Year: 1874

Those are hard things to throw in a
mans teeth, uncle, and shouldn't like to
think that You meant them all


So spoke John Birch, the carpenter, rs
he stood up before the OLD bird -tancier-
tall, sinewy, and strong. with his hand
some face in hot glow and flash OF
temper III his eyes-a specimen OF a fine
physical type, showing in marked CON
trast what 4 puny, pale Young man about
his own age, who sat in Il corner appa-
rently reading but in reality intently watch
ing what was going on


The harder the better, so that they hit
the mark but what have said tonight
am ready to say a@an-aye. and mean
them, too


John Birch had never Won mach favor
from the little, hard-featured old man who
kept the bird-shop, and lived there with
his pretty granddaughter. But tonight
he had been insulted, and before n Wit
ness, between whom and himself there
was an open trlll, tor il was As rivals that
they met. Tom Bartlett, the sOtt-spoken
schoolmaster, had managed to msinuate
himself i'll the favor of David Birch and
was also striving to supplant the Young
carpenter in the regard Of his cousin Polly.
The old man was the first to speak


'Iou need not glare at me like that
because | have found ont what brings You
snraking round here


II never sneak, uncle; that does not be-
long to the Birches"


No, it does not, my lad " the old lnan
replied, in Il slightly Modified tone; add
ing, "and I'm sorry You don't take after
them There's a spice OF Your mother


John Birch interrupted him, saving pas
sionatelv, "Silence, Uncle David, You must
not dare to say a word against her"


"IhlS to my face Get ont of the house
and never dare to cross my doorstep again
till YOU are sent for, which will be long
enough. for tell You once for all that, il
can hinder it, Polly Carson shall never
marry an idle, be@garly fellow, alwavs
out of work, who can find nothing better
to do than to live on his sisters earnings =


This was the stab that cut keenest OF all
The young mans voice Juiyered ~ he
said THAT is too bad Uncle David you
don't know what feelings you stir in me II
and in his excitement he laid hi7 /. and Oh
the old man ann


Al that moment the sly, watchtu reader
III the corner came forward, and, Wiltully
misunderstanding his intention thmst
himself between them, saving, Come
no violence, it would be a pity, and
should be 50 sorry; You ought to remem-
Der Mi Birch j. Your uncle, and an old
man


In IN instant he found himself put back
with just the amount OF force which 4
strong man would feel necdtl to use in
dealing with some pilny obstruction which
he held in contempt


Mind Your own business, Tom Bart
lett. and don't meddle with mine; it
doesn't need Your sly tongue to teach me
what | ought to remember. My uncle is
IN no danger OF violence from me, and YOU
know it" Then turning to the old man
he added, II t'ncle, | shall not want telling
twice to 90. know YOU bear me ill-wil,
but didn't think it was in You to upbraid
a man for what is no fault OF his; for |
defy any one that Knows me to say that
ever shirked work when could get it to
do. | am sorry for what has passed to-
night, and perhaps you will be before You
are many days Older and snatching up
his cap, he strobe angrily through the
shop into the street, without deigning
another look at Tom Bartlett, who had
skunk back into his corner and was once
more taking mental note OF everything
that he saw and heard