ssment; "but there's always a
black sheep in every flock."

Poor Obed! To be called a black sheep--a hard-working, steady-going man
as he had been all his life.

"But my mother's brother, Obed, strange to say, was always rustic and
uncouth, and so he was sent out to Illinois to be a farmer. We thought
that the best place for him--that he would live and die there; but now,
in the most vexatious manner in the world, he turns up here."

"He isn't going to stay here, is he?" asked Philip, in dismay.

"No; we must get rid of him some way. I must say it was a very cool
proceeding to come here without an invitation, expecting us to support
him."

This was a gratuitous assumption on the part of Mrs. Ross.

"I suppose he's very poor. He doesn't look as if he had a cent. I
presume he is destitute, and expects us to take care of him."

"You'd better send him packing, mother."

"I suppose we shall have to do something for him," said Mrs. Ross, in a
tone of disgust. "I shall advise your father to buy a ticket for him,
and send him back to Illinois."

"That'll be the best way, mother. Start him off to-morrow, if you can."

"I won't keep him long, you may be sure of that."

By this time Colonel Ross had reached home, and his wife communicated to
him the unwelcome intelligence of Uncle Obed's arrival, and advised him
as to the course she thought best to pursue.

"Poor old man!" said the colonel, with more consideration than his wife
or son possessed. "I suppose he felt solitary out there."

"That isn't our lookout," said Mrs. Ross, impatiently. "It's right
enough to say poor old man. He looks as poor as poverty. He'll be better
off in Illinois."

"Perhaps you are right, but I wouldn't like to send him off
empty-handed. I'll buy his ticket, and give him fifty dollars, so that
he need not suffer."

"It seems to me that is too much. Twenty dollars, or ten, would be
liberal."

The cold-hearted woman seemed to forget the years during which her uncle
had virtually supported her.

"No, Lucinda; I shall give him fifty."

"You should think of your son, Colonel Ross," said his wife. "Don't
impoverish him by your foolish generosity."

Colonel Ross shrugged his shoulders.

"Philip will have all the money that will be good for him," he said.

"Very well; as you please. Only get him off as soon as you can. It is
mortifying to me to have such a looking old man here claiming
relationship to me."

"He is your uncle, Lucinda