Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-13
UNCLE BOB.


bullying eyes and wide open mouth
Uncle Bob had never accepted freedom
so far as to leave the home where he had
been reared and where he had worked as a
slave until emancipation was proclaimed.
Mr., barbour had been and always would
De Mars jim" to him, and Mrs Barbour
at the age OF sixty was still "Young miss
u.s." Uncle Bob's mind had never been
very bright, and Of late somehow IL seemed
to rest under heavier cloud than ever be
fore
To a person not acquainted with Uncle
Bob il would have seemed as II something
terrible had occurred to give him that
startled look, but it brought only smile
TO Mr.. Barboar's face.
What is the matter, Bob" he asked
gently.
"Hawgs in de later patch, Mars Jim"
After this information was given his
face relaxed somewhat, and the terror that
had been depicted upon it vanished In a
moment.
go and drive out the hogs and repair
the fence"
"I'ze done fix de fence"
well, then, what is the troubleyp
"Hawgs in de later patch"
Didn't you drive them outt"
Il sholy try, but dem hawgs dess run an
run an butt dey head gin de fence till deg
plum crazy"
"Oh, see" laughed Mr.. Barbour. "You
closed up the gap where they got in before
you tried 10 drive them outi"
"Iaud, Mars Jim, dess sholy didp
And Uncle Bob started back toward the
potato patch, while Mr. and Mrs. Barbour
laughed softly to themselves over the
blunder he had made
"Bob's reasoning faculties are getting
duller every day." said Mrs. Barbour.
"Since Nose and Phyllis came back here
last spring IL seems like he is out Of his
wits oftener than he used 10 be-"
Nonsense, Kathleen Bob Is getting old;
that is all"
Perhaps so. But there is great change
In him since their return. Nose and Phyl-
lis were always full Of tricks, and there 10
no telling what influence they are using
over the poor old fellow"
DO you think they have hoodooed himtD
laughed Mr.. Barbour
mo, do not. But / am sure they are
intimidating him in some way" said Mrs.
Barbour earnestly. Don't you remember.
James, the tricks they resorted TO while
they were slaves to get out OF work. Nose
was crippled 80 badly with rheumatics that
he just could creep around with the assist
snce Of a stick, and Phyllis was 80 hard of
hearing that IL was impossible to make her
understand anything except through signs,
and then she would only understand as
much as suited her. But the day they were
set free Nose cast away his stick and
hoped and danced az lively as any one,
and Phyllis was no longer troubled with
deafness"
well, my dear, that was compliment
TO as. They knew no one would buy them
In that condition and pay what they were
worth TO US. We were always kind TO
them, and they appreciated It. They simply
played that trick because they loved us"
You know better, James. IL was TO
keep ont Of hard work--to get the best OF |
usL-to cheat us 20 far az we would allow. |
just remember how quickly they left us |
after they were set free. Nose and Phyllis !
were the first TO go away"
And the first 10 return 10 as replied |
Mr.. Barbour, with a smile.
YES; they passed their useful days in |
town doing barely enough to live, and now,
when they are almost useless, they come |
back TO us to support them"
What you say is true, Kathleen. Sup
pose we turn them of again, tell them 70 |
go back to town and live or die as best they
cam" said Mr.. Barbour looking at his
wife with quizzical CLEAN in his eyes.
you know very well / would not con
sent 70 any such thing any more than you
would, James; but for all that / cannot
help thinking but what Nose and Phyllis
are imposing upon Uncle Bob in some way,
and that this sheep stealing we were talk
ing about when Bob made his appearance
Just now has something TO do with It,"
Just then they were interrupted in their
conversation by man coming toward the
house from the road.
"Goot efening, Mishter Barbour; goot
efening, Mishtess Barbour. I hopes you
vos all veil. +" chirruped the newcomer
"All well, thank you, Fritz. Come in"
Fritz sidled up the steps and sat down
swkwardly on the corner Of the chair Mr..
Barbour offered him.
Il hear you shtoie some Sleeps, Mishter
Barb ar, By" said Fritz
You mean you have heard have had
some sheep stolen from me-" corrected Mr..
Barbour.
yes, yes. hear you haf shtoien some
sheeps oxcuse me, Misbter Barbour; II
LII 200 year Ivos holdings but Won Deutscb-
LIENS in AnRlish nobow."
THAT is all right, Fritz. Yes, have
lost some sheep lately"
"vot you gifp'
what did give for the sheept"
No. yot you gif for dat t'iefp
"Oh, l see you want me TO offer a reward
for the fellow who stole my sheep. Well,
seeing IT lie you, Fritz, IN give four bits
Tor him." said Mr.. Barbour, laughing. II
Den catch him, sure"
How are you going TO do 1t, Fritzt"
II catch him, dot vos all, and den pring
him here for four bit. Goot efening, Mish-
YER Barbour; good efenina, Mishtess Bar
hour" and Fritz, lowing and scraping,
booked down from the gallery and walked
swaf, apparently highly elated
Fritz was a German, small IN stature,
with big woman for wife. They. had
moved into the Pine Bayou neighborhood
! few year. before, had rented land aod I