Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-02-04
Uncle Joshua's Conversion.
BY 4. E. CHITTENDEN

1t took some time to persuade
Bert, an enthusiastic amateur inven-
tor, that a vscation was necessary
for eyes and nerves, and some time
longer before he could decide to
leave any Of his precious appliances
behind.
"Confound eyes and nerves any
how he thought, as he finally en-
tered the car and sank down in a
seat with his cap ovefhis eyes. "The
idea of a young giant like me having
trouble with such things anyway
His feelings went lower and low
er, and they were by no means re-
lieyed when he alighted at the for
lorn 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 as
sisted his wheel out of the baggage
car a cloud of dust far down the
road gave evidence that some one
was approaching, and presently
there appeared pair of fat comfor-
table horses drawing a springless
wagon, with an elderly man on the
seat.
Bert stepped forward. "Is this
my Igrest-uncle Joshua?" be asked.
~ reckon it is replied the old
man, ''and you, / presume, air my
Devview, Bert, the invalid, who is to
work himself well again. You don't
look very sick" he added.
Bert blushed II am not, really
he said. my eyes and head both
cred me little. SO The folks were
determined to make serious thing
OF it. But there's nothing The mat
ter with my muscle" be added.
"I'il lend hand On that trunk, p
ssid 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 discomposed by
the effort, and when he had placed
his wheel, which his uncle regarded
with strong disfsvor, he sprang
lightly up on the seat.
After what seemed an intermina-
BILE distance, they drove in the propp-
ed gate and up the side of small
implanted farm house. A tiny wo-
man came TO the door to meet them,
and she was much surprised to find
her invalid nephew big fellow, en-
tirely equal to lifting her almost of
her feet as lie greeted her as aunt
Abby.
SWELL, am proper glad to see
YOU" she said. Husband and
don't see anything young around
here often. But come in, supper's
ready. / think you must be hun.
gry."
Bert was hungry, but when he sat
down in the hot kitchen and tried to
swallow the strong boiled tea, his
appetite disappeared, and home
sick lump came in his throat, that
made it impossible to eat the hot
saleratus biscuit and bacon.
Uncle Joshua, however, ate with
excellent appetite and much gusto.
He listen 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?' ask
ed Bert.
"There's a good spring, but its
kindly choked up, and the house is
out of order,' began Aunt Abby,
but Uncle Joshua's underlip shot
out and the subject was dropped.
Bert insisted on drying the dishes
after supper, and did so with such
thoroughness that Aunt Abby prais.
ed him unstintingly.
"We all help mother il there's no
one in the kitchen he explained.
"And want yoa to get cooled of
on the porch"
Aunt Abby sighed in sheer con-
tent. When they joined Uncle
Joshua be was entertsing a visitor,
dark, sieek-looking man, who look
ed and talked as though be had been
oiled. Bert disliked him instinct
lively.
Uncle Joshua, however, was evil
IDENTITY delighted with his friends
He at once introduced Bert as ssmJ
nevriew from the city. Mr. Jones
who has been tfyiag 10 run things