The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1905-12-12
. Uncle Terry
-. BY. -.
CHARLES CLARK MUM
Copyright. 1900. by Lee 4 Shepard

when she was told the facts she began
ter suspect some o. her ancestors would
be lookin' her up some day. She allus
has been a good deal by herself sence she
got her schooIin'. an most likely dom
lots O. thinkin'. But Telly's all right, an
the most willin an tender hearted cree
tur I ever seen or heard on. She'll make
an amazin' good wife fer some man II
she ever finds the right 'un.'
When they reached the island Uncle
Terry landed and. going to the top of a
cliff. scanned the sea for signs Of fish.
"Mackerel's Gurus fish," heobserved to
Albert. who had followed 'lhey's a rood
deal like some wimmin-ye never know
whar ter find 'em. Yesterday mornin'
that cove Jest inside O. the pint was live
with EN-, an today 1 can't see a sign O.
one We better sit here an wait q spell
till l sight a school"
To a dreamer like Albert Page the
limitless ocean view he now enjoyed
lifted him far above mackerel and
their habits. His mind was also occu-
pied a good deal by Telly, and while he
desired to please the kindly old man.
who imagined fishing would entertain
him, his heart was not q It.
Don't let us worry about the mack
erel, Uncle Terry" he observed as they
seated Themselves on top Of a cliff.
This lone, uninhabited island and the
view here will content mi until your
Dish are hungry"
wonderin' whar we cum from an
what w air here for. An our stay is
% amazin' short besides! We air born.
grow up, work a spell. git old an die.
an that's the end. Why, 1t don't seem
only last year when l cum to the Cape.
an It's goin' nigh on to thirty now. an
I'm Almost through my spell o. life.
What puzzles me is what's the good o.
bein' born at all If we've got ter die so
soon! An. more'n all that. IL hfes the
Lords blessin'. as the wilder b'lieves,
why are so many only born to suffer or
be crippled all their lives? An why are
sna',es an all sorts o. vermin. to say
nothin' o cheatin' lawyers. like Frye.
ever born at all7"
Albert smiled at the coupling of Frye
with vermin. There are a good many
wiser heads than mine. Uncle Terry,
that have never been able to answer
our question" he replied. and i
doubt II they ever will. To my mind
the origin Of life is an enigma. the
wide variations In matters OF health
and ability IN injustice. ard the end a
blank wall that none who scales ever
~recrosses with ttdings Of the beyond.
AS some one hal expressed it: 'Life II .
narrow vale between the cold and bar
rem peaks Of two e~ternities! We strive
In vain to look beyond the heights.
We cry aloud, and the only answe II
the echo of our waiting cry"
AN right thar" put in Uncle Terry
earnestly. lis whar l allus envy the
believers. as the widder calls 'em, fer
they are satisfied what y beyond an
have it all pict'rd out In thar minds,
even to what the streets are paved
with an the kind q music they're
goin' ter have. Its all guesswork, In
my way o. thinkin', but they are sure
ont, an that feelin' il lots o. comfort
to 'em when they are DRAWN near the
end. I've been q sort er scofer all
my life an can't help bein' Z doubter,
but there are times when I envy the
Wilder Leach an the rest ON 'em the
delusion l b'lieve they're laborin' I'M
der"
But do you believe death ends all
consciousnessg" asked Albert seriously.
"Have you no hope. ever, Of a life be
yond this blank WALTZ
"Sartin l have hopes, same as all on
us has, but ! wish ] was more sure
my hopes was goin' ter be realized.
Once in awhile l git the feelin' thar
amt no use in hopin', an then . little
suthin keeps sayin' .Mebbe-mebbe-
mebbe'-an' feel more cheerful
again"
Albert looked at the roughly clad
and withered old man who sat near.
and In whose words lurked an under
tone Of sadness mingled with q faint
hope, and in an instant back came .
certain evening months before when
the Widow Leach had uttered a prayer
that had stirred his feelings Is nc
such utterance ever had before. All
the pathos OF that simple petition, all
IT'S abiding faith In Gods goodness