The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-06
HOW JACOB SERVED
SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL.
A Story of Virginia.
BY LAURA
FITZ-HUGH PRESTON.

Uncle Bob" called Miss Lucy on the
occasion of the old mans daily visit to
the big house." come into the garden
with me while look after my roses"
Out into the warm winter sunshine
they passed, pretty, trim Lucy and
gaunt, tottering old Uncle Bob, bent
with the weight of the old century and
well nigh fallen under the increasing
pressure of the new.
The old man looked around over the
green sweep of lawn. the magnificent
water oaks and magnolias that shaded
the broad avenue to the gate and the
roses. Roses everywhere, growing So
ciably in groups, daintily apart. bloom
ing riot over trellises, draping verandas
and holding high carnival of color.
Miss Lucy ran hither and thither
with her shipping scissors.
Honey" Uncle Bob remarked, fol-
lowing after Miss Lucy as well as his
old legs could keep step with her young
fitting, II done tole you, didn't l, bout
my wearin disha Grape on my hat an
goin in mohnin six weeks fob de queen,
isn't I?'
Here the old man removed his anti
quated headgear and fingered caress-
ingly the rusty band of Grape that
adorned the crown.
"Oh, yes, Uncle Bob, you did; also
you told me some lovely things about
the Prince of Wales visit over here
somewhere in sixties, when you and
grandpa were on the committee to meet
his royal highness on the occasion of his
visit to Richmond, and how a lovely
lady dropped a rose over a balcony and
how it hit the prince kerplunk on his
royal face, and how that lady was in
troduced to his royal highness and, be-
ing called by him the Virginia Rose,
retained that name ever after, and how,
clasping her hands and smiling still,
but with a little moisture dimming her
bright eyes that lovely lady was my
own dear mother. Oh, yes, Uncle Bob,
you told your story well, and l honor
you for going into mourning for the
queen for six weeks. Don't you, TomT'
to that young man, who suddenly ap-
peared on the scene, hands in pocket
and whistling as usual.
hands cordially with old Uncle Bob, al
though he has seen his familiar visage
every day since his earliest recollec-
ton, rain or shine, on his daily pilgrim
age from his pea an tater patch" up to
the "big house." "Uncle Bob, being a
scion of royalty, is entitled to wear the
trappings of woe, though you seem to
have waded pretty heavily in the mire
of affiiction," pointing to the unstinted
folds Of the rusty Grape.
Oats fac, Marse Tom," Uncle Bob
rejoined in a satisfied assent. Becky
sew disha Grape on fob me. Miss Lucy,
chile" turning his hat round and ad.
| miring its proportions from various
standpoints, sis | ever tole you bout
| de veil dat disha Grape come of'nw
Uncle Bob cleared his throat, squlnt.
| 1t up as bad job and came back tC
earth with a reminiscent smile.
Hit wus disha way Fob Gawd's
| sake, Miss Lucy" intercepted a wicked
| glance of anticipated enjoyment which
passed between Lucy and Tom, ISM
| you neber gwine to larn how to keeT
quiet an stop larfn? 'clar' to gra
| cious"-
| I'm quiet now, Uncle Bob" from
Lucy, who has drawn her mouth dowT
at the corners. do go on. I'm dying
TO hear about that Grape"
| ''Wellum. es | were sayin, hit wus
disha away: You see, me an Becky
bin goin wild each yother fob de longes'
an hit des 'peah lex l couldn' mex VI
my min to speak de whods dat Becky
low afterwards she des pinally dyin t.
heah. Spec | mus er bin mo- shame
fac'der den in dem days." said Uncle
Bob bashfully. IAN dat de reason
des KEEP putin de mattah off. IT any
rate. now, Miss Lucy" dra wing himself
up with an air of injured dignity, ''
des ain goin to tell you no mo- eff yoi
cyarn' stop mekin fun OBJ ole Unc' Bob
But neber min. honey" smiling reas
suringly on his beloved young mistres
in response to her eager disclaimer
you don mean no harm. Yo' cyarn
hep bein young an foolish. Well.
drawing a long breath, ''de NATAL
KEEP a-goin ON rom day ter day. an on