Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21

II r. GALLUP hadn't wanted 10
M be an uncle in the first place.
N II was, he felt, almost as
/ / much Of responsibility as
being a parent. But II ones
sister will get married and have chill
dren, what can one do about 1t? NAT.
Gallup did his best and took up the
had been laid down by his own uncleS
in the latter part of the nineteenth
century. He began to smoke a pipe
and act whimsical. The pipe made him
rather dizzy at first, and his attempts
at Whimsicality were misunderstood by
his business associates, who accused
him of drinking during office hours.
But he persevered. He knew that
uncles were supposed to be able to
carve toy boats with their jackkniveS
at moments notice and answer ques-
tions concerning the home life OF bros,
animals and insects. At the risk Of
amputating his fingers he practiced
boat carving and managed-after con-
siderable bloodshed and blasphemy-t0
transform cigar box into a fairly
plausible mudscow. His nature study
included reading Of the complete
works of John Burroughs and several
trips to the Museum Of Natural History
by Tie JltttC Nio AlSpAaCW was v ySotD
old MFR. Gallup was q seasoned uncle.
He could smoke his pipe without chok-
ing and be elm In bluff, hearty way
without feeling self-consciouS.
And when the lad climbed up into
his lap and said: Tell me Q story,
Uncle Ned" Mr.. Gallup was not UNI
prepared. He had at least half o dozen
stories In his repertory; they were long,
tiresome stories, like Jack and the
Beanstalk" and "GoldilockS and the
Three Bears"
In Mr.. Gallup's childhood these
stories were expected of all uncles. The
youngest generation demanded no
Scheherazade; originality was frowned
upon. In fact, 1t was not uncommon
for story teller to preface his remarks
with stop me II you have heard this
one before" That was before the day
Of the bedtime story, and zoology had
not yet supplanted mythology IN nur--
Sery lore. Little Johnny Skunk and
his sister, Winnie the Phew, were with
out biographer, A few simple sages
of murder and violence were eli the
children had and all they seemed 70
want.
"a STORY. shq" said Mr.: Gallup,
- taking his pipe from his mouth
and gazing at his nephew with that
kindly, Quizzical expression which he had
rehearsed in front Of the mirror. Very
well, Chester, you shall have-Hm m,
let me see, Once upon a
time"
And then, suddenly and unaccounta-
bly,. Mr.. Gallup experienced . slight at
tack of stage fright. For the life OF
him he could not remember q story.
He felt like an after-dinner speaker
who has been called upon too soon.
"Once upon q time" Mr.. Gallup
repeated and stopped. Little Chester
waited patiently. THAT makes twice
upon a time" he reminded his uncle.
I'm the middle OF deep, dark
forest" continued Mr.. Gallup, mopping
his brow, Observation-Disclosures do you
Peter Rabbit" suggested little
That's it, declared Mr.. Gallup tri-
umphantly. peter Rabbit! Well, sir,
one day Peter Rabbit called to his
neither and said: oh, mama, see what
, ] found in the yardr So Mrs. Rabbit
came running out of the house, and,
sure enough, there was something In the
yard! Now, what do you suppose 1t
WASP"
zone Of those damn carrots" replied
little Chester.
"A carrot" Mr.. Gallup conceded
promptly, Eyes. sir. great big yellow
carrot with q lovely green top. And
where do you think that carrot came
IL came from Farmer Browns gar-
dsp.'s responded ChssteE With iHst 4