New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
HIS UNCLE DAN.

From Longman's Magazine
The summer after our very trying experiences
at SandypOrt-Where most of our months hOli-
day spent in turning away from the cot
tage had rented all the other families 70
whom Mr.. Joseph Scorer had also let tiny wife
insisted trying the east coast You see, she
comes from the north herself. and she had,
think, an idea that as East Anglia lay nearer
her native land than Sussex or Wessex. he
inhabitants would be more likely to De irnbued
with. or at all events to some extent tinctured
with, some OF the more prominent virtues. in
Guiding that of honesty than she had found in
the SOuthrOns. These latter she considered
spoiled by the annual thrush Of Londoners all
IN heap in August. which made the natives
masters of the situation and gave them Oppor-
tunities for haymakng Of which it alto
gether too much 10 expect human nature not
TO take advantage
We fixed on Felixstowe as our headquarters,
and with our last years experiences still very
fresh in our minds We naturally reverted 70
lodgings. If they We're not absolutely every
thing that could be deSiTed-are such TO
be found this side OF Heaven2-We could al
all events leave them Tor a whole day AT q time
without the certainty Of finding a furious father
and an anxious mother and a brood Of distress
full children clamoTing for possession when We
returned.
And if the FeIixstowe beach did rot fully an
Swer the family requirements in the matter u
sand and pools, there were cOmpensatiOns TO be
found elsewhere
On the low lying sandy spit near the old fort
was a soldiers camp, with drilling ground and
shooting ranges, and in these things my Young
sters took the keenest interest and delight
They lay by the hour in the Wi-e grass and
watched the shooting and wandered over the
butts when it was over and dug up treasure
trove in the shape of long metal Lee-N-lford
cartridge cases and coniCal bullets which had
wandered wide among the sand hills. We be-
queaJhed nearly CARLOAD of such spoil Tor our
landlady when we went home much To- her
surprise and disgust They were never tired
OF lingering through the canvas streets Of the
legends in uncOuth charcoal characters the
marks at once of burnt stick and pointed II
none too polished wit, and possibly of some
thlnS OF a retalIatOry spirit. The Home for
Lost Dogs" struck Us as hardly likely 90 have
been so labelled by its inhabitants but as be-
ing more probably a reply in kind from the
occupants of the Rat Pit next door, or pos
sibly tn quOqUe from the Plea Trap
Monkey House or "COCkytOO LHdgeF or the
"MOngrels ParlOT," all OF which We're adjacent.
or possibly II was the tangible evidence of a
midnight raid by the Laughing JackaSses'' at
the other end Of the camp.
Our young folks haunted the camp. and came to
know it in all-wel. say. in most Of-its phases
They watched ii work and they watched TT play
at cards and draushts and dOminos. at foot
ball. cricket and quOitS. They criticised its
cooking arrangements and its various methods
of devOuring its food which. I am bound To say
tended rather toward businessIike dispatch than
toward elegance of manners They watched u
receive its letters and retire into corners 20
read them and lie flat its stomach 20 write
its replies with much ardUous toll Of hand and
tongue. They heard il sing and laugh and
grCmble. They saw it receive its modest pay.
and then CREEP dingy and Erubby into It's rri-
angular darkneSSeS, whence, after a BRIEF period
of retirement. il emerged radiant in butterfly
scarlet. with shining face and pIastered hair
Ornamented with precariOusly clinEinE cap, and
then, with diminutive cane twirlinS jauntiy-
they saw it strut proudly away 10 the town On
conquest bent.
Both my boys were going to be soldiers the
moment they were big enough. Both my girls
were going to marry soldiers as soon as they
grew up l felt it my duty to beg them to Be
come, and to choose, officers. and my mind was
relieved when they stated that such. OF course
was their intention.
But one morning there sprans W on vacant