Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-03-16
A VISIT TO
UNCLE ED


ceived notion smashed once in
awhile, but, then, don't like to have
the job done too violently" remarked
an official of the government who re-
turned recently from his deferred vaca-
ton. 1--WE are all liable to run into
things that amaze us when we break
away from our own fresides and get
out of our own little ruts, but
well, anyway, l went out to Wis
consin to visit my little old mother
few weeks ago, and on the day when
l was scheduled to start back this way
she got me into a corner and told me
about one Of her brothers whom she
wanted me to, visit on my way back to
Washington.
81 had never seen this uncle Of mine,
nor had l even heard very much OF
him, except that he was rather a wild
and reckless lot when he was growing
up, and that he had departed from be-
meath the Intel of the family wickieup
under bit Of cloud, owing to some
boyish deviltry, several years before he
had attained his majority.
ed never was bad boy was the
way my good mother put 1t to me, and
he was always so fond of me, too. I'd
DO very glad If you'd stop off and see
him, just for my sake. He's in roll
ing mill, or something, in Pennsyl- |
vania. Homestead is the name of the |
place | suppose the poor boy has
toiled his life away all these years.
You needn't spend more than half
day with him and his family, but
wish you would do that, so that you |
can write me all about him when you |
arrive in Washington. You can put up .
with poor Ed and his family for half
q days visit for my sake can't YOU?
well, Homestead, Pa-that's the /,
place where they had the great strike |
and the riots and all that, about Is
years ago, you'll recall-wasn't very
much off my route on my return trip,
and so l promised my mother that I'd
fall off there and have a peek at Uncle
Ed and his layout.
81, arrived in Homestead about nine
O'Clock on a Thursday morning, a cou'
pie Of weeks ago. didn't suppose
there'd be any use in asking anybody
where Ed Jorkins-the latter part OF
which isn't exactly his name-lived,
and so l hunted up Homestead d.
rectory.
"The only Ed Jorkins in the direct
ory had his name registered in the
book in big, heavy-faced type, and so,
naturally enough, thought there must
be some mistake.
But no. 1t read, Edward Jorkins,
So-and-ro's rolling
mills. residence Such-and-Such terrace
and, not little puzzled over that big
type, l started for the residence on
the terrace
"Say, when l found it 1t wasn't a
house at all-it was a chateau, with
cornices and gables and minarets AMI
spires and dinlIy furbelows all over it,
and it had three or four acres of splen-
did grounds around 1t.
"Said | to myself; This Uncle Ed
Of mine can't be living here. Probably
he's eking out his lay as rolling mill
hand by doing the gardening, or some
hing of that sort, for the proprietor Of
his mansion But | traipsed up the
gravel walk leading to the swell main
entrance to the chateau to find out.
"a fine-looking man of 80 or some
hing like that, with a clear-cut coun-
-enance and grayish side whiskers, was
standing on the porch smoking cigar
and fooling with thoroughbred collie
log.
"Ts there any man around here
asked him, by the name Of Ed Jorkins?
"'Well,' said he, smiling, L believe
IN the only man in this section who
packs that name around
"a franc-and-a-half is nothing to
What l felt just at that moment. con-
rived to introduce myself to my uncle,
however, and he gave me cordial greet
ng-the greeting of well-bred man
nd began to ask me all about every
ody, especially about my mother, his
avorite sister, as he was quick to say.
"He'd never had time, he told me, to
70 back and dig up the old folks, but he
vas perpetually vowIng to do T., all tbs
anne. he added.
Then his three daughters, as pretty
trio Of cousins as any fellow would
rant to claim, made their appearance,
nd for general finish and cleverness.
ct alone their good looks, they certain
y were summers. Their mother APP
cared, too, after bit, and furnished
n interesting study of refined woman
( middle age.
ITO me 1t was all a trance, for a fact.
hey wouldn't believe me when l told
hem that I'd had breakfast downtown,
ut they carried me off to the breakfast :
pom, if you please, and had placed be-
pre- me some specimens Of breakfast :
cookery that only increased the in
ensity of my daze. Positively, they
lade so much of me, and were all so
enuinely fine and lavish in'their spirit
hospitality, that barely knew what 7
0 do with my mands and feet 8
aAlong toward noon my Uncle Ned, g