| MY SISTER'S GRAPES. |
| TOBY TYLER |
| ABOUT JACK FROST |
| HOW A SAILOR RODE WITH THE CZAR. |
| A WONDERFUL RAILROAD. |
| MILDRED'S BARGAIN. |
| EMBROIDERY FOR GIRLS. |
| Vol. II.—No. 59. | Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. | Price Four Cents. |
| Tuesday, December 14, 1880. | Copyright, 1880, by Harper & Brothers. | $1.50 per Year, in Advance. |
MY SISTER'S GRAPES.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN."
Perhaps you might not think Uncle Dick a "gentleman"—Aunt Emma did not,I know, though she kept her mind to herself, being his brother's widow,and the prudent mother of many children. Uncle Dick lived with them;that is, if he could be said to live anywhere, being always on the move,never liking to stay long in[Pg 98] one place, and somewhat restless-minded,as those are who have passed all their life in rambling about the world.A "rolling stone" he certainly was, though he could scarcely be said tohave gathered no moss, as he had amassed two fortunes, one after theother: having lost the first, he was now enjoying the second in his ownharmless but rather eccentric way.
I doubt if Aunt Emma really liked him, yet she was always very civil tohim, her chief complaint being that he never would "take his position inthe world"; that is, he avoided her balls, made himself scarce at herdinner parties, and no persuasion could ever induce him to exhibit hislong, thin, gaunt figure, his brown hands and face, in evening clothes.What a "guy" he would have looked in them! as we boys always agreed, andsympathized with him, and not with Aunt Emma. But in his own costume weadmired him immensely. His shooting-jacket, Knickerbockers, and Panamahat were to us the perfection of comfort and elegance.
As to his cleverness, that also was a disputed point with some folk. Butwe had never any doubt at all. And perhaps we were right. "A fool andhis money are soon parted," says the proverb. But when they part to meetagain—that is, when a man can bear the loss o