Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-01-12
!: OUR UNCLE, THE GENERAL
He Was Very Terrible In War, but
Easily Disarned by a Woman.

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Whenever the widow, Magdalcn
Monostary. sent her son, who was
studying law in the residence, his
monthly stipend, she always accOmpa-
MED it by Il closely written eight page
letter. What wonder then that when
the occasion really called for it and the
case was important she should have
sent her elder brother a communicA-
ton which might easily be mistaken
for volume, nearly every tenth line of
which appealed to him to save the fam
lily honor and that Immediately and
without moments delay.
"My strength is exhausted and my
son is obdurate," pleaded she. land |
do not dare say a word, as he immc-
diateIy throws out hints and makes
threats which makes my blood run
cold and my heart to stand still. | am
anticipating some terrible calamity. In
my opinion the best thing to do would
be to talk to the girl herself. only |
could not Go it, as | am nothing but
mere woman. With you it is different.
You, being Il man. could do it so much
better than |. The honor Of our family
is at stake. and my whole trust and
confidence are anchored on you"
Thus appealed to and the case being
so urgent. the general lost not Il mo-
mcnt's time. Having consulted time
table and sent a telegram to his sister
saying, Il am coming" he left on the
spot. 81 shall hit this idyl right
through the center" mutt"rcd he,
twisting the ends of his mustache into
such fierce ends as If he intended to
spear the idyl on their points. The
widow, Magtalcn MOnoStary, could not
do otherwise than meet him at the de-
pot and, falling on his neck, sob her
soul out on his manly bosom On the
way home she did nothing but lament:
"Onlv =. tailor's daughter. Only Il tai
lor's !aughtcr." The general made a
dcprecatory. gesture. "All right. my
dear, all right Console yourself
am going to see things"
AS the carriage rolled along the sin
gle street of the little province town
the news that the general had arrived
spread like wildtire, and at the market
square a small boy yelled: won't tai
lors get it. though. The general has
arrived" But the prOdigal son, he who
ieopardizcd the family honor. was no.
where to be found, as he had left the
house early in the morning.
"Never mind" said the general, 81
have come to see to things with regard
to the girl do not need him."
"Shall accompany you, BelshaZ-
Zar?"
NO, indeed. Women invariably spoil
everything, will manage without
you," and straight as ramrOd he
started on his GRAND to the loud clank-
ing of his sword. which struck the side
walk at every step, until he reached
the hut in which the tailor patched
and steamed the pants of the poorer
citizens of the town. He was followed
at a respectful distance by small reg
imcnt of barefOotcd children, who star
cd in aweStruck admiration at his bel
ligcrent mustache and gold cmbroidcr-
ed collar and who whispered among
themselves, "IIe is going to the tailor's,
and he will murder Este with that sa-
bert"
The general finally noticed the crowd
Of little ragamutiins and their sight
made him furious. He could not very
we'll dispersc them, for a general could
not so far forget his dignity as to no.
tice the children of the rabblc, but on
reaching his destination he gave the
door such Il tremendous pull that the
tailor, who for the last five minutes
had been trying to look dignfied, near
ly fell off the table.
The general remained standing on
the threshold. He looked the tailor up
and down and then down and up and
finally thundercd in his most military
accents, Are you the boss?" If the
tailor nad dared to answer truthfully,
he would have answered, Not exact
ly." AS it was, however, he answered
with humility, 81 am, but | hope you
will kindly excuse it."
The general looked the frail little
man over once more and thought with
In himself: "What an acquisition to
phc ldHlllS' colhtlhlhS tlulS W pe
proud Of"
Here the Mrs, who, to do her justice,
had much more presence of mind than
her husband and was much the cooler
of the two, offered a chair to the gen.
eral, saying. Wont you accept sec
tion of our modest little home"
But the general frowned her down
and remained standing. "fhank yOu,"
said he stiffiy, II have no intention of