Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-01-03
rwhat does this mean. NV deariI

calculated Mr.. Grumbie, In a hurried
whisper, and the wife, whose arm be
had caught on the way to the kitchen
after hot water for Uncle Tompkins, re.
piled In the same tone:
"Ohl you mustn't mind my uncle,
lear; he doesn't mean anything, only
&c is old and whimsical"
"But a man has no business to make
everybody else uncomfortable in this
sort of way" muttered Mr. Grumble.
He silently devoured his meal, secret
y wondering how long Uncle Tompkins
meant to stay. No sooner was the table
cleared than the irascible old gentleman
began sgair.
Z. "Grumble," said he, 'I wish you'e
top that creaking of your chair; my
nerves are so weak, AID if you could
keep your children upstairs their racket
wouldn't disturb me go much. | really
don't know how I'm going to stand that
5a6y's noise
~ do not think it is a very noisJ
baby" said Mr.. Grumble, meekly. "ls's
teeth are very painful just at present. !
Mrs. Grumble, who was tpoking the
ire in accordance with her uncle's petu-
LIANT request, said nothing but smiled
quietly to hear her husband trying 10
ext nuste the baby's sins.
well, " remarked Mr.. Tompkins, "aN
,abies are noisy. And by the way,
irumble, wish you would oil the
hinges of that squeskiag door; and !
don't like the smell of that geranium in
the window. Halleo! you haven't any
top button in your shirt front! hope
my niece isn't careless wife!"
d" Not at ALL" said Mr.. Grumble,
lervously; "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"
'I don't see how a woman can spend
her whole time keeping house and look.
ing after pack Of ohildren," observed
Uncle Tompkins. incrsdulously.
About ten o'clock the old gentleman
vas ushered to the spare room, accom-.
panied by a procession Of medicine
phials, tub of hot water, wooileu
dressing robes and heated blankets fol-
his feet, aud his absence occsHoned very
general relief.
4" What an insufferabte old duifer ths.
is!' exclaimed Mr. Grumhls- th-nsins
himself with a sigh OF satisfaction into
mis- fsvorIte seat once more. "My dear
Bessie, how could you endure this in.
ferual fault fnding2"
81 an accustomed to that, Henry. Il
IS the lesson many married women are
obliged to learn, replied Mrs. Grumble,
with a sigh.
Her husband prickei up his ears 8
little uneasilv. Accustomed TO itf'
What did she meant 1t was not pos.
sib!e-it could not be possible that he
was like that odions old Uncle Tom9-
kIns. And yet he wished Bessie had not
spoken in that way. Somehow it made
Three days passed away, Uncle Tompkins
growing more and more intolerable the
whole time, while Mr.. Grumble I'M
proved the occasion by making a sort Of
mental looking glass OF that worthy old
gentleman.
"Upon-my-word," said he to him
self, II must save been perfect nuis.
body tell me OF iti'
At length Uncle Tompkins went away,
flannel robes, medicine bottles and all,
aud on the evening OF the same day Tom
Carlton arrived from a temporary ab-
'euce, nobody knew where.
$50 uncle has been visiting you7, he
aid, gayly, TO Mr.. Grumble.
"Yes, said the latter with a slight
srimace.
"What sort of looking man is hel'
Mr.. Grumble was silent for , moment.
"Do you know" he exclaimed, burst
.ng into perplexed laugh, ~ couldn't
describe single feature of his face. He
was always enveloped, like an Egyptian
mummy. in silk handkerchief, some
thing like that one you have in your
land. However. I'm heartily glad he's
gone. With nv permission, he shall
'ever set foot IN this house again"
NO" said Tom, archly.
The most into o'erlJle fault-6nder l
Iyer met with, said Nr. Grumble; cab
'olutely the most disa greeable man wlo
aver encumbered the earth! don't see
now it is possible to growl at everything,
he did"
"TIat's rot an uncommon failing, |
'eileve,' observed Tom, demurely, smil-
ag.
Very likely" said the brother-in-
aw, cmphatically, "but his visit ha.
oeen productive .; at least one good et-
ect-it has completely cured me OF any
:endency l might have had that way. I,
or one, mean to leave of grumbling."
''inr happy to hear it, Nephew Grum.
',e, exclaimed a cracked voice.
The Victinized mau started up in dis.
nay, scarcely believing the testimony of
lis senses, as Tom twisted the silk hand
Iercaict skilfully around his head, and
oent himself nearly double, with an
isthmatic sound between q groan and q
yrunt.
"Why, you don't mean to say that
ou are Uncle Tompkinsl" exclaimed
Mr. Grumbe.
Pardon me, Henry" said Tom, smil-
ng, "but l saw that you had uncon-
lciouslg become habitual grumbler,
nd judged that the best antidote was
. faithful representation of your own
iailings. Was l right7"
HIS brother-in-law was half inclined
be angry, but thought better of it.
"Slake hands, Tom, said he. "You're
IN irreverent young scamp, but forgive
'ou. At I'll events, the cure is com.
olete,"
And 50 Bessie found it.-True Flag.