Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 14, Number 4, Jasper, Dubois County, 1 March 1872 — Page 2

Ihr Jasper ? ourirr.

0. PUAN K, Hm! Mil

InMi litvund tke chilling wind aiut gloomy tkir. Br.vond da:h' cloudy portal, Ther is a land where beauty never die. AuJ love becomes iinruortal. A land who licht is never dimmed by hade. Whose field are ever vernal : Where nothing KettutiAil can ever fade. But btoomf lor aye, eternal. Vir may not know how fweet the bklmy air. How onght and fair it flowers : W e may not hear the songi that eeho there.

Tbreugh those enchanted bower. The city' shining tower we may not tee. With our dim earthly viion : For death, theiilent warden, keep the key That "i'f thoe träte elyaian. But ftnuetitne when adown the western ky The fiery sunset linger, Its golden gate swing inward noiselessly. Unlocked by unseen finger. And while they stand a moment half ajar, iileatra from the inner glory

Stream brightly through the aiure vault alar,

And bait reveal tbe story,

The Holly, Laurel and Yew. BT ASTLRT H. BALDWIN. The white rime nit oa the silver "d hough. The red-berried holly, the green-spiked yew The shining laurel i froted now.

And the hour of the daylight are h rt and

few. But kind heart beat by the bright fireside. And ott eye narkle by candle-light ; And wt draw the curtains at eventide. Shut out tho fhadow and welcome night. Tbe snow-flake fall througn the darken'd air, But never a morsel for that care we; And. it may be. we have silver to spare. And can gh o to tbe homeless a penny fee. Ah ! brighter then shines the homestead Crc. And dearer seem the dear laces all.

If we stretch out our hand to pull out of the

mire A brother, who into it chance to fall ! As we would be done by, let us do ; A blessing shall be on our labors still : And the evergreens holly, and laut el. and yewBe the emblem green of our hearts' good will!

CLIPT WINGS. BY THE AUTHOR Or "GIDEON'S ROCK." The most trying thing about Uncle Ted was the resemblance to his brother. It was sufficiently disagreeable to have an old man with tastes so low and habits so unpleasant fastened upon the family at nil ; tut to see, and to know all saw, in this persou the Leffler feautures, and all the Leffler peculiarities to the very finger-nails, was a misfortune which demanded the whole of that fortitude of which the family motto boasted. All attempts at reforming Uncle Ted had long since been abandoned. His brother, the doctor, had now trown

accustomed to silenoe the complaints of his wife and children by half-reproachful reminders of that complete and final release which the whitening hair and haltered frame seamed to prophecy whs near at hand. No other comfort concerning the old man presented itself: and even this, suggested bv his appeal ance and sometimes; rambling mind, was made faint and doubtful by his good appetite, long walka, and early hours. Uncle Ted had for many years submitted himself to abject dependence on his brother. He could not work, he could not cope with strangers. Innumerable were the situations his brother had obtained for him, and the wardrobes Mrs. Leffler with willing fingers had prepared, and the departures that Uncle Ted had made; but swift had been the return on each occasion.

pathetic the tale, irresistible the prayer to be allowed to stay. The doctor continued his efforts from time to time ; but, finding them always followed by the same results, and find

ing also that as the tall old form and noble looking, half-vacant face grew!

mure uu more line nis lamer s, it became more and more difficult for him to force him from under his roof. The doctor, therelore. had settled in his own mind and made the family aware he should not again seek a situation for Uncle Ted untii he was compelled to to place him in that from which return is impossible. He was certainly a formidable incumbrance -one whom it was impossible to conceal from society as it was to expect society to receive. Though his peculiar habits rendered it necessary for him to be banished from the room on the arrival of visitors, no one could be sure he would not come back for his snuffy pocket-handkerchief left on his niece's work-basket, or one of his enormous slippers dropped in his precipitate retreat, and in search of which all the ladies would have to rise, and turn about, and look under their chairs, while the doctor and Mrs. Leffler stood in sick, smiling patience; and uncle bowed, and apologized, and uttered most absurd compliments, and made as his nieces afterwards would declare

a ' tearful exhibition" of himself. Uncle Ted was full of admiration for these nieces, but thev were smrosdv

able to appreciate his high opinion of

wiero. tneir Deauty, elegance, and accomplishments, since he was in the habit of confiding h-B opinion to the footman and the cook, who were kept weJl informed by him as to the conquests and matrimonial chances of the young ladies ; and, indeed, as to most of the family affairs, private or otherwise, with which he might happen to become acquainted. It was no longer of any use trving to keep him from talking to the servants. Who else could or would talk to him ? His brother had dene his utmost to frighten and persuade him out of the habit, had insisted on each member of the family devoting an hour a day to him, thai he might not be driven to this extremity. But it waa all of no tue. Uncle Ted waa tiresome, and failed to keep his appointments. The young people were full of their own cares and

pleasures, or rather of the pleasures

which ware their caret. . The strong wings wearied of trying to fly so low ax this maimed and degraded old eagle, so they left it am! pursued their own bright (light. Uncle Ted, now, therefore, almost unchiddeu carried his papers down to the kitchen every morning, and read leading articles to the cook, who without ceremony ordered him from place to place, to suit her convenience ; while the housemaid would peep over bis shoulder at the advert iseinents, and the footman sit on the table, discussing politics with him, undisguisedly patronizingly. The doctor could do nothing but

l I i i i i . i

sign neipiessiv a ne, passing me kitchen stairs tor a stroll in the garden, heard that fine old voice losing every day something of its nobility of tone, and that pure accent becoming so uncertain and vulgarized. Yet it would have been well for the family had Uncle Ted confined his friendship to his brother's servants solely. This, however, was not the case ; for the doctor had more than oncesurprised him, before breakfast, standing on the step, leaning against the area railings his skull-cap on the back of his head, His

hands in the pockets of his old dressing

gown asking the milkman's advice on

some delicate family matter, hitherto

supposed to have been a secret from

Uncle Ted himself.

Led gently away by his brother's

trembling army, and stearnly, vet en

treatingly remonstrated with in the seclusion of the doctor's study. Uncle Ted defended bis conduct on the score

of the milkman's being a very remarka

ble man, a gentlemm under a cloud, a

persen of considerable mental endown-

ments; and the interview would be brought to an abrupt close bv an

earnest recommendation from Uncle

Ted that his friend should be asked to

dinner.

Among the nursemaids in the park

no less than among-t his brother's do

mestics and tradespeople, Mr. Edward

l.enler was incessantly discovering some

" mgly-gitted mind, or some "fine nature," that demanded not only the

devotion of his morning hours, during which he would sit in speechless or elo

quent admiration of the "mind" or

nature in question, usually to the

embarrassment of its owner, and of

some policeman or lifeguardsma1. near

at hand : but, unfortunately, too often

demanded also homage, in the shape of a silver thimble, brooch, or ribbon, pilfered from the toilet table of one of

Uncle Ted's nieces. When the family went out of town.

Uncle Ted was left behind. To carry such a disgrace among fresh scenes and servants was of course out of the questiou : yet the alternative was a serious

one. In fact, it generally happened that, from the moment of the family's return to the moment of its departure again, fresh revelations were constantly being made concerning Uncle Ted's peculiar modes of passing this interval of separation from his relatives.

At first when the doctor, on opening one after another of his favorite books, found himself possessed by a strong inclination to sneeae, and traced this strange effect to its cause namely, a few grains of brown powder sullying nearly every page he concluded that Uncle Ted had been devoting his time exclusively to study during the family's absence. Sundry odd volumes being missing from their places, and undis-

coverable anywhere else, Uncle Ted's bed room and favorite little retreats would be searched. As to the volumes themselves, the search would be in vain, but would result in the finding of mysterious little tickets bearing mention of the missing books and their whereabouts; and not of these alone, but bearing mention also of other little

trifling articles : and their whereabouts. Perhaps the whole amount which the exchange of the things mentioned on the tickets themselves had brought Uncle Ted would not be more than ten or twelve shillings. But the most alarming thought to the family was not, after all, the way by which the money had been obtained, but the wav in which it had been spent.

Who could tell for what purpose it had gone? Perhaps in wooing to be Mrs. Edward Leffler, Mrs. Woods, the

louacconist, a widow with six children,

ana a person for whom Uncle Ted had

con leased a feeling of no common ft , an ,1 at.. . t. -I- I IH.

...m.Hiu, miuugii er uaeness to a certain Lady Emily, his first love ; or

perhaits it had purchased a betrothal

gitt tor Mrs. Webfoe. the charwoman.

whom the master of the house was ever in fear of having introduced to him as

his sister in-law.

It cannot be supposed that the dis

covery ot these tickets cotild be passed

over as easily as Uncle Ted's other little

eccentricities. A sense of unavoidable but useless duty compelled the doctor

to summon nis brother to his study, and endeavor to awaken in him some feelings of shame and penitence, but when, in obedience to his stern command, the tall form appeared, there was still so much of the old nobility about it that the doctor felt himself almost overcome with shame at the accusation he had to bring against him, and his voice would tremble, as, pointing to the tickets on the table, he would say " Well, Edward, so it has come to this, has it, again 1" Uncle Ted, though seated in an attitude as dignified as his brother's, would gaze on the tickets with the expression of a child being chidden for a broken toy, and wondering timidly whether the fact of its being rendered useless ought not to be considered sufficient punishment, without further interference. Sometimes when the doctor's words

were more than usually stern and rousing, when his eloquence over the family honor came strongly, like the wind from mountain heights, to this poor fallen human eagle, he was stirred,

would ruffle his feathers, and struuiile

to soar to where he had fallen from. His brother, pausing for want of breath, would gaze upon him with some hope, as ht saw the thin figure draw itaelf suddenly up, as if stung, the long hand trembling and hurriedly stroking the long chin, the fine blue eyes kindling to something like horror as they rested on the tickets; but tin very next instant, catching sight of Li brother's relenting eye, Uncle Ted would forget everything but the fact that he was about to be forgiven and set free, and the doctor saw that he had seized upon that thousht

with the joyous avidity of a child, though he still tried to keep the corners of his mouth drawn down, and an affectation of remorse in his eyes duriniMhe

rest of the lecture. When it was over, and the doctor looked after his retreating form, trying to cover its relief by a greater show of infirmity than usual, he sighed to think how useless it seemed even to point out to him a better state, since it was so impossible for him to reach it. Not only had fate so cast him down, but had taken away nil by which he might ever hope to lise had dipt the wings which

in this world could surely never grow again. The joor eagle might ruffle it

leatners ana struggle, but never soar.

It did continue to struggle at times, LH. j i v

even wiine us. decadence went on so

rapidly, when, while reading his puper, the housemaid, in her anxiety to heai of a more eligible situation, so far forgot herself as to lay her black-leaded fingers on his shoulder ; or when, in the heat of a political discussion, the footman addressed him by an opprobriously familiar name : or when the cook, after the failure of repeated hints as to the kitchen fire being needed for other purposes than toasting the sole of his slipper by, dropped the poker accidentally on his foot; on such occasions Uncle Ted was seen to change from his normal state. The halt-startled, meditative look would come suddenly into his eyes, the long hand begin stroking the chin with quick, agitated fi niters, the fiiruie

draw itself up, and make its retreat from the kitchen with a dignity that

accorded but ludicrously with the set of

the ragged and patched Indian dressing-

gown, whicii had romething of the character of the garments worn bv

i . -

ED oncera on barrel-organs. Tl. . . . . n , ,

isms attempts at nignt were very

rare, and of brief duration. Before his

friends in the kitchen had enjoyed his

absence a quarter of an hour. Uncle Ted would probably be again amongst

mem, assisting tne ottendinp tioiinemnwl

to shell peas, helping John to spell out

iove-ietter from the country, or bow

ing at cook's elbow with his newly-filled

snun-box, and the request " Madame, obleege me. I have desired Mrs. Woods to put in a little more rappee than Scotch on purpose to suit your taste. You will obleege me?" The gravy or sauce of such a day usually seemed to suggest that cook had not spurned tho prayer, though it might have happened she had not sufficiently recovered her temper to utter her accustomed magnanimous reply of

"Certainly, Mr. Edward, sir," while her huge thumb and finger filled his tiny box which he held toward her, per

fectly concealing nis dismay, not only at so much of its contents being covered by the finger and thumb, but at so much more being scattered around in their efforts to sqeeze themselves out of the box again without losing a grain of what they had secured. One day it was exceedingly desirable that Uncle Ted should be so disposed of as to leave no danger of his intrusion at a little dance to take place in honor of his eldest niece's engagement. the task had been undertaken by Dr. Leffler at the tearful entreaties of his daughter, who, in consideration ot the high birth and poetic temperament of her betrothed, implored thai he

might be spared the sight of Uncle Ted

until a closer intimacy would allow of

some explanation as to his condition. The queen of the evening was Uncle Ted's special favorite and the object of his most intense admiration. Ever since he had heard of the engagement he had been in a state of wild anxiety to see the person for whom all those affairs of

Sophy's, in which he had shown her such lively though inconvenient sympathy, had been brought to so sudden a termination. But though Uncle Ted rushed out into the area, and started up every time he heard a carriage stop at the house, he had always as yet managed to miss hit carriage : though he had

Eaced the hall for half an hour when he new him to be in the house and on the point of his departure, he had been always been beguiled awav before the mo-

ment came, and listened at a distance to the buoyant step and voice in indignant

disappointment. lie did at last obtain a sight of him through the keyhole, and spent some time there rushing down every minute to confide to the

servants his impressions of the bride

groom elect from this narrow point of

view, tnen rushing back to it again. These impressions, unfortunately, were

sucn as to make him more eager than ever for an introduction. Countless pieces of paper were found about the

house, the beginning of letters present ing " Mr. Edward Leffler's compliments to Captain Aldyce," and begging for an interview at Mrs. Woods', or at some other of Uncle Ted's choice resorts, at the captain's earliest convenience. These notes sadly alarmed Sophy, who felt sure the writer was waiting his opportunity to throw one into the captain's

carriage, or have it delivered to him in

the house, or perhaps it would be in

her own presence.

All his efforts tailing. Uncle Ted had

of late begun to give way a little to des

pondency. This had been brought on by a severe cold he had caught through

waning nan an nour in tne area on a foggy evening just to see the captain's carriage-lamps flash by. He had not been out for the last day or two, to the

think I will go to Edward," urged

wonder of several small pensioners of

his to whom he mad a daily allowance of hardbake out of the little money with which the doctor ventured to trust him for his snuff. He had passed most of his time in the kitchen, had been rather more silent "mopish," as cook expressed it and altogether less sociable than usual, muttering, when asked what he would take to eat, some gloomy allusion to a dry crust, and snappishly offering, when asked where he would sit, to go i the coal-hole, if his doing so would afford anybody satisfaction. Or. Leffler found 'him seated by the

tire, and his first glance at him led him to expect even more opposition to Sophy's iriahat than he had anticipated. " I'm sorry to hear vour cold's worse.

Edward," he said in a professional tone. " You must go to bed very early." To his surprise Uncle Ted answered

immediately " Yes, Theodore, I bed early to-night." " I would, indeed, the doctor.

" 1 think 1 11 go now, Theodore," declared Uncle Ted, rising from his chair. " Well, I really would," agreed the

doctor, trying hard not to appear too much relieved. lie began to think, as he gave Uncle Ted his arm up the stairs, that he must have forgotten about the party altogether, but as he gave him over to John's care in the hall he waa undeceived in this matter by Uncle Ted's observing quietly as he looked round at the cmie

lias and lights

1 iliould like to have seen Son! i i - i , , i

wiien sue s uresseu. u You shall do so," said the doctor. " Sophy shall run up and see you, only you must not trouble her about anything. She is over-excited, as it is ; you must not add to her excitement by troubling her in any way." " No, Theodore," answered Uncle Ted meekly, and after one dazed, iingering look at the lights and flowers, passed up the stairs with John. He kept his word, for when Sophy

went up to his little room at the top of

me iiouse, ,ionn carrying two canities before her, and her maid keeping her dress from touching the floor, Uncle

led only raised himself on his elbow and gazed at her till the tears came in to his eyes then he lay down again, saying geiuly "Thank you, Sophy; I am much obleeged to you, Sophy. 1 havn't excited you, have I, Sophy? Tell your father I haven't excited you, my thirling.'' Cook had premised to send him up some gruel, but forgot all about it, and he lay in the dark listening to the music, thinking of his darling, all loveliness and love, floating amone the liuhts

ami flowers, and of the bright young

conquerer whom he was not allowed to see.

la'Ml mind all unnoticed for such an

.... .. ... ui.,r lu.inti place and ennvicti..

in it .' of his

owner of

God How

by

After lying so a long time, he heard

John bounding up stairs to take a neen

at himself before attending at suimer.

Uncle Ted called to him. but he trin-

ped down again, calling back careless-

Can t stop now Mr. f ledward. Just

agoing into supper. Lie down and

keep warm naw, or we shall be a-havin' brunkeetis set in. Be up directly. Haw rewore "

It was about half an hour past midnight when John whispered something to Ir. Leffler that caused him to go out of the room, and go straight up to Uncle Ted's attic. The doctor sat down upon the edge of his brother's bed, scarcely knowing for a moment or two what it was which had so shaken him his sudden ascent of the stairs, the sight of Uncle Ted's face, or

the weak cry with which he had greeted him. " Theodore, I will see him I've a right to see him." " Be quiet, Edward; you shall see whom you like ; but don't excite yourself. What is the matter ? Have you been alone long?" The quiet, authoritative, professional tone and manner bad some effect. Uncle Ted became a little calmer. The doctor gave John some direc

tions, sent him down stairs, made an alteration in the arrangements of the Eillows, then sat down again and felt is brother's pulse. " Theodore."

" Don't talk Edward ; don't talk just w." said the doctor nmuntl u,;ii

I'.iin i: ,ij n 111

now, said the doctor :

do."

" No it won t, Theodore. I want to tell you something." " Well, if it will relieve you. But you must be very quiet." "Theodore, the night father died

you know I was alone, taking care of

the bouse me and Mrs. Webfoe. I

was out when they brought him home in the fit ; I was taking a cup of tea at

a inena s excellent woman, Theodore

perfect lady, though reduced to i mangle." " Don't excite yourself, Edward pray,' said the doctor, beginning to have ap

palling forebodings as to the actual

existence, after all, of the long dreaded sister-in-law. "Well?"

" We had conversed on the subject of

your quarrel witn poor lather, and she :i i - . ......

juaeu me aooui nemg likely to have all if he should die before you made it up, and said that people did say he had a will made in my favor. Then they fetched me, Theodore Mrs. Webfoe came in a cab for me." " Now you are exciting yourself, Edward." " Theodore, he (tut1 have a will, leaving all to me ; he put into my own hands this this n " Be quiet ; pray be quiet," said the doctor, half dreamily, keeping one of his brother's hands as he took the thing they thrust into his. lie was almost startled out of hi

usual inscrutable pulse feeling expres

sion. How great and sudden a change must have come to the poor weak iio-

Al that moment a -Ii......

- . .Min brothers manner when I. ).,.i

returned home alter his father's suddeath, caused the doctor to think over the words he had just heard in an en tirely different spirit. Alter sitting looking into his mmj a minute, begot up slowly and went to the candle with the paper Uncle Ted bad gif eft him. There was no mistaking it for the very WM whose report,.,! existence twelve years ago had tilled his heart with misgiv i ng and bitten, "What made vim iln LkU lm.

,. . j . """i'i:

it.. i-ouiH you receive mean

an, ana remain jroureelf almost (bfgir me! almost penniless? could you, Edward?"

" Was I fit to be anything but almost penniless, Theodore?"' " But why not huve told me have shared it with me equally? " asked the doctor, with almost passionate reproach. Uncle Ted sighed and diook his head. "Ask your own spirit" he said "sperit," in imitation of cook "ask your own spirit, Theodore. You know as well as I do, you would almost have cursed your poor lather, Theodore you know you wouldami let your children starve, rather thun let them touch a penny of his money so left. Ah, knew you, Theodore knew you. knew it must be all or nothing. 1 says to myself, What am I ? I onlv warnt n

see the children haunv. und fi

amongst 'em. And I havr found a home, and been a turrable trial to you, Theodore; but it won't be long I feel it won't be for long, Theodore." The dx'torsat with his lace buried in his hands. The story had not startled him, He knew that such an act was natural to Uncle Ted. There hud not been the slightest heroism about it ; it had been his eatiest course, and therefore the one most pleasant to him. "But, Theodore, you wouldn't always let me see you happy, .Sophy won't let me see her happy ; she won't let me at e young Aldyce. It's too bad, that is, Theodore." " I will fetch them," said the doctor huskily ; " they shall both come up."

" Stop, 1 heodore," cried Uncle Ted, with a vehemence that left him breathless. When the doctor reached the bedside, he had turned his cheek to the pillow, and closed hit eyes. " Don't caU'em," he said faintly. "I like to hear the music, and to think they're happy. Don't make 'em leave off for me. I'd rather not see him now.

i won t nave lier maole tn Ion r.n

er hap-

Let

ler dance: let her bo hsnria Ml,.

her I " After watching him som little time, I)r. Leffler ventured to disobey the master of the house so far as to summon

his relatives and Captain Aldyce to his bedside. Uncle Ted was so favorably impressed by Sophy's choice, that he left him a verbal introduction to carry to his special friend the policeman, lodging at Mrs. Woods's, whose acquaintance he 6trongly advised thecaptam to cultivate. He passed away at seven o'clock in the morning, in the present of all he loved, nnd looked on bv a landinir full

of honestly-regretful eyes. The Indian dressing-gown was bequeathed to Captain Aldyce, and now serves as a nursery divan, the bright colors of which baby hands pot adoringly. The slippers were left to cook, their owner having observed, he said, thai she had a Cleopatra foot. The snuff-box had so many claimants that

the doctor, to settle the matter, decided to retain it in his own possession. Wise and Otherwise. An attached couple oyster-shells.

ErtTApfj on a waiter i " He

he could wait no longer."

Why is a pocket-handkerchief like a snake ? Because it belongs to a generation of wipers. A mas that hoards his riches and enjoys them not, is like an ass that carries gold, and eata thistles. A member of tho House, speaking of a fortunate fellow-member, remarked a day or two since : " I'd rather have his luck than a license to steal." Bosfew Journal.

nun i imvü uer niaue 10 leavi dancing, and set a crying with her py eyes. Not to-night, Theodore.

Ii

st

gone,

" What is your consolation between life and death?" asked a Sundayschool teacher of a young lady in the Bible class, who blushed, and said : "I'd rather be excused from speaking his name."

A man in Zanesville, Ohio, who has buried three wives, has their photographs in a group, within which his own picture is the central figure, and underneath is this touching inscription: "The Lord will provide." A man at a camp-meeting out West boasted that he had been married twenty-five years, during which he had never given his wife a crossword or look. He omitted to toll hit hearers that he dared not to do the one or the other. No mam's spirits were ever hurt by doing his duty; on the contrary, one good action, one temptation resisted and overcome, one sacrifice of desire or interest purely for conscience sake, will !rove a cordial for weak and low spirits ar beyond what either indulgence or diversion can do for them.

Goo haa written on the flowers that

sweeten the air: on the breeze that

rocka the flower : unon the rain-dron

that refreshes the sprig of moss that

lifts its head in the desert ; upon every penciled shell that sleeps in tne cavern

of the deep, no less than upon the mighty sun that warms and cheers

millions of creatures which live in its

light upon all his works he has writ

ten, " one hveth for himself."