The record-union., 1894-05-26

Is tWlStln an within from nurdlgy.
Don't b'lieve sound filos'fy trickles
through rheumatics. Blleve known
how t. be great is knowin' how to be
small-keepln' ekal like yerself. an
keepin' folk aroun' ye ekal am easy,
while you're doin' of it!''
Only limited number of neighbors or
friends were allowed to sit, as it were, at
the feet of Uncle Jimmy Biggs. He held
strictly to the theory of application OF
wisdom to individual need. Ii crowd
gathered in his little stoneyard, antlcl-
pating treat from his profound lips it
only resulted in smiling reticence on the
part OF the sage, while the hlnty chips
flew faster than their wont from head
stone, coping or hitching post.
"Fiios'fy," Uncle Jimmy insisted in
support of this position, 'is blister in
stead of poultice, when you lay i. on a
crowd, fur ev'ry human critter'd rather
argy nor eat. It's only soothin' an
helpin' when it goes right hum t. him
as needs itr'
So, whoever sought help from Uncle
jimmy Blggs must needs come II not
reverentially yet all alone, and many a
good resolve had been strengthened,
many a wrong one changed and many Il
wiser soul than Uncle Jimmy, as these
things are measured, had been set Alright
by his strong, direct and unpublished wis
dom.
Even one of the Concord parsons, dis
traught over the career OF parlShOner,
one OF those brilliant and bad young men
who are ever see-sawing between nights
of rectitude and the depths of intamy,
through drink. had appealed to this Con-
cord sage for advice.
LAS l understand Willie's case," Uncle
Jimmy answered, as he softly tapped the
block of stone upon which he was work
ing with his nlallet, your young friends
oncommonly brightI'
Wonderfully so,' replied the parson
sadly.
knows gins gin, an runs rum. an
jess what three fingers o. either'H do fur
himr'
why, undoubtedly"
IAN KNOWN that, takes header right
at th' stuff; gifts full as a Thanksgivin'
turkey; ramps around Concord till you
all hustle him out o. sight; am then all
tn purity wimmen an; all th' oP wimmen
prays alongside o. him, an sends him
1lowers an jelly an sich, till Willie gifts
through havin' t. reach over th' side O.
his bed T. ketch his burnin' head from
fallin'; am then Willie's all right fur tn
Sunday-schooi an Bible-elass agin?"
'Ifs all too true, Uncle jimmy"
''Wall, parson, tain't rum as is th'
matter o Willie! It's you well-meanin'
folks. Willie's got so he can't git on
'thout harrowin' up th' church an th
wimmin folks, jess about so often. Next
time Willie gifts hungry fur church So
ciable, all to himself, an breaks loose,
don't see him. Let him ramp. Let him
holler. Let him woller. But don't no.
body mind him. When he's ramped an
hollered an wollered till he gifts in th'
gutter, hev job Tollson, th' town consta-
Bile, git handy holt in his collar "a chuck
Willie inter th' town Jail. Then see no
winmin. er Jelly, or flowers, gifts T.
Willie till Willie gifts T. hisself. Willie
an th' churchill run smoother after
that ~
The stone cutters advice having been
acted upon good citizen was saved to
the community, and Uncle Jimmy's no.
BILE qualities as Concord sage were more
and more priced and honored by all OF the
humble circle who had cause to know
their sterling worth.
His home was just the spot in which
one would like to fancy all kindly sages
should live. 1t set low upon the ground
and spread wide and far among foliage
and flowers.
kinder allus looks T. me like oP
motherly settin' hen," Uncle Jimmy
would remark with kindling pride i'll his
good gray eyes. ''cept its all lovin' cluck
hoverin' am outreachin wings like, with
nary peckin', crossness nor cantanher-
BUSINESS DOQL IL.
He had built it OF stone with his own
hands, after strange pattern, many,
many years ago. 1t was nearly all roof,
running high up to huge chimneys. a
1 division wall, in line with the chimneys,
starting from between the little double
front door, ran from floor to ridge pole
/ through the Old structure, and then eX-
! tended, still higher than Jimmy's head ;
| back TO the rear of a sunny double gar
a. oh he MI ,afe
! fine old orchard trees. The chimney
/ gave huge tireplaces facing either way
! into the impenetrable separate abodes,
whose caves nearly reached the ground,
1 and whose retreatlng second and third
| stories were full OF the snuggest apart
/ ments, lighted by the quaintest of dor
mer windows.
/ The neighbors smiled when Jimmy
/ Biggs built so odd double house, for he
was then much younger man. But be-
1 ing philosopher even i'll those younger
/ davs. he replied pleasantly TO all:
/ ''If the Lord sends Us child that
| child'll be gal er boy. Gal er boy, time'lI
come fur marryin' an hivin' OFT. Wen
! like 'em better, an they'll like us better,
! ii we has to go round tn front door, both
ways, fur neIghborln!'
But the children they had been granted
were those that never wrung their hearts
from arrangements or separation. They
/ were simply philosophy and a radiantly
sweet and almost pathetlcally trustful
+ affection. And SO 1T last Uncle Jimr. y
/ had cut a passageway through the stout
! wall. and the contented couple lived all
/ over the double abode as fancy or inclina-
tion prompted.
.,It's like travelin'," he would explain
/ to any OF his humble disciples who might
ventflre comment. "Shet emmy two be-
! in's in one room fur fifty year, an
stuth'n'l happen Movin' from one t
other side o. tnat stun wallis nigh as good
as a trip to Bosting!"
In one vital respect Uncle Jimmy
Biggs possessed wonderful advantage
over many of the philosophers and
sages who are enrolled among the i'm
mortals.
Cynthia Biggs, his wife, believed in
him utterly. 1t even seemed that hel
i goodness and sweetness took on added
nobility and loveliness from her mute
/ and radiant admiration and affection. Ii
was not merely submissive recognI-
tion. 1t was an upleaping. outreaching,
over-joyous approval, ever and always
! even in advance of whatever Uncle
Jimmy Biggs might do or say. This. as
all true sages will do, he recognized, II
his own way, as the source. of his fullest
wisdom and his greatest admiration.
"Who couldn't do things and say
things" he would repeatedly ask of the
insensate stone, or the occasionally IN
sensate villagers beside him, with Gym
| thy Biggs settin' thar on tn front
porch chirpin' am clickin' with hel
| knitun', nibblin' them sprigs o. cara.
way, or smilin' over her specs at Uncle