The record-union., 1894-05-26

be sure!''
1t was a curious phase of love and phil
osophy in the home of this particular
Concord sage. but both Uncle Jimmy
Biggs and Aunt Cynthy had grown into
such delicate sensitiveness to each others
and spiritual needs that both
could detect, almost with the impressive
ness of some solemn portent, just when
Uncle Jimmy's philosOphic powers were
about to find expression, and, stranger
still. Uncle Jimmy himself could nearly
always prophesy when they were to be
unduly taxed.
1t was pleasant summer morning of
not so very long ago when Uncle Jimmy
sat at his work underneath his little
shed, over against the rose empowered
porch. He had been silent for long
time while softly pecking away at the
letters OF "Sacred TO the Memory OFF
upon one of the simpler and palmer head
stones which he often got to this stage of
readiness against hurried order
He had meantime stolen furtive glances
at his wife. who was picking over a pan
of green currants upon the porch. and
who, in turn, regarded her hus band with
something like eXpectant interest.
Their eyes finally met, when Aunt
Cynthy's face lighted up encouragingly.
YES" SAID Uncle Jimmy as if in an
swer to direct questioning, Its coming
on agln, Cynthy."
Dear SUI! L know'd It'll" she replied
in tone OF relief at the correctness of her
forebodings.
"Yes. Cynthy. am fear it'll be hard
one this time. pye been hearin' th'
Higlers' doors slammin' this mornin'."
Grandpa Silas Higher and Grandma
Nancy Higher were a still more ancient
couple than the Biggs. Their lot and
cottage were next to the latter's, but a
lofty matted hedge of odorous lilacs shut
from sight ali of the place but the messy
cottage root-peak, upon which the pearl
breasted doves strutted and cooed, and
the tiny red pots of its square old CHM
ney.
(which dye 'spose tits this time?-
justification, 'baccy, or the old mare,
jimmy"
"Mebby all three Mebby more. Any
how it's intemp'rance, Cynthy. Silas is
sOt on lettin' OF Doll stick her head in
th' window ev'ry mornln' for lump o.
sugar. That's intemp'rance. Nancy's sot
on havin' mornin' glories at that partic'-
lar window an no other. That's intem-
p'rance Silas is sot on his pipe, an
threatens t take T. ticker if he can't have
more peace at hum. That's intemp'r-
ance. Ev'ry time things goes a leetle
wrong Nancy goads Sile bout how she's
saved an he amt, an tells him she's
holy an perfec' an tiops right down an
prays, showin' him his sins like scarlet,
an her own dear self white as snow.
An that's intemp'rance, fur you kin get
jess as drunk on that kind o. religun as
on rum, Cynthy."
Dear, deari But it's pity. AM them
sixty year man an wife! My! But there
is Silas now, awfully excited, too. Guess
pll go ini"
AS his wife entered the cottage Uncle
Jimmy Biggs heard the gate open and
shut with siam. He saw old Silas Hig
ler tearing up the walk, pounding the
gravel to the right and LETT with his
oaken cane, but he worked away softly
upon the letters Of Memory" never ap-
nearing to notice the little old visitor un-
ill he had not only trundled up beside
him. but after that edged around squarely
i'm front of him, and then several times
insistively cleared his throat.
He was tiny mite OF an old, old man,
bowed from extreme age, and shrunken
into a bony bundle upon which his cloth
ing tapped and fluttered. His long white
locks hung in little twisted strands dis
heyeled from his shoulders. His eyes
were bloOdShot from excitement, and the
old stonecutter noticed that Il little bun
die dangled from the trembling hands
which convulsively clung to the knob of
his cane.
Jimmy Biggs?-Uncle Jimmy Biggs?"
he at last appealingiy whispered.
Hello, Gran pa HiglerW roared Uncle
Jimmy in heartsome greeting.
''Sh-h-hn' returned old Silas, with a
scared glance in the direction of the lilac
hedge. "Pve run awayn'
"Oh?'' replied Uncle Jimmy, in tone
of sympathetic confidence. "For good?"
"Eor goodp' he answered huskily.
''Going fur?"
"Dunno. Don't keer."
Cant git long with Nancy, s'pose?"
"Never, no morev'
'.Takin' clos an things, s'pose?"
Grandpa Higher nodded his head at the
tiny, dangling bundle.
"Carryln' little ready cash 'long,
s'pose?''
The little old man gave start and
clutched at his pocket.
"Goshitymighty alfred mad
forgot that! Don't matter, though. Got
:, leetle [ was savin' up t buy a Christ
mas present fur Nancy with-no more
presents, drat 'em! That's nuff. Don't
matter what comes o. me, Uncle Jimmy
Biggs."
The swollen veins were leaving his
poor old forehead little as few tears
begun to trickle down his shriveled
face.
You'll do me jess one 'com' 'dashum.
Oncio jimmy!
"Sartin', Gran'pa Higher. Name it.u
wall, ye see, my ol' mare, Doll, hez
been used t. her lump of sugar, reg'l lar
fur twenty year. Ye wouldn't mind
pushin' one through the lilacs at her,
'cashunally, 'thout Nancy seein' of ye,
would ye, now. fur OF triend?"
.'Silas, oil Doll shall hev tn sugar.
But, If it don't matter which way ye run
ter, so ye git rest from Nancy, how'd
my south back room ans'er till we
kinder kinder draw yerself together,
Silas?"
"Ye don't mean it, Uncle Jlnmy?"
t'And thar's th' south garding; room
opens right into it, It's sunny an sooth-
in out thar. Nobody minds 'baccy round
here. VI kin jess mosey round an think
it all over, We see.o
Here Uncle Jimmy took the trem bling
old man by the arm and led him across
the blossoming porch through the sweet,
shady rooms oil the old cottage, to the
bright and sunny apartment opening
upon the pretty garden.
tYe kin jess rest here-fur as long as ye
like, Silas. Take a day er two, er a week
er two, Silas. Ye might think over yer
route an sech things. Nobody'll know
whar ye be. Nothn'n go amiss. Don't
worry nor fret. OP Dolpll git her sugar
reg'lar. You want restin' more than
runnin', Silas.u
He left the old man tiny bundle of
mute and radiant gratitude upon an an
cient settle, and returned to his work.
where his good wife was awaiting him
with a look of eager solicitude in her
kindly face.
THAR amt room 'nuff over at Hig-
lers," said Uncle Jimmy thoughtfuiIy,