The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-27
UNCLE TOBE.

",
My Uncle lobe and are sitting on the
balcony which oyerlooks the broad, fair
stream below, adorned with the afternoon
suns last rays.
1t is Sunday. In Sunday dress and holi-
day spirits crowds are hurrying toward
the big excursion steamers, painting along
the shore.
How would like to be one of theml I
am young and hungry for pleasure. But
Uncle Tobo doesn 4 understand. He doesn't
care for such amusement. Otis useless
waste of time," he growls.
might tell him it's just for the sake Of
innocent frolic, but he wouldn't under
stand that either He understands only
the serious side of life, earning money in
the sweat of ones brow, and he says such
money mustn't be spent foolishly. Uncle
lobe Is bachelor whom fate has burden
ed with the care of two homeless children.
He Nigh. have shaken off his burden, but
he was too conscientious, too honorable
for that. Hewas the only relative to whom
we could turn-l, the daughter of his sis
ter, and Philip, his brothers stepson.
We were quite small when he took lis
into bis house, two nischievous wights,
for children know little of sorrow | am
16 years old today and cannot yet BIO seri-
Gus and dsmure. Philip is more ungoyern-
able even than l. When we are together,
we laugh and chatter so unrensonably
loud Uncle lobe 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 mo over to his old housekeeper, Mrs.
Mitchell, saying:
Take the little thing. Her parents had
no business to burden the world with such
u useless little worm"
Mrs Mitchell shook her white head
Let her grow up with the flowers" she
answered. IAN 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 lobe
said, He carried home all sorts of animals,
much to the distress of Uncle lobe, but
when he infested the house and the entire
neighbOrhoOd with white mice it was de.
Cided that LIE should be sent to u boarding
school
Philip was satisfied 1t couldn't he any
worse than at home, he unused. Henceforth
his life took on different hue. His teach
ers complained Of his careless habits his
boyish FRANKS hut they could not gainsay
his talents and bright, active mind He
was expelled from two schools on account
of his unruly conduct, and when no beg.
ged Uncle lobe to send him to college the
latter refused. No, he must learn Il trade
I "a
of work Phil tried, but he never remained
more than few weeks in any one. At
last he was apprentiCed to a druggist. The
work seemed to suit him. There were COM
plants, of course, but of different ma
tuTe. Philip was constantly experiment.
ing He came near blowing up the house
once, vet his employer praised his clever
ness and his irdefatigahlc desire for study
Every Sunday Philip paid II visit to his
home, and then hO built air castles of Won
dcrful Inventions which he was about to
make and begged Uncle Tobo to advance
him money, 10 mightus well have preach
ed to deaf cars. was glad when he was
gone, for the scenes that tool: place be-
tween him and Uncle lobe had become
unhPnrnblp.
Sitting on tic balcony that lovely Sun
duy'aitcrnoon, ! Styled and gazcd dream
lily into the beautiful world beyond My
jolly companion l knew was confined TO
his dizzy quarters in town. What was he
doing Connecting some healing draft
perhaps. Perhaps sClliug "a Sunday ration
Of bunbohs to some lucky yourgs ter. What
n trial We are to Unrlo Iobel Why didnt
he get married ard have children of his
OWN Then he wouldn't have been expected
to care for other peoples waits
lean across the balcony rail to watch a
newly arrived boat unload its human
freight. And-thele IL Philip
Uncle Iuhe, | exclaimed, Phil is
here in the crowd. "
or course, he grOwls, che is always
to be found where no has no buainuss to
no. Don t bCckon to him; l don't want
him up here"
But l had already waved my hand to
Phil, and moment later Le stood before
US.
His eyes wcro nha2o with Joy. How
happy hp looked! "Arcn you glad that
am hereY" thoy said, as they bcamed down
upon ny upturucd face
Uncle T0fo Knit his hr0ws. 'Whnt are
you doing here, Whyare yourot atworks"
~ EhHHhN' HlIItt anu HOW | nave
really Invented something valuable. My
employer sHys SO, too, and all ! need is a
little money to experiment with and take
out patent Uncle Tuhe vou'll help me
oHJ int this enc time, won't your"
Not if l hid IA thousand times the
amount you want
1T isn't large sum, uncle Try me
just onco, lie Pleaded And Ii pleaded
with Him.
Leave me In peace" groaned Uncle
TCbe. ~ nm tired Of it all. You forget
that you arc q poor wnf who eats tho
bread Of grace in my house. Y0uIl either
60 the way point or choose your own.
You Hro no longer child
d" You are riEht,' cried Philip, with
cheeks aiiHmo with anger. II am no Ion
ger a child. It's "A shame that should
take aims fran such hand us yours 1t
has hcon the lust time. In 50 my way
hCncei,rth."
"And staryc at IT," Knocked 'nclc lobe.
l treMblsl in every limb 1t had never