The Elbert County tribune., 1898-12-29
Uncle pnrs.. rns,elarra,..

II do wish. said Rob to Uncle Dave.
that we had an encyclopedia In the
house, SO often want Information
on different subjects and 1t is not al
ways convenient to go to the public
library"
We'll, why don't you make. one7"
said Uncle Dave.
Make one" cried Rob; you arc
Joking surely"
Not at ALL" said his uncle. rising
and going toward his desk. Have you
never seen miner"
No" said Rob. with eyes full OF
wonder and following him across the
room.
Uncle Dave opened n drawer, and.
taking out goodsized book. laid II on
the desk and Invited Rob to examine 1t.
He opened II to the front, and found
neat index. each letter of the alpha
bet having full page. Some OF these
were well filed with numerous sub
jects beginning with the same letter.
while others had only few. Under the
letter A he found the words Ants"
Alphabet" "Alligators."' Apples"
ETC.: under b. Beetles" "Buoys."
Bees" Banjo" Bears" etc. He
turned to the page devoted to ants, and
found scraps pasted In on the follow
ing subjects: THE Strength Of an
Ant" AN Ant Fifteen Years DID,"
Work of White Ants" "Did the Ant
Taik?"
Intensely Interested he turned to the
letter S, and found the following sub
iects treated: Ships" "stags." "swai-
low Seals" Spinning " heels" "
Spiders" "sponges." etc. He turned
to the page which referred to snails
and became interested in knowing that
snalls possess quite an affection for
each other and that large farms in
Switzerland are devoted to the raising
OF these small beings. He laughed out
right when he read that. II snail ,ost
his head, and was put in a cool place.
new one would very soon be grown.
Why. Uncle Dave. I think this is
Just splendid! Do you think I could
ever make one like TT"
There is no reason why you should
not, my boy. All you need do is to
scan carefully every paper that passes
through your hands. Much valuable
Information on every subject is too
often consigned to the waste-basket, or
used to kindle the kitchen fire. carry
a snail pair of scissors in my pocket.
and whenever i come across an item
suitable for my book. clip IL out i'm
mediately; for. II paper is once laid
aside, you may never think OF II
again"
Then that is the reason" said
Ralph. with a sly look at his uncle,
why you are always so generous with
your papers, and willing to let every
one else have the first reading OF
them"
Certainly" said Uncle Dave, for
| know that an item clipped from
paper Is much more interesting than
all that remains-to some people. at
least"
Well" said Rob. closing the book.
and rising. 'as 1t is a rainy day, and
we cannot have our match ball game,
will go and look over the weekly
accumulation OF papers and make a
beginning at once. Why. Uncle Dave,
every item you paste In your book
makes 1t OF more value We have to
write a short paper ON different sub
ject every week at school. and often
we are allowed to choose our own sub
ject. and I never knew where to go
for interesting information"
Meantime" said Uncle Dave. while
your book is still In embryo, you may
have free access to mine"
"oh. thank you. Uncle Dave! shall
look forward to my weekly paper now
with pleasure instead OF dread" said
Rob. as he left the room with a happy
look in his eyes.
Nothing like giving boy some
thing to do and something to think
about" said Uncle Dave. as he laid
his precious book away in the drawer.
particularly when 1t is in keeping
with his studies"