Page:The mislaid uncle (IA mislaiduncle00raym).pdf/168

 Mr. Wakeman explained. Explained, added, itemized, and diffused himself all over the argument, so to speak, while the faces of his audience grew more and more tense and disturbed. At length he finished:

"That is the way it stands, sir, you see. Your brother John consigned this child to my employer, through a mistake in the address. Simply that. Now an old gentleman and—feeble, I may say"—Oh! if Uncle Joe could have heard him! "A feeble old man is not the one to be burdened with other folks' relations. When I go back to town, now, I'll be able to report that the missing uncle of this waif has been found at last, and that—Shall I say when you will call to reclaim her?"

Father and mother looked into each other's eyes, one questioning the other, and reading in each but the same answer. Then said Joseph Smith, rightful uncle of our Josephine:

"Spare yourself the trouble, Mr. Wakeman. My brother's child is our child, as dear and near. Alas, that I can offer her no better shelter! but it is a safe one and will be more