[Illustration: "SUCH WAS THE PICTURE THAT PRESENTED ITSELF TO MY VIEW."--_Page_ 10.]
UNCLE RUTHERFORD'S NIECES
A STORY FOR GIRLS
By
JOANNA H. MATHEWS
_Author of "The Bessie Books," "Uncle Rutherford's Attic," "Breakfast for Two," etc._
"For ruling wisely I should have small skill, Were I not lord of simple Dara still."
WITH ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS
NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES & BROTHER 1888
Copyright, 1888, By FREDERICK A. STOKES & BROTHER.
DEDICATED TO
HERBERT HUNT, WITH LOVING AND BEST WISHES FOR HIS FUTURE YEARS, ON HIS BIRTHDAY,
AUGUST 6, 1888.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I. AN ARITHMETICAL PUZZLE 7
CHAPTER II. A CABLEGRAM 27
CHAPTER III. AN ARRIVAL 47
CHAPTER IV. "FOOD FOR THE GODS" 71
CHAPTER V. THE "MORNING BUGLE" 89
CHAPTER VI. UNCLE RUTHERFORD'S PRIZE 107
CHAPTER VII. TWO PEANUT-VENDERS 129
CHAPTER VIII. NOT ON THE PROGRAMME 151
CHAPTER IX. MATTY 173
CHAPTER X. A COLD BATH 195
CHAPTER XI. FIVE DOLLARS 219
CHAPTER XII. CAUGHT IN THE ACT 241
CHAPTER XIII. MATTY IS PROVIDED FOR 261
CHAPTER XIV. JIM'S CONFESSION 285
UNCLE RUTHERFORD'S NIECES
CHAPTER I.
AN ARITHMETICAL PUZZLE.
A sunny and a dark head, both bent over a much-befigured, much-besmeared slate, the small brows beneath the curls puckered,--the one in perplexity, the other with sympathy; opposite these two a third head whose carrotty hue betrayed it to be Jim's, although the face appertaining thereto was hidden from my view, as its owner, upon his hands and knees, also peered with interest at the slate. Wanderer, familiarly known as "Wand,"--the household dog, and the inseparable companion of my little sisters,--lay at their feet, as they sat upon a low rustic seat, manufactured for their special behoof by the devoted Jim; its chief characteristic being a tendency to upset, unless the occupant or occupants maintained the most exact balance, a seat not to be depended upon by the unwary or uninitiated, under penalty of a disagreeable surprise. To Allie and Daisy, however, it was a work of art, and left nothing to be desired, they having become accustomed to its vagaries.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Uncle Rutherford's Nieces by Joanna H. Mathews
- 2: Allie pushed the slate impatiently from her
- 3: An' I ain't goin' to be any peanut man
- 4: Can't keep grammar an' 'rithmetic into my head both to once
- 5: Tearful Matty declined the monkey
- 6: Jim was actuated by schemes of wholesale benevolence for one
- 7: If peanuts were so much per bag
- 8: Not that pa an' ma is sech old folks as me an' Mis' Yorke
- 9: Young folks is allers got to be impatient
- 10: Ye didn't never hear about Sam Bates' darter
- 11: An' the folks eats heaps of peanuts
- 12: To the great regret of the whole household
- 13: The only daughter of aunt and uncle Rutherford
- 14: And dear aunt Emily was not less beloved in her way
- 15: And the likeness I bore to the Amy Rutherford in heaven
- 16: Said uncle Rutherford presently
- 17: Uncle Rutherford gives with one hand
- 18: Winston slightly raised his eyebrows
- 19: Then gazed for a few moments at the dilapidated crew
- 20: While aunt Emily interviewed Mrs
- 21: An' Matildy Jane she kinder flew out
- 22: Our Milly was reaping a rich fruit of generosity
- 23: But later bade Thomas take all the gingerbread down stairs
- 24: And the gingerbread disappeared
- 25: I divided the luscious morsel between them
- 26: But cousin Serena had no thought of betraying me
- 27: Amy was so awfully cock a hoop about her new dish
- 28: Mary Jane's liniment for her rheumatics
- 29: The bunion sympathized with this reluctance
- 30: Lets Tony have the roaster up in her room
- 31: Grinding away at his revolving roaster
- 32: And not at all because of Matty
- 33: Dutton came up with the paper in her hand
- 34: Coming here and practising with cousin Serena
- 35: That uncle Rutherford had not forgotten it
- 36: And Milly did not attempt to dispute it now
- 37: And uncle Rutherford looked to that young damsel
- 38: Seemed to look upon Theodore as an interloper
- 39: Uncle Rutherford said pleasantly
- 40: Rutherford didn't like it too much
- 41: I mean James Rutherford Livin'stone
- 42: An' stick to that till I get inter President polyticks
- 43: And from the heart Daisy would have accepted Mrs
- 44: Both on the Livingstone and Rutherford sides
- 45: And the ofer is horrid and scratching
- 46: And little Daisy was equally independent
- 47: 'cause she finks we're proud 'cause we don't sell peanuts
- 48: Please buy some peanuts to help some poor children
- 49: You sellin' peanuts here in the street
- 50: Besides Theodore Yorke and Jim
- 51: Jim Grant Garfield Rutherford Livingstone Washington
- 52: Recrimination followed recrimination
- 53: Was the overwhelming desire to outstrip Theodore
- 54: But if you're for takin' me to the theayter
- 55: Seeing that no offence was given
- 56: But also at the supine Dundreary
- 57: But there'll be no more theayter goin' fur me
- 58: And knowing Elizabeth Sanford well
- 59: Then Bessie gave vent to a smothered groan
- 60: That most unattractive young cripple
- 61: I shall firstly go this very afternoon to cousin Serena
- 62: Cousin Serena had never seen her
- 63: Bud Maddy she so moosh lofe dat head
- 64: Matty looked rather askance at me
- 65: Coax her to cut out a dress for Matty
- 66: 'specially with that Theodore Yorke
- 67: And Milly did not fail him in these
- 68: And Milly had ceased to ask him
- 69: As peanuts became prohibited altogether within school bounds
- 70: Called both Jim and Theodore before him
- 71: When Theodore had closed the door behind him
- 72: Have I heerd my gran'son called a thief
- 73: From that time he acquired the sobriquet of Peanuts
- 74: Passionate punishment of Theodore
- 75: He depended upon Tony to keep watch
- 76: Till at last Theodore said to Matty
- 77: Tried to gain any influence over Matty
- 78: Three cheers for President Jim Washington
- 79: A large basket of apple turnovers and ginger cookies
- 80: Jim ain't done nothin' for the perlice
- 81: Tony asked in a mysterious whisper
- 82: Matty seized with both her hands upon mine
- 83: Was making ready to kindle his charcoal and fill his roaster
- 84: Matty maintaining the usual impassive
- 85: The florist darted from his shop
- 86: And shpeak ven you is shpoken mit
- 87: But if he dinks to gif you some more of de same veesic
- 88: Whither papa and Uncle Rutherford adjourned to see him
- 89: While he was still with the Petersens
- 90: Petersen was going to keep them for the night
- 91: If the Petersens will do it and they may
- 92: She willingly consented to go with me to the Petersens
- 93: Both his hands clasping those of Matty
- 94: 'cause it was the Golden Teks for that day
- 95: Matty had had the most unbounded terror of the fire engines
- 96: And being confronted with Tony
- 97: And the old man looked inquiringly at uncle Rutherford
- 98: What got hitched half way up to heaven an' stuck there
- 99: Rutherford and I thought you were growing weary of the city
- 100: She lost no time in seeking uncle Rutherford