Uncle Rutherford's Nieces

ggest or hint at something delightful, and which just met the views or desires of his hearers, dwell upon it for a time, then, after leading one to the ve

ary, his intimates believed that this still further deferred the wished-for result. Even aunt Emily, his much beloved and trust

s on tenter-hooks to know if there was any thing favorable in store for her protégé. She knew better, as I have said, than to hurry matters, or to ask any questions. That uncle Rutherfor

that of the episode of the "Morning Bugle,"-"Milly, I

een a cross and a stumbling-block to him, spite of the polite name by which he called its manifestations. It was probably the recollection of the trouble it had brought to him, and of the struggles which even now it cost him, an elderly man, which made him so intolerant of its existence in others, especiall

us voice had penetrated to the upper regions, and called for interference from the higher powers; but these occasions were becoming more and more rare. His devotion and loyalty to Milly and the other members of the family who had befriended him were not infrequently the occasion of these outbursts; for, at the smallest real or fancied injury or sl

nt of the boy through uncle Rutherford's means falling, as she wondered if he

senses, and to order him into the house instanter," said our uncle; "and, from what I could learn, he attacked a boy much larger than himself

s own name," said Mi

hould call himself by yours,

ur Southern slaves adopt the surnames of their masters, I think," said Edward. "J

not so nice a name as Livingstone for the 'President of these States.' He has it in his heart, too,

appreciation, at least, are worth

ess, recurring to Jim's heroic rescue of the youngling of her flock-her baby Daisy-from a frightful death; to say nothing of his st

at school until he is fitted for it, when I will give him a scholarship which I own in the School of Mines. At present it is filled, but will fall vacant about the time that Jim will be ready to take it. There is another boy on whom I have my eye, who has the same bent for a calling that Jim has, and whom I wish to befriend and help; but he, too, has faults which I hope to see him correct,-faults in some respects more serious than J

ther, "she is the ar

ford looked to t

ay you,

d any thing she had hoped for on behalf of the boy, that at first it seemed to her almost too good to be true.

now what to

re of her protégés were rather quixotic and unreasonable, aiming at taking them out of their proper

be no question between this, and his training as a household servant; but I fear for the effect of the emulation upon him. If he is to gain this prize

herford, who had a fancy for inciting young people to efforts of thi

most passionate, in the pursuit of any object on which he has set his mind, that I a

-hoop if he is set to study for a scholarsh

ce of the interruption, but continued to urge upon Milly the acceptance of his project. It undoubtedly presented s

le?" asked Norman the irrepre

grandson," said

k!" ejacul

ch fall in his way; and, for old Yorke's sake, I would like to help him. Yorke pinched and saved and denied himself, to give that boy's father an education, and illy he was repaid by the graceless scoundrel, who dissipated his father's hard-earned savings, and half broke his heart, and that of his

in his quiet way, but

inst one another," he said. "Either one will do his best to keep

; and this had continued up to the time of our leaving the Point. Jim, who was a great favorite with the old captain and his wife, seemed to look upon Theodore as an interloper, and trespasser upon his preserves; and the

grounds were forbidden to Theodore Yorke, in consequence of this feud; but Jim's duties called him, at times, to the home of the old sailor, whence he was accustomed to bring the daily supply of milk for the consumption of the family, and where he had been wont to linge

e for learning and character, with such a prize in the future to the winner. His object would defeat itself. Was it to be supposed th

ell that it would arouse all his bad passions. As I said before, rivalry in any case would not be best for him, but, against Theodore, it would be simply ruinous; and I would rather see him remain under Thomas's tuition, learning to be a thorough and eff

To Jim we owe a debt which far outbalances the benefit he has received at our hands." And papa's eye turned, with lingering tenderness, to the far corner of the room, where Allie and Daisy, unconscious of the weighty matters which were being discussed among their elders, were absorbed in happy play with dolls and dog. "When he is old enough and steady enough, we will set him up i

circumvented when he had set his mind upon a thing, especially if it chanced to be one of his philanthropic schemes. And that same quick temper, which he had fo

retted when another moment should have passed, for aunt Emily laid her hand upon his arm, half-whispering, as a noted imperial wife was once

moment; then, as if by a sudden inspira

a rival to the other? Put the reward before each one, and tell him

isappointed that the stimulus of emulation was not to enter into the contest; and the discussi

in the case, upon whi

e substance of their communing, divested of unnecessary adornments of speech, with which those young

ou'll hear of it yourself soon, I guess, from Miss M

it?" as

ool; you and Theodor

dore Yorke," interrupted Jim. "There

urself," said Bill; "and there's some kind of

t for the sake of beatin'," said Jim, verifying the prophecy of his yo

y; and, when I went to the door with 'em, they was all talkin' so busy they didn't hear me knock. I couldn't make out just what it all was; but you're to get schoolin', you and Theodore, and whichever does the best is to get more schoolin', and some prize at

the best of me," said Jim, viciously. "And you say

d Bill. "He wanted you to know, and be set on yer mettle. But Miss Milly, she's boss of us, you k

a' told me," said Jim, musingl

Bill. "I wasn't told not to t

do know, so as I can set out to beat Theodore; and, Bill, this is goin' to give me a first-rate chance. Y

" aske

im; "but jus' you wait till I get to be top

hought you'd be so set against him, and she thoug

d Jim. "I guess, after all, I'm sorry you tole me, Bill; you hadn

n by the coachman, who slept in an adjoining room, and who

plans for Jim's future; and the following morning sh

studies; telling him of the prize to be won if his course should prove satisfactory to Mr. Rutherford, but making no mention, of course, of the other candidate. He promised over and over again, that h

e would be; and there was something in his manner, which, at the time, struck Milly as rather strange,-a something repressed, as it were, but excited; an

ive modicum of moral suasion,-"now that you are going out into the world to make a way, it may be a name, for yourself, you must choose

herford on account of Mr. Rutherford bein' so good to me, Miss Milly; an' won't you an' him be set up when you see Rut

foresaw from both sides of the family, found it needful to decline the compliment. In

a good thing for you to call yourself by the name of

sound nice; but, you see, I wanted to put the compliment on you, an' to

of that great and good man," said Milly, non-plussed how to carry her point, and still not to wound her charge. "And," she continued,

o him, if he ain't too busy just then; so Bill, he's comin' on with his learnin' heaps faster than me; he's gettin' splendid at figgers, an' he reads the paper, too, on'y Mr. Edward, he don't like him to read the murders an' the hangin's, and them very interestin' things; but Bill read the other day in the paper how a man said George

in Washington, and show that you do

mpliment" she declined for herself and her family; for, in the multitude of namesakes who have helped to pe

storic cognomen were, doubtless, great. But the "comp

a brilliant idea had struck

cks; then I'll put the Livin'stone last, James Rutherford Washin'ton Livin'stone, so folks'll be sure I belong to you. Bill says folks can change thei

ture the risk of having the family names appear in "President polyticks;" and s