HUGH FISHER. "THERE'S Uncle Hugh! There he is, I'm sure!" exclaimed Henry, his pale, sorrowful and expecting face suddenly lighting up, as he saw a wagon stop at a small house on the opposite side of the street. 66 'Run, child," said the friendly neighbour at whose house we were, 6.6 run and ask him He'll find it dull enough to come here. I stood at the window, watching Henry as he went and delivered his message. Uncle Hugh patted him on the head. It looked kind. "O dear!" I sighed, without knowing it. Unele Hugh tied his horse to a green post, and followed Henry to the house where we His heavy tread was soon heard in were. the entry. Mrs. French left her cooking, and went to meet him, "Well, the poor lady has gone!" she said, showing him into the sitting-room, where Agnes and I were. "She thought a dreadful sight about seeing you before she died. She said you were the only relative. There's the two youngest, Hugh and Agnes. That's Henry," pointing to my brother. "He is the oldest, and not very old, either." My uncle stalked into the room. "That's Hugh, is it?" fixing his large gray eyes on me. "He's a stout boy. He looks as if he could dig potatoes as well as any body." She Mrs. He took off his coat, and sat down. "This is the girl, the youngest. looks dreadfully like her mother. Gray wants her," drawing Agnes towards her, and smoothing down her apron. "That's Agnes, is it? The girl!" said Uncle Hugh. "I'm seeing to the dinner, so you'll excuse me," said Mrs. French, at the same time going towards the kitchen. My uncle nodded. "Let's see. He's the one that's got my name," he said, after staring at us all round, as we sat bolt upright, staring at him in return, and pointing at me in particular, with his hard, horny finger. "Yes, that's Hugh!" said Henry. "Well, Hugh, are you a good fellow to work?" asked he. "Yes, sir," I whispered. "Hugh is a good scholar," said Henry, ready to back me up in the good graces of my relative. "The master says he is." "Humph!" grunted our uncle; " and what does that amount to?" Mr. French now came in, the head of the household, under whose roof we were, with whom my uncle presently went out to look after the horse and wagon. "Am I named for him?" I whispered to Henry, as soon as his back was turned, "with a nose like that! I want to know?" In fact, Uncle Hugh had not made a pleasant first impression upon my mind. 66 Is he the one that's to take care of us?" I said, looking at Henry. Henry looked He answered nothing, but turned and glanced wistfully over to the little house that had so long been our home, at me. now deserted and desolate. into his eyes. Tears came Let me now tell you our situation. Our father, a respected schoolmaster, had been dead nearly three years, leaving my mother and her three children, with slender means and still more slender health, to rear us up as God-fearing and dutiful children. By economy and industry, she contrived to live comfortably, with what aid Henry and I could occasionally render. Henry was now twelve, and I had just entered my eleventh year. In one short week our mother sickened and died, and (as I now think) it was through her overtasked efforts for our support. How kind and tenderhearted were the neighbours, as one and another took turns to nurse her and care for us! How many delicate bits did they bring her, which, being rejected by her, (for she was too sick to be thus tempted,) were bestowed upon us! Through the week we were kept at school, never dreaming what a sad and dreary Sunday was in store for us. On Saturday night she died, and we were taken to the house of friendly |
