MR. SAWYER MEETS UNCLE IKE.
Quincy Adams Sawyer had not come down to Mason's Corner with any idea of
becoming a hermit. His father was a great lawyer and a very wealthy man.
He had made Quincy a large allowance during his college days, and had
doubled it when his only son entered his law office to complete his
studies.
Quincy had worked hard in two ways; first, to read law, so as to realize
the great anticipations that his father had concerning him; second, he
worked still harder between eight in the evening and one, two, and even
four in the morning, to get rid of the too large allowance that his
father made him.
Like all great men, his father was unsuspicious and easily hoodwinked
about family matters; so when Quincy grew listless and on certain
occasions fell asleep at his desk his renowned and indulgent father
decided it was due to overwork and sent him down to Eastborough for a
month's rest and change of scene.
His father had known Isaac Pettengill, and in fact had conducted many
successful suits for him; besides this he had drawn up the papers when
Uncle Ike divided his fortune. Quincy's father had written to Uncle Ike,
asking him to find his son a boarding place, and Uncle Ike had selected
Deacon Mason's as the best place for him.
Quincy's father had told him to be sure and get acquainted with Mr.
Isaac Pettengill, saying he was a man of fine education, and added, "I
sometimes feel, Quincy, as though I would like to go into the country
and take care of a chicken farm myself for a while."
His mother came of the best New England stock, and although she had been
named Sarah and her husband's name was Nathaniel, we have seen that the
son had been endowed with the rather high-sounding name of Quincy Adams,
which his schoolmates had shortened to Quince, and his college friends
had still further abbreviated to Quinn. Quincy had two sisters and they
had been equally honored with high-sounding appellations, the elder
being called Florence Estelle and the younger Maude Gertrude, but to pa,
ma, brother, and friends they were known as Flossie and Gertie.
The next day after the affair at Hill's grocery, Quincy put several of
the best cigars in town in his pocket and started towards Eastborough
Centre for a walk, intending to call upon Uncle Ike Pettengill.
The young man knew that late hours and their usual accompaniments were
what had undermined his health, so he determined to make his vacation of
good service to him and recover his accustomed health and strength, and
when he returned home cut his old acquaintances and settle down
earnestly and honestly to the battle of life.
He had teen a favorite in city society; he was well educated, well read,
had travelled considerably and was uniformly polite and affable to all
classes, from young children to old men and women; he was very careful
about his dress, and always had that well-groomed appearance, which in
the city elicits commendation, but which leads the average countryman to
say "dude" to himself and near friends when talking about him.
Quincy was no dude; he had been prominent in all college athletic games;
he had been a member of the 'varsity eight in one of its contests with
Yale, and had won a game for Harvard with Yale at base ball by making a
home run in the tenth inning on a tied score. He was a good musician and
fine singer. In addition he was a graceful dancer, and had taken lessons
in boxing, until his feather-weight teacher suggested that he had better
find a heavy-weight instructor to practise on.
Quincy was in his twenty-third year. He had been in love a dozen times,
but, as he expressed it, had been saved from matrimony by getting
acquainted with a prettier girl just as he was on the point of popping
the question.
But we left him walking along on his way to Eastborough Centre. Deacon
Mason had told him Uncle Ike's house was away from the road, some
hundred feet back, and that he could not mistake it, as he could see the
chicken coop from the road. He finally reached it after traversing about
a mile and a half, it being another mile and a half to Eastborough
Centre.
He found the path that led to the house. As he neared the steps a huge
dog arose from a reclining posture and faced him, not in an ugly mood,
but with an expression that seemed to-say, "An introduction will be
necessary before you come any farther." The dog seemed to understand
that it was his duty to bring about the necessary introduction, so he
gave a series of loud barks. The door was quickly opened and Uncle Ike
stood in the doorway.
"Do I address Mr. Isaac Pettengill?" asked Quincy.
Uncle Ike replied, "That's what they write on my letters."
Quincy continued, "My name is Quincy Adams Sawyer. I am the only son of
the Hon. Nathaniel Sawyer of Boston, and I bear a letter of introduction
from him to you."
Quincy took the letter from his pocket and held it in his hand. The dog
made a quick movement forward and before Quincy could divine his object,
he took the letter in his mouth and took it to Uncle Ike, and,
returning, faced Quincy again.
Uncle Ike read the letter slowly and carefully; then he turned to Quincy
and said, "If you will talk about birds, fish, dogs, and chickens, you
are welcome, and I shall be glad to see you now or any time. If you talk
about lawsuits or religion I shall be sorry that you came. I am sick of
lawyers and ministers. If you insist upon talking on such subjects I'll
tell Swiss, and the next time you come he won't even bark to let me know
you're here."
Quincy took in the situation, and smiling said, "I am tired of lawyers
and lawsuits myself; that is the reason I came down here for a change.
The subjects you mention will satisfy me, if you will allow me to put in
a few words about rowing, running, boxing, and football."
Uncle Ike replied, "The physically perfect man I admire, the
intellectually perfect man is usually a big bore; I prefer the company
of my chickens." Turning to Swiss he said with a marked change in his
voice, "This is a friend of mine, Swiss." Turning to Quincy he said, "He
will admit you until I give him directions to the contrary."
The dog walked quietly to one side and Quincy advanced with outstretched
hand toward Uncle Ike.
Uncle Ike did not extend his. He said, "I never shake hands, young man.
It is a hollow social custom. With Damon and Pythias it meant something.
One was ready to die for the other, and that hand-clasp meant friendship
until death. How many hand shakings mean that nowadays? Besides," with a
queer smile, "I have just been cutting up a broiler that I intend to
cook for my dinner. Come in, you are welcome on the conditions I have
mentioned."
Quincy obeyed and stepped into the kitchen of Sleepy Hollow. He owned to
himself in after years that that was the most important step he had
taken in life--the turning-point in his career.