The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-05-04
THE PRoDIGAL UNCLE.


THE PR0DIGAL UNCLE.
1t was in the Green Dragon.
"Blood," said Mr.. Packman, oracu-
larly, lis thicker than water"
81 don't agree with you," said
the landlord, who, as a rising man,
was good deal harassed by impecu-
nious but thirsty realtives. II didn't
ask for any relations they were ar
ranged for me-unbeknown, as you
might say-and I don't hold myself
responsible for 'em. Father and
mother, of course, is different"
"The family tie," said Mr.. Pack
man, solemn1y, is the foundation OF
society. I maintain we all have a
duty to our relations and them to us.
haven't many relations, I'm sorry
to say"
You'd be more sorry if you had, !"
interrupted the landlord.
"I'd be proud to own en-" said
Packman, virtuously. There's my
Uncle Henry-Henry Albert Pack
man. I've never seen him, but his
picture hangs in our best room now,
as you can see for yourself at any
time. He went to Australia afore ]
was born and hasn't been heard of
for twenty years. but if he come to
me tonight and said, I'm your faith
er's brother, but I'm poor man,
I'd say, MY home is yours, uncle,
whether rich. or pocr."
Touched by such proof of family
affection, the grocer impulsively stood
drinks all around. While the land
lord was filling the glasses short,
thick set, black bearded man, "a strang-
er to the company, who had been sit
ting in a corner near the door, and
taken no part in the discussion, cross.
ed the room and sat down by Pack
man.
"Is your name Packman?" he
asked.
| eyes why 7"
"Then I'm your Uncle Henry, I"
said the stranger, holding out large
and hairy fist.
Packman stared at the stranger as
if fascinated, and in silence allowed
his hand to be wrung.
You're just like my poor broth
err" said the uncle, clasping him on
the back. IT stopped you when
first came into this room, and when
1 heard this gentleman" and he
nodded to the landlord, mention the
name I said to myself that's my nevvy
for dollar"
Ell must be thinking of stepping
home" said Packman, weakly.
"Oh, you must not take your un-
Gle awry before he's had drink
with me-" said the chemist. "Of
course, he's going to stop with you,
Packman?"
"I should be very glad," stammer-
ed Packman, "but-but it's only a
little place, uncle-and you-you
won't find it very comfortable. One
can't do much on 80 bob week,
which is all I get, and what with
tram fares to the city, and"
"Bless you, I'm used to roughing
it," said the uncle, heartily. 'Just
a corner to doze in and some grub
reg'lar is all I ask. Now we don't
want to break up yet, nevvy. I'm
| goin' to have a drop with this gen.
tleman to celebrate being home again.
l haven't been in such pleasant
company since / landed at Sydney
twenty years ago come last Novem-
ber."
Uncle Henry had his drink with
the chemist and followed it up with
many more with each of the rest OF
the company in turn delighting them
the while with moving tales of weird
adventures. So entertaining was he
that it was we'll after midnight be-
fore uncle and nephew reached the
1atter's home.
Uncle made himself so agreeable al
breakfast the next morning that when
Packman, as his wife helped him into
his coat in the hall, humbly sugges.
ted telling uncle he must go, he could
not hear of it.
"Of course he must stop here
where should he go if not to his
nephew?"
'Aunt Matilda" suggested Pack.
man.
"The idea what next Her,
indeed Why we couldn't send him
away after coming all the way from
Australia. Aud, besides, who know:
but what he mayn't turn out to be a
millionaire in disguise :"
"He don't look it, said Packmar
doubtfully.
"Neither did the one in the story
in Home Bits. You never know
Now, hurry up, Bert, or you'll miss
your train"
| For fortnight Uncle Henry AL
bert occupied the spare room, spend
ing all his evenings and most of hi:
days at the Green Dragon, but alway:
punctually turning up for meals
Mrs. Packman held out for a week
until the result of the weeks house
keeping showed in her accounts.
Then her enthusiasm died dowr
suddenly, and she stirred Bert up rc
protest.
"Thirty bob a week don't go far
Uncle Henry" he began.
''It don't, my boy, but it goe:
farther than fifteen, and I've known
the time when was very glad to gel
that. You didn't know what hare