Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-29

Uncle Tompkins, replied in the same tone:
"Ohf you mustn't mind my uncle, dear;
he doesn't mean anything, only he is old
and whimsical"
But man has no business to make
everybody else uncomfortable in this sort
OF way" muttered Mr.. Grumble
lie silently devoured his meal, secretly
wondering how long Uncle Tompkins
meant TO stay. No sooner was the table
cleared than the irascible old gentleman
began again.
'Grumble," said he, 81 wish you'd stop
that creakiDg of your chair, my nerves are
30 weak, and If you could keep your chill
dren up stairs their racket wouldn't dis
turb me quite so much. | really don't
know how Pm going to stand that baby's
noise"
II do not think it is a very noisy baby"
said Mr.. Grgmble meekly. "Its teeth are
very painful just at present"
Mrs. Grumble, who was poking the fire
In accordance with her uncle's petuIant re-
quest, said nothing, but smiled quietly TO
hear her husband trying to extenuate the
/ baby's sins.
well" remarked Uncle Tompkins, "ail
babies are noisy. And, by the way, Grum-
| bic, | wish you would oil the hinges Of that
/ squeaking door; and don't like the smell
Of that geranium in the window Hallool
you haven't any top button in your shirt
'front.' | hope my niece isn't careless
wifep
mot at ALL" said Mr.. Grumble, nerv-
ously; but the care Of her child and
| housekeeping duties absorb great deal Of
her time The instant she finds leisure she
will look to my clothes"
/ Il don't see how "A woman can spend her
whole time keeping house and looking
after pack Of children" observed Uncle
/ Tompkins incredulously.
/ About 10 O'Clock the old gentleman was
ushercd to the spare room, accompanied by
a procession Of medicine phials, tub Of
hot water, wooden dressing robes and heat
ed blankets for his feet, and his absence oc-
casioned very general relief
| what an insufIorable old duffer that Isl"
exclaimed Mr. Grumbie, throwing himself
with sigh Of satisfaction into his favorite
seat once more. My dear Bessie, how
could you endure his eternal fault hndingg"
II am accustomed 70 that, Henry 1t Is
the lesson many married women are Obliged
to learn, " replied Mrs Grumble with sigh.
I Her husband pricked up his ears little
uneasily. Accustomed 10 it2n What did
she mean; 1t was not possible-it could
not be possible-that he was like that obi
Gus old Uncle Tompkins And yet be
wished Bessie had not spoken in that way.
/ Somehow il made him feel excessively I'M
comfortable Three days passed away
Uncle Tompkins growing more and more
intolerable the whole time, while Mr.
Gumble improved the occasion By making
a sort Of mental looking glass Of that
worthy old gentleman.
"Upon-my-word f" said he 10 himself,
II must have been a perfect nuisance all
these years Why didn't somebody tell me
of it,"
At length Uncle Tompbins went away,
flannel robes, medicine bottles and all, and
on the evening Of the same day Tom Carl
ton arrived from a temporary absence, no
body knew where
80 uncle has been visiting your" he said
gayly to Mr.. Grumble
Yes" said the latter with slight grim
zee
what sort Of looking man is hef"
Mr.. Grumble was silent for a moment
do you know" he exclaimed. burst
ing into perplexed laugh, Il couldn't
describe a single feature Of his face Tie
was always enveloped, like an Egyptian
mummy, In silk handkerchief something
like that one you have in your hand. How.
ever, I'm heartily glad he's gone. With
my permission ne shall never set foot in
this house agaiDW
MOI" said Tom archly.
/ "The most intolerable fault finder | ever
met with" said Mr. Grumble absolutely
the most disagreeable man who ever cum
[ bered the earth don't see how il IL pos
I sible to growl at everything as he did"
! That's not an uncommon failing, be
heve," observed Tom, demurely, smiling.
/ every likely" said his brother-in-law
emphatically, but his visit has been pro
ductive Of at least one good effect-it has
completely cured me Of any tendency
might have had that way. | for one mean
to leave of grumbling"
Ppm happy TO hear it, Nephew Grumble, 4"
exclaimed "A cracked voice
The yictimized man started up in dis
may, scarcely believing the testimony Of
his senses as Tom twisted the silk handker-
chief skillfully round his head and bent
himself nearly double with an asthmatic
. sound between a groan and a grunt.
/ why, you don't mean TO say that you
are Uncle Tompkinsi" exclaimed Mr..
Grumble.
pardon me, Henry" said Tom, smiling,
"but / saw that you had unconsciously be
come a habitual grumbler, and judged
that the best antidote was a faithful repre-
sentation Of your own faiiinga Was
rightg"
His brother-in-law was half inclined to be
angry, but thought better Of il.
shake hands, Tom" said he You're
an irreverent young scamp, but | forgive
you. At all events the cure is complete"
And 50 Bessie found it-True Flag.