UNCLE GEORGE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 546, 1 March 1913, Page 2

UNCLE GEORGE.

+-, HIS PICTURE OF A MODEL HUSBAND. Uncle George was reputed to be rich, and was known to he irascible. It cannot be said that he had a happy manner, but, for the sake of the favours which might follow his death, this failing was overlooked. "How d'ye do, Martha? That fat of yours isn't health —it's blubber. "How d'ye do, Tom ? I see you've been wasting your money on a new kitchen range. You'd far better have a penny-in-the-slot gas machine." "How d'ye do, Emily? Why didn't you take your chances of marrying when you had them. ? You're begin ning to show your age." "How d'ye do, Tilly ? That young feller come up to the scratch yet ?" "Which one?" asked Tilly pertly.

"It doesn't matter which one," said Uncle George, "so long as one has. In my young days we didn't have all this dilly-dallying and shil-ly-shallying. Young men chose their wives and married them out of hand."

"I thought you didn't approve of matrimony, Uncle George," laughed Tilly. "No more I don't for myself," replied Uncle George. "'But while the world lasts there'll be fools in it, those fools 'll wnnt to marry. The sooner they do it the better, I say. . . . .Now, I've found a good

husband for you,' Tilly, my girl. He's got enough," he added solemnly, "to make any woman happy. And he's looking for a wife." '"Emperor of Japan ?" suggested Tilly flippantly.

Uncle George threw a resentful look at her and went on :—"He's a ieep-sea diver, that's what he is, and that being a dangerous occupation, le makes a pot of money by it. Besides which, his mother's just died and left him a thousand pounds and shares in a drapery business in Stockport. He's got a snug littl" Qouse. Also, he's bought a grmvl piano and an Axminster carpet, nit to mention a gramophone and a mangle. He's., a sked my advice abort jhoosing a wife, and I've suggested rou." "Me ?" echoed Tilly.

"Why not? You're a hmuly littlo thing—a bit too free with yoir tongue, perhaps, but ho'll somi U'a h you to keep your place." "Thanks, I'm not inking any," said Tilly brusquely. But visions ot the house and the Axininstor carrot and the grand piano rose alluringly before her eyes.—Gertrude M. Foxo, in the '"Pall Mall Mn/ruxino."