyes with his
broad, honest, black hand, pronounced
a blessing upon the mother and her
first born child. My mother had told
me all about Uncle Pete's antics tho
morning following tho night of my
advent into this troublesome and yet
very pleasant world. and l had treas.
ured it all up as something too sacred
to be forgotten. I had grown up un.
der tho watch and care not only of
my parents, but Of this faithful old
soul, and had reasons for thanking
him all the days Of my life for the
many childish pleasures v~ouchsafed to
me through his kind intervcntions.
There had never been a day, from
my earliest recollections down to the
time Of his carrying the news to me Of
the impending danger to myself and
friend, when Uncle Pete did not in
some way contribute to my happiness.
The dear old fellow used to carry
me about the yard and orchard and
along the shady lane when I was but
the tcnderest Of infants. And when
l was sick he would lie of nights, with
his clothes on, in the great cid hall,
ready, at the slightest warning, to
bring the doctor, wake the nurse,
or do ANYTHING within his power to
alleviate my sutferings.
So true was Uncle Pete to his trust
that, l firmly believe, he would have
willingly sacrificed his life for my
mother and her baby-boy.