The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-01-08


m HE sunshine is unusually brigh
to-day. My Uncle Tobe and ar
sitting on the balcony which ovei
looks the broad, fair stream below
adorned with the afternoon suns las
rays. -.
1t Is Sunday. In Sunday dress an
holiday spirits crowds are hurrying to
wards the big excursion steamers, pant
ing along the shore.
How l would like to be one of them
1 am young and hungry for pleasure
But Uncle Tobe doesn't understand. II,
doesn't care for such amusement. "It'!
useless waste of time" he growls.
might tell him it's just for the sakt
Of innocent frolic, but he wouldn't un
derstand that, either. He understands
only the serious side of life, earning
money in the sweat of ones brow, ani
he says such money mustn't be spent
foolishly. Uncle Tobe is a bachelor
whom fate has burdened with the care
of two homeless children. He might
have shaken off the 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
sister, and Philip, his brothers stepson.
We were quite small, when he took us
into his house, two mischievous wights,
for children know little of sorrow. l
am sixteen years old to-day, and cannot
yet be serious and demure. Philip Is
more ungovernable even than l. When
we are together we laugh and chatter,
so unreasonably loud, Uncle Tobe says,
that he is compelled to drive us from
his 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 to burden the world
with such useless little wormr'
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 even
more than /. 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 Tobe, but when he infested the
house and the entire neighborhood with
white mice, 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
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-
ruly conduct, and when he begged Un-
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 few weeks in any one
At last he was apprenticed to a drug
gist. The work seemed to suit him.
There were complaints, Of course, but
Of a different nature. Philip was con-
stantly experimenting. He came near
blowing up the house once Yet his
employer praised his cleverness and his |
fndefatigable desire for study.
Every Sunday Philip paid visit to !
his home, and then he built air castles
of wonderful inventions which he was
about to make, and begged Uncle Tobe
to advance him money. He might as
well have preached to deaf ears. was /
glad when he was gone, for the scenes
that took place between him and Uncle
lobe had become unbearable.
Sitting on the balcony that lovely Sun
day afternoon | sighed and gazed
dreamily into the beautiful world be-
yond. My jolly companion knew was
confined to his dingy quarters in town.
What was he doing? Concocting some
healing draught, perhaps. Perhaps
selling Sunday ration of bonbons to
some lucky youngster! 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 ex-
pected to care for other peoples waits?
Ilean across the balcony rail to watch
a newly arrived boat unload it's human
freight. And-there is Philip.
Uncle Tobe," l exclaimed, "Phil is
here in the crowdp'
"Of course" he growls, che Is ALWAYS
to be found where he has no business
to be. Don't beckon to him. l don't
want him up here"
But / had already waved nv hand to
Phil, and moment later he stood be
fore US.
His eyes were ablaze with joy. How
happy he looked. Aren't you glad that
am here? they said, as they beamed
1own upon my upturned face.
Uncle Tobe knit his brows. what
ire you doing here? Why are you not .
1t work?'
Its Sunday, uncle, and now l have
eally invented something valuable. My +
Employer says SO, too, and all 1 need +
5 little money to experiment with and +
AXE out patent. Uncle Tobe, you'll r
lelp me out just this one time, won't
'ouP'
''Not If ! had a thousand times the :
mount you want"
ut isn't large sum, uncle; try me
ust once," he pleaded. And II plead p
d with him. -
Leave me in peace" groaned Uncle h
ODE, Il am tired Off all You forget
nat you are poor waif who eats the i.
read of grace in my house. You'll +,
ther go the way point or choose your +,
wn. You are no longer childr' u
You are right" cried Philip, with "
leeks afame with anger 81 am no a,
niger a child. It's shame that 1 h,
lould take aims from such hand as a,
,urs. 1t has been the last time. I'll II,
, my way henceforth." o,