The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-07-20
EASY JOE BRUCE.
by II. II. WELD.

sBless met exclaimed Mr. Joseph Bruce,
or perhaps we should rather say Joe Bruce,
as he was a noble, easy fellow, nobody
thought Of allowing him more than half his
name, or Of any thing else which belonged
to him. i see by the paper that Hawk d
Harpey have assigned. | meant TO have
secured my debt yesterday He left his
coffee half drank, stumbled over the thres
hold, and went almost at run to the count
ing room Of Hawk 81 Harpey. One half
his speed on the day before would have
saved his debt: as it was, he was just in
season to put his name at the bottom Of
dozen and half prepared ones, to receive
ten per cent He went back to his unfn
ished breakfast with what appetite he
might.
sWhy did yeu neglect this so long, Mr.
Bruce 2 said his helpmate and comforter.
'Imeant TO have attended to ityesterday,
my dear
You meant! That is always your way,
Mr.. Bruce. You carelessly neglect your
business to the last moment, and then.put
Yourself in haste and feaI for nothing,
my dear
Really, Mrs: Bruce
And it was really Mrs. Bruce, for few Of
the feminine, and none of the masculine
render, could have kept pace with her,
Certainly, Easy Joe could not. The clatter
oC cotton mill would not have been a cir
cumstance to the din she realised. Easy Joe
pulled a cigar case out of his pocket--clap-
ned his feet on the fender-and it almost
seemed that the smoke rendered his cars
imperyions to the bleaungs of that gentle
lamb, his spouse, so placid was his counte-
nance, as the vapor escaped in graceful vol
umes from his mouth. People overshoot
the mark sometimes. Mrs. Bruce did Had
she spared her oration, the mornings loss
would have induced her husband to have
been punctual to his business, for one day al
least. AS it was he took the same pride in
neglecting ngitunder her lecture, ,thatihe Crane
Nation took so long in refusing TO pay the
claims of our citizens.
Breeze away, Mrs. Brace?
Breeze away, Sir Breeze away!
wish could impart one title of my ener
gv to you, Mr.. Bruce; II
Bruce sprang to his feet, and crash CAM
an elegant mantel clock down upon th
hearth.
mere, MT. DIuCG Nidt ClONN ldo Sb'O
there three months without fastening;-
single screw would have saved it; but
well, meant to-
you meant! Mr.Bruce-IOu mean
won't pay the damage, nor Hawk & Elal
pev's You meant, indeed !
Bruce seized his hat and cloak In
few minutes he was on Change. Nobod
could read in his face any traces of the ma
rimonial breeze, and nobody woud suspeo
from his countenance that Hawk 81 llarpe
had failed in his debt. Easy Joe Bruce
well, Mr.. Bruce, they've routed him.
who?
Our friend Check. Pingree was CHI
sen President Of the - Bank, this morl
ing, One vote you'd have stopped him.
How detcedly uRlucky. / meant
have been present to vote for Check m.
self?
Never mind, Bruce said another.
You are lucky man. The news Of Il
great fire in Speederville has reached tow
by express, and congratulate you that "
was fully ensured
Insured my policy expired last wee
meant to have got it renewed this NOR
ing
Joe posted home in no happy humor.-
When an easy man is fairly up, he is Il
most uneasy and unreasonable man in ere
ton.