The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-11-15

IN. WHICH, II he succeeded, the favor ne was
now asking should be amply compensated !.
He then took out from small secret store
which he had long been accumulatng, sum
which he thought sufficient for the journey (;
and thus equipped and provided, he boldly
sci out for The metropolis.
Though the autumn was far advanced, and
the roads consequently very, bad he arrived in
town without any accident, and put up at
small inn in the borough, TO which he had
been recommended. Though he had never
been in London before, he resolved to lose
no time, but proceeded Immediately TO busi-
ness. The night after his arrival, therefore,
he belook himself 10 the foo, of London bridge;
and as soon as he heard 81. Paul's clock strike
seven, by which time ii was quite dark, he
commenced his walk, backwards and for.
wards over the bridge. He continued this
exercise till he heard the same clock strike
eight; when, having observed nothing more
remarkable than the coming and going mas
ses of busy crowd of passengers, he returu-
cd to his hotel. He was much disappointed
at the i'll success of his first essay, as Two
more nights still remained. The second
night passed exactly like the first, and he be-
gan to be little dIsheartened. He commen-
ced, however, the labors of the third night
with renov aled hope; but when he heard the
dee p-moulhed bell again loll eight o'clock,
mis- spirit sunk within him. With heavy
heart he prepared to quit the bridge, inward
ly cursing his own creduli'y and the devices
of Satan, who he doubted not, had lured him
on to This ill-fateo expedition.
II MAJ be necessary 10 remind some of our
readers, that al the period we are speakng
of, the entire length of the London bridge
was aanked by two rows CT houses and shops,
and great retail busnes was carried on IN
this singular situation. On one Of these shops,
decorated by the sign of a negro boy with
pipe in bis moulh, Kester Hohson happened
TO cas-, his eye as he was about to Quit The
co box was empty for the necessities of es-
tablished habit will duly recur, even amidst
our sorrows and dsappointmenls. He en-
tered the shop therefore with view of pur-
chasing small supply; and found behind
the counter an elderly, seda,e looking qua
ker. whose conented and well fed perso" in
dicated the prosperity of his calling: Whilst
weighing the tob acco, he surveyed our York
shire man with some earnestness, and then,
in a tone which expressed sort OF good-na-
lured curiosity, accosted him as iollows:-
81 have observed, friend, with some surprise,
that for several nights thou hast employed
myself for considerable time in walking to
and fro across this bridge, and thy anxious
looks seemed TO expect something very par
ticuar; am afraid thou hast been waiting
tor some person who has disappointed thee
aud failed in his engagement If any advice
or information of mine can be OF any use, as
thou seemest TO be stranger in London,
should be glad to offer thee any assistance in
my power" Our hearts are never more
warmed than by an offer OF kindness in
strange place and amongst strange peoples
Kes,er Hobson possessed, perhaps greater
portion than usual of that mixture OF simpli-
city and cunning, which has been so often
ascribed 10 his countrymen, but though al
ways little on his guard, he was not quite
proof against this open and disinterested kinu-
ness. He expressed his thanks very heartily,
bnt declared he was quite ashamed to confess
his business in London, and the nature Of
those night.walks which had excited the at
tenlion of the honest tobacconist. BY de-
grees, however, his inqnisitive friend got out
of him, that be had, in fact, been deeply NOR.
tilted and Disappointed that he had expected
10 meet with very particular person or oc-
currence on the London bridge; and, in short,
that he had undertaken n long. expensive,
and laborious journey 10 London, merely at
the insligation of dream. He suppressed,
however, his name and residence, from
vague apprehension that such disclosure
might by possibility expose him TO ridcule,
or some other unpleasant consequence.
The Quaker heard this strange confession
with much surprise, and then replied with
great solemnity. 1T strikes me with aston.
ishment, my good friend, that man OF Thy
decent and sober appearances should have
come TO journey of two or three hundred
miles on such an errand as this! ih ough,
such vain immigtaiious and weak supersti-
tions had long s.nce been eschewed by all
men of sense, aud abandoned 10 children
aud old women. 1t is deplorable to think
that thy parents and instructors did not take
care 10 root out all such idle iareies in early
lie, and then wisdom might peradventure
have come with years and experience
" However," continued he, "it does not be-
come me to erect mine horn alofi, and look
down upon the weak and ignorant, because
my own lot has fallen in better places. il
have been hitherto enabled 10 turn aside
from all such vain devices, is it not because
having been brought up, as it were, at the
feet of Gamaliel, have learnt from The les
sons of wise father the ways of truth and
sobernesss And yet" added he, smiling at
Christopher, " can assure thee, friend, that
if have constantly kept clear Of all such de-
lusions il has not heen for lack of tempta.