Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-21

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Something of this feeling, however unper
ceived Or ungueSsed by himself, mingled witt
the natural enotions~of curiosity and Interest
in our friend Margarets bosom, as, standing
hrmbly apart between her two elder children
with infant in her arms, under a large syca
more she gazed around upon the scene and
perceived, galy adorned, in the extreme coun
try fashion, the rival candidate for her belov
ed cottage buxom landlady of the Red
| Lion, surrounded by the unfriendly kindred OF
her late husband Neither Margaret nor her
| William had ever applied for assistance to
these people and yet she knew instinctivefy
| that some from pride and some from shame
felt the silent reproach Of her unassisted power
| ty and her bameless life-that all wished her
absence, and would contribute, as far as i. them
lay, to turn her from her home and, in spite
of the encouraging influence other lately known
knsman's cheering forcbodings, her heart sank
| within her as the door of the cottage was
thrown Open An elderly gentleman, very neat
| " dressed, but palld emaciated and lame, was
| assisted by his servants up the two low steps
that led to the porch. Having assembled them
with some difficulty, he turned around, took of
his hat, bowed with gracious smile to the
assembly, and then paused, as if IN search OF
some one whom he expected to see,
The effect of this apparition was start of
surprise and horror from the portly landlady,
seldom equalIed on a stage or off; her brother
the haberdashcr, who had just flourishcd his
hat preparatory to leading the general cheer,
let il fall in diSmay looking the curses which
his habitual hypocrisy scarce repressed; cousin
Anthony. the rich miserable mser, smothered
groan: : and Nicholas Hume, in spite Of his
consummate impudence, fairly stole away.
What. in the meanwhile, did our friends in
their humble nook under the sycamore? Little
Michael danced for JOY. Annie clapped her
hands, and poor Margaret, for the twentieth
time during the last six hours, burstin tears;
this time, however, Of unmingled joy.
Mrs. Leslie Margaret my dear neice y
cried Michael, (or, as we may now call him.
Mr. Norris, advanced to meet her, g to you
alone of all my relations now living, do | owe
any account Of my motives for coming among
YOU as have done to-day with the rest OF
my kindred have done forever. But | also
owe some explanation to my tenants and future
neighborS. You all know that | left England
about fifty years ago, poor and triendless lad.
| returned, nearly thirty years afterwards, with
riches honestly obtained, the happy husband Of
awcalthy and excellent woman, and the father Of
four hopeful children. | came to COrston
found my relations, some INDECENT, some COM
fortably situated, did what | could among them
and went back to Jamaica, with the view, at
some future day, of placing my sons at the head
of my plantation in that Island, and coming
home to die in my native village. A hurricane
passed over the estate where | lived, destroy
ing my dwelling my wife, my children, and al
most myself.
For many years | was dead to the world ;
but care had been taken Of the large property
that remained to me, and when, by Gods mcr-
cy, was restored to health, mental and bodily,
| found myself rich indeed, SO far as money
was concerned, richer than ever; but in the
blessed charities Of life, most poor chlldless,
dcsolate bereayed old man. ] knew that a
report had gone abroad that | was ruined by
the hurricane, and | resolved to prove the re-
lations had left in England, by coming among
them in seeming poverty have done so, and
the experiment answered well. And now, my
dearest necc, | need not tell YOU that the cot
tagc is yours but for the second time today,
| throw myself upon your charity You will
not abandon mc because | happen to be rich
You will never have the heart to do that :
You remember your promise that We should
live together so come with those dear chill
dren to brighten and gladden. the old Hall.