Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-01-20

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" HE sunshine Is unusually brigh.
today My Uncle Tobe and are
d sitting On the balcony which over
looks the broad. fair stream below,
adorned with the afternoon suns last
rays.
1t is Sunday. In Sunday dress and
holiday spirits crowds are hurrying to-
wards the big excursion steamers, pant
ing along the shore.
How / would like to be one Of them
am young and hungry for pleasure.
But Uncle Toba doesn't understand. He
doesn't care for such amusement. IT'S
useless waste Cf time" he growls.
might tell him its just for the sake
of innocent frolic. but he wouldn't un-
derstaud that either. He understands
only tie serious side Of life. earning
money d tL,. sweat Of ones brow, AMI
he says such money mustn't be spent
foolishly. Uncle Tobe Is bachelor,
whom fate has bIrdeued with the care
OF two homeless children. He might
have shaken 1d the burden, but he WAS
TOO conscientious too honorable for
that. He was the only relative 10 whom
we could turH-I, the daughter Of his
sister. and Philip, his brothers sterson.
We were quite small, when he took us
into his house, Two mischieyous wights,
for children know little Of sorrow. |
am sixteen years old to-day, and cannot
get hc serious and dcmure. Philip is
more unEoverEablc even than /. When
we are together we laugh and chatter,
so unrcasoUahIy loud. Uncle Tobe says,
that he is compelled TO drive US from
bis presence
silly youngsters! What right have
you to laugh
When he took us into his home he
turned me over to his old housekeeper
Mrs. Mitchell. saying:
TAKE the little thing! Her parents
had no business 20 burden the world
with such useless little worm
Mrs Mitchell shook her white head
Let her grow up with the flowers"
she answered. ''All she needs is a little
sunshine"
Yes. We needed sunshine Philip ever
more than l. lie 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 Tobr but when he infested the
house and the entire neighborhood with
white micc. it was decided that he
should be sent to a boarding school.
Philip was satisfied. 1t couldn't be
any worse than at home. he mused
Henceforth his life took on a different
hue His teachers 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 un.
ruIy conduct and when he begged Tn.
Gle Tobe TO send him to college. the lat
ter refused. No. he must learn trade.
don't know how many different lines
OF work Phil tried, but he never remain
ed more than 4 few weeks In any one.
At last he was apprenticed 10 a drug
gist- The work seemed TO suit him.
There were complaints, of course. but
Of different nature. Philip was con.
stantly Experimenting. He came near
blowing up the house once. Yet his
employer praised his cleverness and his
lndefatigabls desire for study.
Every Sunday Philip paid a visit to
bis home. and then he built air castles
Of wonderful inventions which he was
about to make, and begged Uncle Tobe
10 advance him money. He might as
well have preached to deaf ears. 1 was
glad when lie was gone. for the scenes
that took place between him and Uncle
Cobe had become unbearable.
Sitting on The balcony that lovely Sun
day afternoon l sighed and gazed
dreamlly into the beautiful world be-
yond. My jolly companion l knew was
confined to his dingy quarters in town.
What was he doing? Concocting some
healing draught, perhaps. Perhaps
selling 4 Sunday ration OF bonbons to
scme lucky yOungster. What a trial
we are to Uncle Tobe! Why didn't he
get married and have children of bis
swn. then he wouldn't have been ex-
oected to care for other peoples waifs7
IIean across the balcony rail 10 watch
o newly arrived boat unload its humaD
freight And there is Philip!
@Uncle Tobe.' l exclaimed. Phil is
mere IN the crowd"
'Of course" he growls. he is always
10 be found where he has no business
90 be. Don't beckon to him, l don't
want him up here"
But had already waved my hand to
Phil. and a moment later he stood be-
fore us.
His eyes were abiaze with Joy. How
happy he looked. Aren't you glad thaa
am nere:" they said, as they peamed
Down upon my upturned face.
Uncle Tohe knit his brows. What
Ire you doing here? Why are you not /
at work?"
Its Sunday. uncle, and now l have
really invented something valuable. NY
employer says so, to-, and all l need ,
is little money 20 experiment With and I
take out uarrH- Uncle Tobe, you'll I
help Ws o. just this one time, won't I
you:
Not II I had q thousand times thu
amount you want"
1T isn't large sum, uncle; try me I
ust once" be pleaded. And II plead
d with him. c
leave me in peace" groaned Uncle o
'obe, Il am tired of it all You forget
hat you are poor waif who eats the
read OF grace IN my house. You'll !,
ither go the way point or choose your &
wn. You are no longer a child"' Il
You are right" cried Philip, with y
heeks afame with anger. Il am no "
niger child. It's a shame that | Q
hould take aims from such hand as h
ours. 1t has been the last time. I'll a
D my way henceforth." II
aArd s+srva NJ iff', r,ocked ITncle q