The Elk Mountain pilot., 1923-05-17
UNCLE RANNiE
BY AGNES GRAHAM sRooAN
%. 1873. we..srn Newspaper Union,

otrcots WdikiuB biOWiy WIN tue
help Of his thick cane. His coat was
shabblly neat. and In his free hand he
carried a worn valise.
Before Uncle Rannle's house the
stranger paused to wipe the dew of
e1ha austion from his wrinkled brow.
Uncle Rannie sat in his porch this
early spring day and smoked his pipe
of peace with all the world. Uncle
Rannie. rocking to and fro. beamed
satisfaction with things as they were;
his kindly gaze fell upon the stranger
before his gate. -
"On your way somewhere's7'' the
host questioned.
"On my way" the old man replied.
ito the Church Home. Going to apply
for q living there"
"Sor'-UncIe Rannie's response was
a sound of soft sympathy.
To his olden-time ears the words
-'home" or ''hospital." were ominous.
"Got no folksY" he further ques-
toned.
A crinkling smile twisted the visi-
tors thin lips.
TOO many folks" he whimslcally re-
piled After ma died, Jared would
have me come to live with him and his
wife. So 1 went. Sold our home.
Jared's wife," the old man added con-
scientiously. means as well as most.
Trouble Is. Clara's got too much to do.
Children running all over the place.
So 1t was only right that should help
all that could. Them children was
-
but with my rheumatism bothering, you
understand. and Clara havin' small pa
thence with clumsy old folks-and who
could blame her7-why. 1 come away.
Got Just about enough money left to
take me Into the Home"
"well, now" Uncle Rannie re-
marked. "ain't that story just like
mine, only different. When our ma
died, Coralie was all for havin' me
come to live with them in the city.
Coralie's as good a daughter as can be.
and has a good man. She got her
high ideas and her styllshness away
at college. where ma and I sent her.
But didn't seem to ft in. some way
or other, with Coralie's fine surround
ings. SO, cut 1t and come back.
Pretty comfortable here. though the
settin' room don't look right without
ma sittin' around. And Coralie's piano
in the parior-that seems kinda longin'
for friendly touch-same as me.
That's the one thing Coralie said that's
come true-.You'n be lonesome without
some companion. father
"Gloryl' sighed the old man near by.
81 should think In this home. you'd be
plumb content"
Uncle Rannie turned heavily in his
chair.
Brother" he said. "while I've been
telkin' I've been thinkin'. That's my
way. Why can't you stay on and Wis
1t mccall 1t visit until we see how
we wear together-and no hard feel
ings at parting? Way look at it,,
seems you're the comrade been
Iookin' for.
So 1t happened as evenings passed
that two new friends sat on the porch
communing together-Uncle Rannie-
so long named by his loving nelghbors
and Uncle Billy Of his friends adop-
ton. And frequently Eliza would come
over from her sisters humble crowded
household to "bake up" or "tidy up
for the two old men.
Uncle Rannie had been a true friend
to Eliza's father until the last. Violet
was the name Uncle Rannie bestowed
upon his faithful young he.per.
"Reminds me of my favorite flower,
Liza does" he explained to Uncle
Billy. "Guess it's because of her pur-
ple-bIue eyes. / wish," he earnestly
remarked, that we could keep Violet
with us to do the work. Seems we
might get little more comfort with
our reading An Violet could have
Coralie's pretty room upstairs. Tell
You what-Uncle Rnnnie sat up ex-
cltedly, Pm going to plan for it, Just
a little extra money and we could pay
Violet a salary. My. how nice and in
dependent she'd feel. Now. If could
get an Interested man to work my
land, grapes and ALL on shares, mebbe
its years since | been able to attend
To 1t, going on eighty-four, you know,
Billy-Good evening, friend Uncle
broke Off A young man had entered
the gate.
"Do you KNOW oA any persoh' the
young man asked with weary bitter
ness, 'who might possibly be persuaded
TO give good board in exchange for
honest laborT
"Set down. son, and talk II over,
Uncle Rannie mildly suggested.
I'm trying to earn my living in the
country" the young man explained
weakened my lungs in the war and
can't continue at Office work"
"Reckon We can give you tryout,
young man."
Harvest later crowned the fields
when the two old men still sat com
panionably together. From the cottage
Kitchen came vlolet's Joyous song. Far
from the fields came young John Stan
forth's CHEEKY answering whistle.