Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-09-13
Easy Joe Bruce.
BY II. HASTINGS WELD.


haps we should rather say Joe Bruce, for he
noble, easy fellow, nobody thought of allowing him
more than bali his name, or of anything else which
belonged 10 him,-"l see by the paper that Hawk g.
HAPPY have assigned. l meant to have secured my
old debt yesterday" He left his coffee half drank,
stumbled over the threshold and went almost
to the counting-room Of Hawk g. HAPPY. One half
that speed on the day before would have saved bis
deb-as 1t was, he was just in season to put on his
name at the bottom of dozen and half preferred
ones, 10 receive Ten per cent. He went back to his
unfinished breakfast with what appetite ne might.
( why did you neglect this SO long, Mr.. Bruce!"
said his helpmeet and comforter
Z" meant TO have attended to it yesterday, my
DEAR"
! "You meant. That is always your way, Mr.. Bruce
You carelessy neglect your business to the last
ment, and then put yourself in haste and heat for
nothing, my dear"
REALLY, Mrs. Bruce"
But Mrs. Bruce did MT allow him chance to de-
fend himself On sho went in the most approved con-
jugal manner to berae him for his cureessness and
/ inatteniion.
"Really, Mrs Bruce"
And it was really Mrs. Bruce, for few fthe femin-
inc. and none of the masculine gender could have
kept peace with her. Certainly Easy Joe cond not.
The clater Of cotton mill would not have been cir
cumsance to the din she raised-nay doubt whether
philippe against of those said mills from the
lungs of Benton Tonans, could have been heard above
her voice. Joe pslled cigar out of his pocket
l-cnpped Ills feet on the fen0erand IL almost SEEM
ed that the smoke rendered his impervious to the
bleatings of that gentle lamb, his Spouse placid
was his counienance, the yap0r escaped in volumes
from his mouth People overshoot the mark some
,imes-Mrs Bruce did. Had she spared her Grafton the
mornings loss would have induced her husband to
have been punctual to his business, for day at
least. As it he took sort of pride in negecting
il under her lecture.
"Breeze away, Mrs. Bruce"
"Breeze away. sir! Breeze awayl wish that
could mpart one 1.-THE ofmy energy to you, Mr.. Bruce
l-I-I2'
swell, meant to-"
"You meant, Mr.. Bruce, you meant wont pay the
damage, nor Hawk & Harpy's note. You meant, in
deed!"
Bruce seized his hat and cloak In few minutes
he was on Change. Nobody could read in his face
any traces of the late matrimonial breeze, and nobody
would have suspected from his countenance that
Hawk g. HAPPY failed in his debt. Easy Joe Bruce!
"Well, Mr.. Bruce they've routed him.
S "Who!'
sour friend Check Pingree was chosen President
OF the - Bank, this morning. One vote would
have stepped him."
a "How very unIucky. meant have been pres
e ent to vote myself"
.Never mind, Bruce" said another. 'You are q
e lucky man. The of the great fire at Speedve
has Just reached town by express, and congratulate
you that you were fully insured"
mot penny" said Bruce. my policy expired
last week, and meant to have got it renewed this
8 morning."
\ Joe posted home in very happy humor. When
an easy is fairly up, he is the most uneasy and
:, unreasonable man in creation.
"Mrs. Bruce. by staying at home to hear you scold
have lost thousands. | meant to have got insured
this morning. did not-Speedville is burned down.
and am q beggar.'
"Wby did you not do it Yesterday, Mr. Brucel"
: al was thinking of Hawk g. Harry"
Thinking. Why did you no, secure yourself!'
e al meant to, but"
- "But-use no butts"
3 "You are in excellent spirits, Mrs. Bruce"
" "Never in better"
"Vastly fine, madam. We are beggars.
Every good, will tOke my guitar, and you shall
. shoulder the three children. Well play unde. Mr..
Hawks window first, then under Mr.. Harpy's and
then we will beg way to Speedvile, TO play to the
ashes OF what was ouce your factory, which you
n meant to have insured should like begging above
! all things"
"You abominable woman, shall 90 mad"
: "Don't, bcseech you, Mr.. Bruce They put mad
beggars in Bedlam."
;, Bruce sprang for the door. His wife intercepted
him. Here. Joseph, is paper | meant to have
, shown you this morning"
. "a policy, and dated yesterday"
;. "Yes. You meant to get it renewed to-day
! meant it should be done yesterdny-so | told your
: clerk, to do it. Am | not an abominable wo-
J man 7"
,f 'When said SO ! was in pet: meant
:, W. more Vi that, Joseph NOW tell me VINO IL
!, first on Hawk 81 Harpy's assignment"
. "Your brother"
" "His claim covers you bOth."
:" 'You an ANGEL
!, Easy Joe became altered man, and his wife wal
" released from her watch his outdoor business
- She died some years before him. but half
clined TO suspect, that after her death Joe partially
apsed into his old habts-so il is that habit
second nature. Both were buried in the church, arc
at Speedyille. and our suspicious founded
y thing like the following conversation, between h,
gruvedigger and his assistant:
"Where are we to Dig Mr. Bruces gravel
= 81 don't know exactly. His will says, next hi
Wife"
'e .'Where she iaid!
= = "That don't know. Easy Joe always said b.
;e meant To place obelisk over her, but it wa
10 never done"