The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-22
UNCLE TOBE.

The sunshine is unusually bright today.
My Uncle lobe and | are sitting on the
balcony which overlooks the broad, fair
stream below, adorned with the afternoon
suns last rays.
1t is Sunday. In Sunday dress and holt
day spirits crowds are hurrying toward
the big excursion steamers, painting along
the shore.
How | would like to he one of them! l
am young and hungry for pleasure. But
Uncle lobe doesn 4 understand. He doesn't
care for such amusement Its useless
waste Of time" he growls.
/ might tell him it's just for the sake of
innocent fro)ic, but he wouldn't under
stand that either. He understands only
the serious size of life, earning money in
the sweat Of ones brow, and he says such
money mustn't he spent foolishly. Uncle
lobe is bachelor, whom fate has burden
cd with the care Of two homeless children
He might have shaken off his burden, but
he was too conscientious, too honorable
for that. He was the only relative to whom
we could turn--I, the daughter of his sis
ter, and Philip, his brothers stcpson
We were quite small when he took us
into his house, two mischievous wiphts,
for children know little of sorrow. am
rs years cid today and cannot yet be seri-
Gus and dcmure. Philip is more ungnvern-
able even than l. When we are together,
we laugh and chatter so unreasonably
loud, Uncle Tobo says, that he is compel
led to drive us from his presence.
silly youngsters, what right have you
to laugh?"
When he took me into his home, he turn
cd Inc over ~ his old housekeeper, Mrs.
Mitchell, saying:
Take the little thing. Her parents had
no business to burden tho world with such
Il useless little worm"
| Mrs. Mitchell shook her white head.
Let her grow up with the flowers" she
answered. "All she needs is little sun
shine. "
Yes, we needed sunshine, Phil even
more than l. He was the elder by four
years and full of silly notions, Uncle Tobe
said. He carried home all sorts of animals,
much to the distress of Uncle lobe, but
when he infested the house and the entire
neighborbood with white mice it was de-
cided that he should be sent to boarding
school.
Philip was satisfied. It couldn't be any
worse than at home, he unused. Henceforth
his life took ON different hue His teach
ors complained of his careless habits, his
boyish pranks, but they could not gainsay
his talents and bright, active mind. He
was expelled from two schools on account
of his unruly conduct, and when he beg.
ged Uncle lobe to send him to college the
latter refused. No, he must learn trade.
don't know how many different lines
of work Phil tried, but he never remained
more than few weeks in any one. At
last he was apprentiCed to druggist. The
work seemed to suit him. There were COM
plants, of course, but of different ma
ture. Philip was constantly experiment
ing He came near blowing up the house
once, yet his employer praised his clever
ness and his interchangeable desire for study.
Every Sunday Philip paid visit to his
home, and then he built air castles of won
derful inventions which he was about to
make and begged Uncle lobe to advance
him money. lie might as well have preach
cd to deaf ears. l was glad when he was
gone, for the scenes that took place be-
tween him and Uncle lobe had become
unbearabie
Sitting on the balcony that lovely Sun
day afternoon, l sighed and gaZed dream
lily into the beautiful world beyond My
jolly companion l knew was confined to
his dingy quarters in town. What was he
doing? Connecting some healing draft
perhaps. Perhaps selling Sunday ration
of bonbons to some lucky youngstor. What
a trial we are to Uncle Tobe Why didn t
he get married and have children of his
OWN Then he wouldn't have been expected
to care for other peoples waits.
l lean across the balcony rail to watch a
newly arrived boat unload it's human
freight. And-there Is Philip!
Uncle Tohe," l exclaimed, "Phil is
here in the crowd"
"Of course" he growls, she is always
to be found where he has no business to
he. Don't beckon to him; l don't want
him up here. -
But 1 had already waved my hand to
Phil, and moment later no stood before
us.
His eyes were ablaze with joy. How
happy he looked AREN'T you glad that
am here9" they said, as they beamed down
upon my upturned face.
Uncle Tobe knit his brows. "What are
you doing EereP Why are you not at work9''
Its Sunday, uncle, and now l have
really invented something valuable. My
employer says so, too, and all ! need Is a
little money 10 experiment with and take
out patent Uncle lobe, you'll help me
out Just TINS one time, won't your"
Not If l had thousand times the
amount you want"
at isn't large sum, uncle. Try me
just once" he pleaded. And II pleaded
with him.
Leave me In peace" groaned Uncle
lobe. ~ am tired of 1t all. You forget
that you are poor waif who eats the
bread Of grace in my house. You'll either
go the way point or choose your own.
You are DO longer a child"
you are right" cried Philip, with
checks afiame with anger. II am no Ion
ger child. It's shame that should
take aims from such hand as yours. 1t
has been the last time. I'll go my way
henceforth"
"And starve at itl' Knocked Uncle Tobe
I trembled in every limb. 1t had never