The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-12-24
sarily blunt in their speech" said grand

sarily blunt in their Speech" said grand
! pa.
Yes. but they gen'ally hit the nail OF
| the head" said Uncle Harvey. You dt
| look as if the wind would blow you away
hiram. and notice you've kind of linn
| in your gait"
We nothing of the sort, Harvey My
Ter, and l amt more than two-thirds as
Daid as you are and not half so gray.
"Oh, you amt; I'll count gray hairs will
you any time, and I'll bet you jews
harp that"
Come, Uncle Harvey said, "let US
go to the stable. l want you to give me
your opinion of horse I've just bought.
Inc combined efforts of Madge and Mel
ana L sufficed to maintain peace at the
dlnner table. We kept up such rafting
hrH OF conversation that the four broth
ers had hardly chance to speak to each
other. We saw grandpa vince when On'
Gle Henry ate his mashed potatoes with
MS Knife, and we knew the full extent OF
our grandsire's agony when Uncle Joe
poured his coffee into his saucer and plew
II before drinking it. Uncle Harvey spoke
he said, explosively:
Sary Jane Skimmerhorn Hi used to be
so sweet on when we al went to the Hop
vine school? You member how he used
to kiss 'er there at the end of the lane
Well, she's livin' yit, an I'd give deal
to see Hi kiss 'er now. She weighs BY
pounds and has beard that Tom here
might be proud of. an she's had fifteen
children an they're all livin'. | was jest
thinkin' what if Hi had married 'er as he
used to swear he would! Eth, HIP
Uncle Henry and Joel roared with
laughter and Joel choked on a mouthful
of coffee. Grandpa turned pale and 1t re-
quired all of Nelps cleverness to prevent
Il scene.
All of the cousins and uncles and aunts
in the city had been invited to come IN
that evening to enjoy Christmas eve
reunion of the family and to be entertain
ed with family "reminiscences by the four
old and reunited brothers. At o'cloch
we gathered around great open hre to
hear our aged relatives ''remlnls, as
Madge mischievously put it.
Tell us all about when you were boys
together" said Cousin Ned Drayton. Il
guess there wasn't much time nor money
wasted celebrating Christmas when you
were boys"
We'll, guess there wa MT" said Uncle
Joel. Il guess-O, say, boys, do you re-
member that Christmas we four boys
went bear hunting back there in the
Maine woods when we want none of US
fully grown?"
Il remember it as we'll as if it was yes
terday," said Uncle Henry. Il remem-
Der jist how that bar squealed when l
shot i'm
You still stick to it that you shot i'm,
Henry" said Uncle Joel, 'an' l am as
sure as I'm livin' that it was my shot that
fetched 'im."
In a horn it wasr said Uncle Henry,
testify. Your bullet went clar over the
bar and lodged in that big pine we found
with bullet hole in it,
There's no use in Henry an Joel spat-
tin so about which killed that bar" put
in Uncle Harvey, ''for I've an idee the
beast would have got up an walked off
with both your bullets. 1t was my knife
thrust that finished the beast"
Yes, it wasp' sneered Joel "Oh, ,es:
to be sure it was" snorted Uncle Henry
Il guess that the blows l rained down
on the beasts head with the club l car
ried, had something to do with finishing
him." said grandpa, calmly.
We'll, ye amt got over drawin' on your
imagination for facts, hev We, Hip said
Uncle Henry. "The rest of us kin re-
member how ye hid in the bresh tremblin'
an beIlerin' until we was almost ready
to skin the bear an then you come out
with your little club and give the beast
whack or two"
Henry Myler, that is not true"'
IF it ain't I'll eat my hatr'
81 dubbed the life out of him. said
grandpa.
Il tell ye killed that bear myselfr'
Eye didn't!''
Il know l did!'
"My club counted for more than"
"Your club! Poohv'
"Now, Henry, won't stand it to"
I'D like to see We help yourself"
''Shet up, all of ye. for I"
Don't We tell me to shet up!'
The dispute waXed hot and hotter I'M
til Madge got Uncle Henry off to his room,
and Nell had done the same service for
Uncle Harvey, while l dragged Uncle Joel
away for a smoke with me in my own
room, where he berated his brothers fear
fully. Grandpa stalked off to his own
room.
We managed to keep the four old hot
heads from getting into a row on Christ
mas. but Uncle Henry and grandpa did
not speak to each other all day, and to
tell the unvarnished truth there was great
inward rejoicing when our three dear old
lncles departed. Uncle Henry thrust his
head out of the carriage door and screech-
I'd out at the last second:
Il did kill that bearr'
You never! called out grandpa, sharp
y from the steop, and they never saw |
Zach other again.
Il admit that my dear little scheme |
'ailed," said Nell, when we were alone |
ogether. "The next time / bring four
I'D gentlemen together for a Christmas
eunion I'll select deaf and dumb men. or |
ner who haven't quite so much dynamite |
ln3 chain lightning and undimmed pugi- !
istic vigor in their makeup. I positive |
Fv0N)E' ~ k.lN|