Jolly Old Uncle Josh

"Miss Somers - Polly - I - er - dare I - " But the speaker took a header over bashfulness, only to hear a sweet. "Yes, Charley." "Can I aspire to - er - to - that is-" "Again a lapse into silence, followed by an encouraging: "Yes, Charley." "Oh, if I might only hope to - er - to- " Another failure of language. It was seemingly a hopeless case, and might have been, only for a demure: "Charley, I've said 'yes' twice, and if you mean it, I mean it too, and - and - " And to this day that young man willinsist that he popped the question. All this happened away "down east," and it wasn't long before there was a wedding. Not much longer before there came a letter frum Polly's Uncle Josh, out in Michigan, who wrote effusively of his delight at her exhibition of what he called "grit," and he proposed that if the young couple would locate at Ann Arbor he would start them up in life as a wedding gift. Of course they accepted, and bade their friends adieu. A few weeks subsequent to the above conversation, a travel-stained party arrived at Ann Arbor. Our friend Uncle Josh was in charge, and he led the party straightway to a hotel. "The Germania Hotel," said he, "is a typical hotel of the best class. I have known W. L. Frank, the manager, for years, and he is mine host after my own heart. A thorough business man, he is endowed with that delightful intuition that makes a guest feel at home, comfortable, contented, and in mighty good luck, and the attendants polite and expert." "Now, the basis for a home," remarked Uncle Josh, "is a bit of mother earth. We will first find the popular real estáte dealer, A. W. Hamilton, who controls some very desirable property, both city and farm, besides representing some of the best fire and life insurance companies." A farm wassoon selected, and Mr. Hamilton also sold them a neat house in Hamilton Park subdivisión, where the Sigma Alpha Epsilon society of the University recently bought a couple of lots and are putting up a stone residence and club house, costing $15,000. "Having provided you with a cage for your bird," said Uncle Josh, "the first thing we'll look after will be the furnishings for it." Hereupon Polly energetically declared that she had heard so much about Koch & Henne that she desired to go there. The result was that they were ushered into such a bewildering display that the girl was atfirèt ata losshow to select. But she soon yielded to the seductiveness of a magnificient parlor suite, a bedroom set in oak (antique finish) that would have done credit to old Antiquity herself. To this she added a fine Brussels carpet for the parlor, and Lowells for the other rooms, besides draperies and lace curtains to match the other beautiful furnishings. "A pretty good start," said the old man, "and now we'll go to Schuh & Muehlig's hardware store." Here Polly's house-wifely instincts "had full play in marvels of kitchen apparatus. There is not an establishment in Ann Arbor that carries a more comprehensive stock of household furnishings. Every possible piece of kitchen furniture, from a tin dipperto a cooking range is here in all styles and variety. If Polly fails to accomplish wonders in the culinary art, it will not be the fault of superior cooking utensils, for she purchased a Quick-Meal gasoline stove for summer use, a Garland cook, and Charles got one of the celebrated Cartón combined hot water and hot air heaters for the new house, besides a couple of mantels and grates, for, said he, a fireplace is always pleasant and the large stock of Schuh ic Muehlig contains an endless variety of mantels to select from. "Let's see - I promised you a gold watch, didn't I?" queried Uncle Josh of Polly. "The place of all places in town is William Arnold's, so we'll go there." Entering the popular iewelry store, the old man gallantly acquitted himself of his promise and then directed Polly's attention to the superior stock of silverware carried by this house. "There is no other such house ia Ann Arbor, ' ' said the old man, 'and I guarantee the quality to be the very best. Piek out your family clock while here," he added, "Mr. Arnold carries a magnificent line, besides an endless variety of jewelry and silverware." "By the way," remarked Uncle Josh, as they reached the street, "I must run over to the Farmers' & Mechanics' Bank, and get another check book. Come with me and I will introduce you to Mr. Belser, cashier, for of course you will do business with him, as it is always pleasanter to be personally acquainted with the men you do business with. This bank is as solid as the base of the universe and depositors need have no fears these panicky times of not getting their money when they cali for it. You will find them ever ready to extend any accommodation compatible with business principies. It is an institution of which the people of Ann Arbor are justly proud. At this point uncle Josh suggested laying in a supply of groceries and provisions. "Never neglect your larder," said he, "that important adjunct of housekeeping controls masculine temper. To that end you must patronize a grocer on whom you can depend for honest goods. Through a long term of years I have found Rinsey & Seabolt perfectly reliable. You will find them careful dealers, always full stocked with every possible thing in the line of staple and fancy groceries, fresh and first-class - no shelf worn goods :here - while the prices are down to jrass tacks. Be sure and take what eggs you may have to sell to Rinsey & Seabolt." "By the way, Uncle," exclaimed Polly, "where can I go for dry goods? This dress of mine is hardly suitable I must admit." "Well, my girl, if you want to select from one of the most extensively stocked establishments in the city, I will direct you to Schairer & Millen, who carry a line of dress goods that for variety and real valué, is seldom seen outside the largest metropolitan cities. They carry all the latest things in summer silks, parasols and aces. You will find them pleasant to deal with and their employés polite and expert, while their place cannot be duplicated." Uncle Josh then called Polly's attention to their extensive cloak department, the finest in the city. While looking over the University buildings, Uncle Josh complained of a headache, and so they repaired to the E. E. Calkins' drug store, at 34 S. State St. , where the obliging attendant soon produced a sedative that relieved him. This establishment carries a line of Kodaks that amused the party greatly, because of several snap shots taken of a phenominal baby at play opposite on the campus. Uncle Josh told them to have their prescriptions filled here as it would be done accurately and they wouldn't have to pay fancy prices either, besides none but the purest of drugs would be used. Near by, the trio stopped in at the book bindery of Fred' J. Schleede, where Uncle Josh 'recommended Charles to lay in a stock of account books, besides what paper and envelopes they would need for a year, "for," said he, "you can get 166 sheets of paper, letter size, for a quarter." Mr. Schleede makes a specialty of fountain pens, including the celebrated John Holland make. He binds magazines at ha price during the present dull season and always carries a full line of students' note books and general stationery. "Every house," said Uncle Josh, "should be supplied with a good bath. None is so handy and economical as Knowlton's Universal Bath. Let's walk over to 24 North State street, and visit Mr. E. J. Knowlton, whose baths are sold from Maine to California, receiving the highest award at the Centennial in Philadelphia in 1876, in competition with the world." They found the veteran inventor at home, in his usual good spirits, and ordered one of the best, which cost about half the price of the clumsy old-fashioned copper tubs, and can be used without taking up an entire room when not in service, and are neater and more convenient than a stationary tub. They then took a street car for down town, and landed at the shoe store of Wahr & Miller, 48 South (Cotitinuecl on eighth vage.) JOLLY OLD UNCLE JOSH. (Continúen f rom tirst pase.) Main street. "Oh," said Polly, "what a perfectly lovely slipper that is in the show window." "Yes," said Uncle Josh, "their stock can't be equaled in style and extent in this section; come in and look it over." It might have been policy not to have extended that invitation, had not Uncle Josh known how wise economy it is to trade at Wahr & Miller's, for Polly found goods and prices so seductive that she purchased an outfit from a satin slipper to a handsome walking boot. Charles invested in a gent's fine shoe, while Uncle Josh indulged in a stout farm boot. No one needing footwear can resist the styles and prices of Wahr & Miller. They carry a magnificent line. "As you are going to farming," remarked Uncle Josh, "you'll need harness. The boss horse milliner in this section is Fred Theurer, at 12 West Liberty street. He employs only first-class workmen, and gives personal supervisión to the minutest detail of manufacture. There is nothing in his, line that cannot be had of him - heavy and light, single and doublé, plain and fancy, work and buggy harness, he has all of them in stock, whips, robes, etc." "Now," cried the old gentleman, "let's go to the photograph gallery of A. W. Corlis, No. 6 Huron street, up stairs, and look over some of his elegant view and portrait work, and get a picture of this crowd in good old country fashion.-I wantone fullsized photo for my study and some small ones for my friends. Mr. Corlis is famous for successful enlarging, and I want to give you a life-sized representation of 'yours truly'. Mr. Corlis has the soulof a true artist. All his work is a labor of Iove, in which he will not stop short of perfection." "And now, Polly, there is one thing about which I want your advice. I notice the extensive electric marble works ofjohn Baumgardner, at No. 6 Detroit street. He is one of the most enterprising business men in Ann Arbor. He has just introduced an electric polisher, which enables him to buy the marble and granite in the rough and finish it here, saving 20 per cent. to customers over small yards who buy their work finished ready for lettering. Let's go in here and look about, and I have decided to take this occasion to perform a dutylong delayed and buy a monument to the memory of your Aunt Betsey, than whom a better woman never lived. It is better to go to the office and buy direct, and not only save commissions paid to traveling men of 20 to 25 per cent, but I am told it is a pleasure to deal with Mr. Baumgardner personally. Then there is the further advantage of examining the various designs." To this Polly readily assented, and they selected one of the oíd standard style of Scotch granite ,spiral monuments and left suitable orders for the inscription to the memory of one dear to their hearts. There was a large stock of the new style square work, in all grades of stone; but Únele Josh is an old-fashioned man and chose one of the old fashioned kind, and Polly agreed with him. "As you are going farming you'll do well to meet K. J. Rogers, the well-known dealer in farm tools, and you will need a complete outfit of utensils for the farm. K. J. Rogers' line of farm tools, embracing the Wiard and Bissell plow, Planet Jr. cultivators, riding cultivators, Farmer's Friend grain drills, and also the celebrated Perfection pumps, best of the kind for pumping water. Rogers also keeps the largest line and best assortment of seeds in bulk, field, garden and flower, and I need not say this is the best place in the county to buy these goods. And as salt is a saver, I will just add that lump salt is kept here and can be bought at the lowest rate. Do not fail to remember to buy your goods of Rogers." The little party strolled up town and visited the music stores, but it was at the Ann Arbor Organ Co. 's Polly found most to interest her. In her old home she had used an Ann Arbor Organ, and naturally had a desire to visit the factory where it was made, which they did. Upon passing to the ware-rooms a magnificient assortment of pianos, organs, musical instruments, and sheet music was seen, including the well-known Mehlin piano, and the Baumullerpiano. Polly wasan expert and tried several, but finally selected a fine Mehlin upright as the best of all. Uncle Josh was delighted with her choice, assuring her that whatever Mr. Clement represented could be entirely relied on. Charles now proposed a drive out to the place Uncle Josh had bought them. And the party ordered a rig from J. A. Polhemus, the livery man. "You see," said Uncle Josh, 'Mr. Polhemus keeps only firstclass turnouts, and I can always get better service there than at any other stable. Remember, Charles, when you are located on the farm and come to town, put up at these bles and rest assured your team will be well taken care of, while charges will be very reasonable. " En route to their home the gentlemen called at the Argus office. "You'll want the news every week," said Uncle Josh, "and as this is the favorite paper here, 111 subscribe for it." Upon reioining, Polly began to volubly express her . thanks. "You have bought us everything," she exclaimed. "Only one thing," remarked Uncle Josh, reflectivety, "but I can remedy that. Koch & Henne always have a nice line of them, and you can get one whenever you want it; I'll pay for the best." "VV-h-y," exclaimed Polly, with great curiosity, "whatever is it?" "Well, it's a baby cab, and-" But Polly had fainted.