Year: 1873

had received no further letters from
my uncle until the one which I read in
Mrs. Lingsley'sparlor. The postscript
not only astonished, but absolutely
frightened me. I read as follows:


"P. ST. have never visited Phila-
dolphin, 80 I have decided to do 80 at
once, and get look at you and your
wife and child. You may expect me
about the tenth of the month"
"Good gracious, my uncle is coming
to visit me-" exclaimed, "and it's
past the tenth of the month now! I
don't know what moment he may pop
inl What shall I do for wife and
child?"


At that moment there came a ter
rible pull at the door-bell, as if the man
who pulled it imagined he owned the
house, and could make as much noise
as he pleased.


A sickening sensation took possess
sion of me, for had misgiving that
it was my uncle. Now, as good for
tune would have it, Mrs. Kingsley had
gone out to neighboring store for
few moments, and had requested, me
to have an eye on her child while she
was gone, SO that it would not fall out
of the cradle, and hurt itself. As I
glanced at the cradle, and thought of
my uncle at the door, bright idea en-
tered my mind. I determined in case
the visitor was my uncle, to claim the
youthful occupant as my own.


The visitor proved to be my uncle, I
know him by the picture of him, had
seen, and he likewise knew me by my
photograph. After mutual recogni-
ton and handshaking. I ushered my
honored relative into the parlor, and
introduced him to my newly-claimed
offspring.


"There, uncle" I said 4" is the first
pledge of our married life. 1 assure
1 take pleasure in presenting to you
my child"


"It is fat little youngster," said
my uncle gazing at him admiringly.
" BY the way, what is it, boy or girl?"


That was a knotty question for me
to answer, for he was just as much ac-
quainted with its gender as I was.
But it would not do to show ignorance
on the subject, and so I answered at
haphazard that it was boy.


II am sorry it is a boy" said my
uncle; there are too many boys in the
family. Now, if you had produced
little blue-eyed girl, it would have been
more sensible"


assured him was very sorry that
the gender did not suit, but hoped in
the future his wishes would be grati6ed.


So far had succeeded in deceiving
my uncle, but the worst, I feared was
that when Mrs. Kingsley returned she
might object to my claiming ownership
in her child. Besides, to carry out my
deception, must find wife as we'll as
an infant, and Mrs. Kingsley was the
only one could conveniently claim.
The only difficulty was to get her to
consent to the deception, and this
might be done if could only secure q
private conversation with her before I
introduced her to my uncle; then it
would be all right.


watched my opportunity and gained
an interview with her before she en-
tered the room. I told her in few
brief and hurried words, the extent of
my difficulty, and how had taken the
liberty of acting papa for her little
one. then told her I must find
wife somewhere, and get her to allow
me to introduce her in that capacity.
She laughed very heartily at the sug-
gestion said she could comprehend my
difficulty, and consented to my pro-
posal, and very roguishly warned me
not to presume upon the occurrence.


We then entered the parlor, and I
introduced her as my better half My
uncle was very much pleased with her,
and complimented me upon my good
choice in the selection of wife. Mrs.
Kingsley, of course, colored most
charmingly and I could scarcely refrain
from laughing.


You have fine boy here" said my
uncle to Mrs. Kingsley, pointing to the
cradle.


Excuse me, sir" said she, coloring
up again, cit is girl"


Twas dumbfounded. was exposed
in my iniquity. Would my uncle be-
lieve me after thisY He looked from