Year: 1872

Every body declared that Uncle Timpkins
would be ruined by his generosity. But this dec
laration had now been made for a number OF
years, and still he continued prosperous.


But Uncle Timpldns just perpetrated an act
the enormity Of which disturbed his domestic
peace for long while and, sometimes it seemed
doubtful II the sky ever would be 80 cleard
He suddenly took it into his head to look up
the widow OF a brother who had been dead sew
eral years, and knowing that poor john
never had possessed knack for acquiring
worldly goods" he resolved to inquire into the
condition Of the family Without telling Aunt Mol
lie OF his plans, he went off very quietly by him
self but he returned not as lie went


Aunt Mollie prophesied that no good would
come Of this journey, but when Uncle Samuel
opened the hall door. and she saw her husband
enter with little girl, she could hardly believe
her own eyes.


This is my little pet Mollie; have brought
her home to keep me company, said Uncle Sam
coldy upon poor Lulu, who shrank back into her
self, and eyed her husband severely then turn
ing Indignantly from them, she exclaimed:


TO think that, after raising family of eight
children and getting them we'll off her hands,
Samuel should go and bring home such a pest
az that! 1t was to nuch for hesh and blood to
stand"


But Uncle Timpkins had gained his point; Lu-
In was regularly established in the house and Il
not noticed by her aunt she soon became a great



but all who came TO the house for she was a
sunny-tempered little thing, making life and
gadness wherever she went.


| 1t was almost breakfast time, and punctual ar
the clock, the lean, wiry figure of Ephraim Doc
little strobe into the kitchen and sank into the
accustomed seat by the chimney-corner.
or all Timpkins proteges this was the one witt
whom Aunt MOllie had the least patience Fol
five years he had not missed morning, unless
| detained by illness and yet he always came il
with the same observation, that las he happen
ed to be passing by lie thought that he woult
| Just drop in"


He always went to Uncle Timpkins' for break
fast but, upon being invited into the dining
| room, invariably observed that there was no oc
casion wife would be expecting him home" etc
This was a regular part Of the performance ant
it required considerable exertion to dislodge hin
from the chimney corner.


1t was in the morning after Lulu's arrival, ant
her uncle desired her to inform Mr. Doolitt
that breakfast was ready. This she did YER
sweetly, and Ephraim. making feint of rising
replied


= was just going, my dear-time that wa
| of, long ago, stop to breakfast o, no. thanl
yOu-my wife will be waiting for me-"


Lulu returned to the dining room, and inne
Gently repeated what she supposed to be MI
DoOhtties refusal. To her great surprise lie
uncle laughed ont, and her aunt had a yer
queer expression about the mouth. +" Waitin
what she exclaimed, in tone of cutting sal
casm maybe they're going to have fritter
for b. eakfast, and they'll be spoiled-he'd bette
go."


Uncle Timplins, however, not wishing to b
undone, dispatched Lulu a second time to til
kitchen with an imperative summons to MI
Doolittle. She soon returned with the answer


- lie said there was no occasion"


Laughing more heartily than ever at Lulu's in
noceIce and perplexed look, Uncle Timpkin
went to the kitchen, as he had done for five year
and marched Ephriam Doolittle in to breakfast
Lulu was astonished at the rapid disappearanc
Of the yiand' but Ephriam had taken quite