The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-13
YOUTHS PAGE i
UNCLE JosHUA's CONVERSION.
By L. E. Crlttenden.

1t took some time to persuade Bert, an
enthusiastic amateur inventor, that a va
cation was necessary for eyes and nerves
and some time longer before he could de-
ances behind.
"Confound eyes and nerves anyhow" he
thought, as he finally entered the car
and sank down in a seat with his cap over
his eyes. The idea of young giant like
me having trouble with such things any
way
His feelings went lower and lower and
they were by no means relieved when he
alghted at the forlorn station where
great Uncle Joshua was supposed to await
his arrival.
No one was there to meet him, but by
the time he had tenderly assisted his
wheel out Of the baggage car, and identi-
fed his trunk, a cloud of dust far down
the road gave evidence that some one was
approaching, and presently there appear
ed a pair of fat comfortable horses draw
ing a springless wagon, with an elderly
man on the seat.
Bert took in the firm, not to say OBJ
stinate chin, white hair, great jutting
ling eyes. Meanwhile the possessor of
these features was in return regarding
the athletic young fellow in lightweight
| costume, with his camera strap over his
shoulder, who stood leaning against his
| wheel.
Bert stepped forward. us this my
great Uncle Joshua?' he asked.
Il reckon it is" replied the old man,
land you, l presume air my nevview,
l. IL 9
we'll again. You don't look yer SICK" he
added.
Bert blushed. 81 am not really" he
said my eyes and head bothered me a
| little, so the folks were determined to
make a serious thing of it. But there's
nothing the matter with my muscle" he
added.
"I'n lend a hand on that trunk" said
Uncle Joshua, preparing to climb out.
please don't get down." said Bert; I'll
toss this in suiting the action to the
word. AS it went in the floor Of the wagon
creaked but Bert was no whit discom-
posed by his effort, and when he had plac-
ed his wheel, which his uncle lightly re-
garded with strong disfavor. he sprang
lightly up on the seat, and with slap
OF the reins they started down the road-at
a pace exactly calculated to raise an eX-
asperating cloud of dust.
Bert often thought longingly of his
wheel during the comfortless drive, but a
glance at his uncle's chin, and a recollec>
ton of his prejudices, made him resolve
to endure it for once.
After what seemed an interminable dis
lance, they drove in the propped open gate
and up to the side of a small Implanted
farm house A tiny woman came to the
door to meet them, and she was much sur
prised to find her invalid nephew a big
fellow, entirely equal to lifting her almost
off from her feet as he greeted her as
Aunt Abby
Bert was a mothers boy, and there
was a tender note in his voice as he
greeted the tired-looking little woman, and
tears of pleasure came into her fadeG
eyes.
well, / am proper glad to see you" she
said. Husband and l don't see anything
young around here often. But come in,
supper's ready. l think you must be
( hungry"
Bert was hungry, but when he sat down
in the hot kitchen and tried to swallow
the strong boiled tea his appetite disap-
peared, and a homesick lump came in his
throat. that made it impossible to eat
the hot saleratus biscuit and bacon.
Uncle Joshua, however, ate with excel
lent appetite and much gusto. He listened
without comment to his wife's complaint
that it had been so hot that day that the
butter would not come.
Have you no ice or spring. asked
Bert
There's a good spring, but its kindly