Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-09-01
UNCLE JUDSON.

Little girl, will you give me a
drink
Judy looked up from her book and
saw shabby, middle.aged man, with
black carpet bag swung by stick
over his shoulder. His weather beat
ell face was shrewd but kindly in cI-
preston, and his eyes were small and
sharp.
She laid down her Arabian Nights
on u rock, and dipped up a gourd full
of delicious spring water. After a
long draught he regarded her approx
ingIy.
Can you tell me where Jonas Wray
lives 2 he further inquired.
Down the hoIler yonder. This is
his spring" She thrust her book un-
der one arm, and picked up her buck
ct OF water I'm going there"
BE you? Well, now, reckon you
must be one of Jonss Wray's little
gals"
I'm Uncle Jonas's niece.
"U-m-m-h-m You be T. He in
spected her with an air Of curiosity
well, You seem to be u nice little
girl. Who'd you reckon | am, now p
II Judy had expressed her candid
opinion, she would have said, some
tramp, most likely" but being lit
tie uncertain and little afraid, she
coutented herself with a puzzled look.
Don't know, ell Well, I'm your
Uncle Judson."
Judy was 50 surprised that she put
down her pail in order to take a good
long stare at this rather disreputabIe
looking relative. Then she was sorry
to see that he should be so poor and
weak and shabby.
I'm glad to see you, said she,
suddenly remembering her manners.
you'll be just in time for dinner
She led the way to the house, and
the man followed. \ woolly dog,
about as forlorn in appearance as I'm
Gle Judson, trotted beside them as
they went.
THAT your dog, Uncle =
Yes, that's Boozer He amt much
to look at, but he's cute, powerful
cute"
Great was the amazement ut the
house when this trampish man pre-
sented himself in the guise OF Uncle
Judson. Several weeks ago this long
forgotten relative had written that he
was coiling back to revisit his boy
hoods home which had neither seen
nor heard of him for more than
score of years. He had been in Mon
taua all this time, and Of course he
must be rich, they had thought.
Doubtless he would appear in car
riage wearing broadclOth and gold
watch, with possibly stoN e-pipe hat
to enhance his dignity. or fcourss his
pockets would be stuffed with bank
notes and coin, while his bank ac-
count would be something stupen-
dOuS.
when these old miners do get rich
they never know when to stop, re-
nected Mr. Wray, who had never had
bank account himself, and whose
ideas Of Western prosperity were in-
separably associated with the. Com
stock Lode, bonanza kings, and the
cattle on a thousand hills. But one
glance at Uncle Judson crushed their
hopes. Judy dragged out chair and
he sat down. The rest Of the family
glared at him as if he were some
freak escaped from dime museum.
We'll, folks" said the old fellow,
looking from one to the other, you
don't seem overly rejoiced to see me.
Amt you going to shake 2
They shook, of course, in per
functory sort of way, and Mrs.
Wray remarked:
"Of course, we're glad to see you,
Jud, but we didn't look for you to
come back in-in just such a way.
Yes, but poor folks have poor
ways, Harriet, and l amt no excsp-
ton to the rule.
Have you really come back from
Montana just as poor as when you
went there. Jud 81 asked Jonas, not
altogether concealing his disappoint-
ment We all thought you'd made
a fortune.
People get busted out there as
we'll as anywhere else. Uncle Jud'
son looked hungrily at the table, now
spread for dinner. But never mind
I'm 'mongst my kin folks, and-lm
mighty hungry.
Jeff and Emmeline, tho older chill
dren. glared at the man a. if he had
in some way robbed them OF eIpecta
tions they felt were theirs by right
Bat there seemed to be nothing for II
but to be civil to Uncle Judson, fol
the present, at least, so they all nae
dinner. Mrs. Wray, however, drove
Boozer out of the house.
Don't be to hash with the pool
fellow. " said Uncle Judson, mildly, a
he threw the dog a piece OF corr
bread.
The unwelcome relative soon made
himself at home in quiet way, tina
none of them liked except Judy VINO
tried to be kind to him when Aun
Harriet was not looking. He did no
talk much, but he soon saw that th'
orpban child was regarded mainly a.
! a drudge and convenience Tor the
rest Her Uncle Jonas ignored her
her amt scolded her and kept he