The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28

nook, and they were quite too much inter
ested in themselves to pay any attention
: to US. We were interested, too. and W
J., trod soft and went slow for the purpos
of hearing the end Of their discussion. bu
3 they took no notice of US.
! When my Uncle Dan was at Water
, loo were the first words that reached
, lis from our little kettledrum.
earn, Danny Rendle! Give yer Uncle
Dan rest. don't b'lieve y amt got NJ
. Uncle Dan" grcwled a dark haired boy
: "You-don't-believe -I-ain't-sot-nt
: Uncle-Dan-Jim Foley?" exclaimed oul
youngster, in tone of the most concen-
trated amazement.
Mar" said the other. "H yer have
why don't be never come t. see yer? Why
don't he never send yer muffin? 1 never
seen him. nor ever heard tell Of anybody
that has. an yer never gets any letters
| from m, not SO much as a ha pny post
card"
''He can't write, COS he lost his arm at
Waterloo"
Yah! He cd write wiz his other arm,
or wiv his toes, same as yon man at the
show we was at or he cd get summun
! else t write, or he cd come an see yer"
Lost both his legs at Waterloo"
Huh. an his head. an his tail. Not
much left of him to brag about But l
don't b'lieve there amt no such person
IAN right, Jim Foley! You see that
there sandhill?"
Il see it. Wots that got t. do wiz yer
Uncle Dan? Is the scraps of him buried
there"
You git out tonight. Jim Foley. and
come down there. an I'll interdooce yer
to my Uncle Dam
| VIII? Right, I'm on. I'd like to
meet all that's left Of the old gen-le-
| man.
! And then we had to pass out Of hear
ing. having learned that our youngsters
name was Dan Rendle, and that he had,
or said he had, veteran uncle upon
| whose existence his companions cast
! doubts.
Without saying anything to my young
people. promised myself the pleasure of
| witnessing the introduction Of Jim Foley
| to little Dams aged relative.
| And / was there, ambushed fiat in the
wiregrass Of neighboring hillock for an
hour before the meeting, and counted the
time we'll spent.
Dan was first on the field with two sup
porters. Presently Jim Foley strolled up
| with three more. ~
''Ah. you there, Danny Rendle? Now,
where's yer Uncle Dan wot lost his arms
and his legs at Waterloo. an his bead.
an his tail, an every blim bit Of him?
don't b'lieve-you - got n - Uncle
DAN"
Come ONT said Dan. and peeled off his
tunic and rolled up the sleeves Of his lit
tie colored shirt, ard tied his red cotton
handkerchief tight around his waist, an
III interdooce yer to him."
I am not going to describe the fight. l
am old-fashioned-or maybe it is new
acknowledgements to believe that fight
is less demoralizing to the principals, ex-
;,ln ~, sic
blood and cuticle, than to the onlookers.
So, briefly, the conflict waxed and waned
for a good ten minutes. Jim was half a
head the taller. but was not so close knit |
and active as Danny, and Danny was fired |
with the defence of the family honor. In |
the event Jim measured his length on the |
earth, ard before he could rise Danny had |
him by the seruff Of the neck and was |
ramming his face into the sand. while he |
pantingly exhorted him to a better frame |
of mind in the matter of Uncle Dan.
"Now-(ram)-Jim Foley-tram)-d' you |
b'lieye-(ram)-in my Uncle DAM"
mol" roared Jim. splitting out mouth
full of sand as his head rose. "You-ain't
-got-no-Uncle-Dan.'
Then, dan youl I'll choke you!" and
down went Jim's face into the sand once
more, and was held there SO long that I
began to fear the threat would be carried
out.
The others began to fear so, too.
Let him be. Dan Rendle.' said one.
We all know you got an Uncle Dan. an
what's it matter bout him?'
"Hoi do-do you?" painted Dan.
"No-he amt, came in a muftied whis-
per from the sand.
Well. guess you've had 'nough of him
for one day, Jim Foley" said the victor,
giving the fallen foe final shake
Don't want nerer-t' hear his name
again" said Jim, sitting up slowly and
scooping the sand out of his mouth with
his finger.
''Al right said Dan, letting down his
sleeves and getting into his tunic, when
you want to hear from him again, you let
me know, an III tend to it. He told me
ed away with his head in the air.
Next day, as we drew near the camp.
the shouts and laughter from the beach
just beyond told US that the youthful war
riors were at their additions, so we sat
down to watch their antics.
They were having a right merry time,
gambling in the surf like a school of
stranded PROPOSES. rolling. yelling, chas- | ;
Ing one another with punches Of seaweed.
while the more courageous ventured out up
to their chins and essayed the voyage
home. ;
A short cut shout that was different from |
TIE other s,louts--as different as death is
from life-and all the other shouts died
away. and all cur eyes turned to where a
pair CT white arms were thrashing wildly
at the water which closed over them-an- ,
other bubbling cry as they came in sight
gain.
I had kicked off my shoes and shed my
acket for desperate venture. with little 3
lope OF success. for he was long way /,
,ut. The sergeant in charge was wading
,ut up to his knees cursing voiubly. Z
earned afterward that he couldn't swim 8
stroke. All the other youngsters had /
cuttled ashore, and formed shivering !
rlnge to the lip Of the tide. =
Suddenly shouts broke out from the =
quirming line. .
Go it. Danny! You got him. Keep up. !
Id man! Ray. he's got him! Danny's +
,ot him! Good ole Dan! Right and tight, |;
ere they comet" and presently they were
n shallow water, and stood for breath. ,
Jan with his arm round the other, sup :
orting him. for he was spent, and then
hey waded ashore amid the shouts of the
Gys. and I saw that the other was Jim ;
Obey. the urbeliever.
And as they came slowly through the
hallows l heard: r
Didn't want you to drown fore you'd !
cen my Uncle Dan, Jim Foley" !,
"Y' ain't-got uo-Unrie Dan, Danny II
,endle.' dribbled sturdly from blue-llp-
ed Jim.
- 'T'were him sent me after you" said ~
'an "
"Garn." said Jim and then the sergeant ;,
7Ok them in custody "
Now, it seemed to me that this conduct y,
( little Dams deserved more recognition y
lau It was like to get. and. thinking the IL
latter over | decided on a course which
ouid had reason to believe. give Dan