Evening journal., 1905-04-22
BY IRVING BACHELLER



fer bis nwn family. II was heavy t /
carry IN he didn't seem { like the |
looks NV it some way. Then l asked /
sim If he wouldn't ike one fer his girl. /
she amt married. says he She will |
be some time says !. Take II along /
SO he put In another. You've got a sis
ter over on the turnpike, haint yer I
says. l. Yes says he WAL says /
don want a hev her feel sighted
she won't know bout my hevin' EN-
SAYS he. lookin' 5 IL he'd he'd enough. !
'Yls. she wlll,' 1 says. She'll hear NV it
an mebbe make a fuss Then we piled
ia another. Look here / says after
that. there's yer brother Bill up there
'bove you. Take one along fer him..
No says be, 4 don tell everybody,
but Bill an Faint on good terms. We
amt spoke fer more'n a year
"Knew he was lynn" Uncle Eb add
ed, with a laugh, ia seen him talkin'
with Bill day er two before"
"Whewg he whistled as he looked at
his big silver watch. 81 declare it's
mos / O'clock They's jes' one other
piece o. business T. come before this
meetin'. Double or single want ye t
both promise me c be hum Crissmus-"
We promised.
snow. children said he. as time
/ e 20 & bed B'lieve ye'd stan there
swappin' kisses tin ye was knee
sprung II l didn't tll ye t quit"
Hope came and put her arms about
his neck fondly and kissed him good
night
"Did Bill prance right up like a
manT he asked, his hand upon her
shoulder
did very well.' said she, smiling
"for man with a wooden leg"
Uncle Eb sank into a chair, laughing
heartily and pounding his knee.
1t seemed he had told her that was
coming home with a wooden legl
"That is the reason / held your arm,'
she said Il was expecting TO hear Il
squeak every moment as we left the
depot. But when / saw that you walk
ed so naturally / knew Uncle Eb haC
. been trying to fool me-"
"Purty good sort NV a lover, ain
hep said he after we were done laugh
+ ing.
''He wouldn't take no for an answer,
she answered
"He was allwus a gritty cuss," sai'
Uncle Eb, wipng bis eyes with a bi
red handkerchief as he rose TO go. "Ye'
oughter be mighty happy, an ye vii
too Their ain no doubt Nv it; not
bit. Trouble with most young folks
they wan T. Hy tew high these day
If they'd only hy clus enough { th
? ground so they could allwus touch on
q foot they'd be all right Glad ye ain
thet kind"
- We were Off early on the boat, as fl
y a summer morning as ever dawne,
= What with the grandeur Of the sceneI
81 and the subllmity Of our happiness
~ was a delightful journey we had thi
u. day. felt the peace and beauty ,
"a the fields, the majesty Of the mirrore
cliffs ana mountains. but the fair fa'
le Of her | loved was enough for m
" Most Of the day Uncle Eb sat near u
y and / remember a woman evangeli
is came and took a seat beside hi
it awhile. talking volubly Of the scene.
pc my friend" said she presently. "a
DC you a Christians"
~ "'Fore I answer I'll hev Z tell ye
" story" said Uncle Eb. Il recollec'
man by the name o. Ranney over
Vermont He was a pious man. G
V into-an argument. an a feller slapp'
him In the face Ranney turned 10th
no side an then tother an the feller Ike
a slappin' hot an heavy II was il
In like strappn' a razor fer half a mi
n. nit. Then Ranney sailed in--gin hi
en- the wust lickin he ever he'd.
4 declare says another man aft
lrt twas all over ! thought you was
or Christian
Ire "'Am up to a cert'in pint says I
Can't go tew fur, not n these parts
ns men are tew powerful 'Twon't
:, less ye wan Z die sudden. When
pc. begun poundin' NV me l see l wa
T. eggzacly prepared
llu Fraid s a good deal thet way W
u most NV US. We're Christians up e
oie cert'in pint Fer one thing. I think
en- a man n stan still an see hims
lln knocked into the mex world he's
ID leetle tew good fer this
II The good lady began TO preach q
ere argue. For an hour Uncle Eb sat
~