The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-22
A RUN ON THE BANK:
OR,
H BOGUS COUNTY BANK PANIC
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.

too mi Oh exercised. With every fresh arrival
at the Plains, we had the old stories repeated /;
and 81 the dinner-table sat corps of we'll
trainel, claquers, listening to the introduction,
growjt g interested in the details, Frightening
up as The narrator approached the denouement,
and barsting into hearty roar at the right
point. Apnt Josephine was the only one who
protested at the proposed innovation. She re-
gatdey the entertainment of guests as a SCI
ence, ;.nd, 30 viewing Uncle's efforts, said we
should sacrifice our own feelings for the pur.
pose If sustaining our Professor. The new
storiel, she argued, may not be so good, and it
will b some time before we can come in grace.
fully I their support. As the prosperity of a
jest liz in the ear, she declared it our duty to
assist IN making all the old ones prosperous.
But lucy said that it was impossible
laugh had grown 80 hollow and unnatural she
waa q hamed of it, while Carrie asserted that
all fire. nkness and honesty were shocked at her
deeep ion. Besides, she continued, that when
she lesrd for the first time how Father
Quinn had been pounded by his own friends,
the story was so absurd she could not help
laugh ng, and thus could excuse her forgetful-
ness Of pioas respect; but now that with cool
deIibeeation they we're called upon again and
again to assist in this exhibition of priestly
suffering, her conscience positively revolted.
We had clear majority, and so determined
that cur beaux at the Lodge should be treated
to pew set of anecdotes. The matter was laid
delicstsly before Uncle John, and he laughed
heartily at our troubles, but promised us posi-
lively reformation. But it never came. The
very week following, George s. and Edward T.
visited US, ostensibly for few days shooting.
1t is true that gaming purposes did not require
guitar and flute, which instruments we're
smuggled into what we called the outpost, be.
ing little lodge off from the house, where we
colonized the beaux. This discovery was made
by and by, after the gentlemen had INDUCED in
hard days tramp over the fields and swamps
in search of snipe, when they stole out at mid
night to astonish US by serenade. Carrie
could not refrain from saying that, if the game
had any ear for music, the execution of that
flute and guitar would be greater than guns.
Fazzsingtum, our house-dog, was nonstrously
Offended at the strange noise, and ran boo hoo
ing az the musicians, ust as George s. lifted
up his voice to sing, Oh whisper what thou
feelest," and was forced to break his guitar over
the head of the stupid brute; while MIR. Ed
ward, dropping his flute, found refuge in an
apple.tree. 1t was after this arrival that we
looked for the proposed improvement, but we
looked in vain. The same old stories would
out, AND we were bored IS with the "oft-told
tale, sexing the ears of drowsy man." had
my pian of cure. l would reduce his stories
to print. determined to publish to the world
this Choice collection. fear that Uncle John
will suffer by the process not only by the loss
OF his little histories, but in the cold print will
DISAPPEAR the quaint, quiet humor of converse
tior, which in select circles has made him cell
ebrated. However, we are driven to this, and
so for the first specimen.
Western village is not a pleasant thing
to Contemplate. The dirty, unpaved streets,
the white or red houses drying in the sun, sug-
gestNg heavy bread, sour milk, and warm
watel The square, vulgar looking tavern,
whlcl speaks of poisonous drinks, feather. beds
and fermin, the noise of the tin shop or smithy,
all G ,mbine to make Western village most
abon mable to eye and ear. A very little labor
and o additional expense would change it all.
few forest trees, beautiful, graceful, and
| abup liant as they are, planted along the side
walk, would change the dismal streets into
COOL refreshing avenues. But Western man
PROPER hates tree. His progenitor, the pion-
eer, found the forest his greatest enemy next to
the indian, and the child received the preju.
dice 2onstitutionally at his birth, as the French
infant takes revolutionary instinct at his
mothers breast. A Western man has no con-
tent Or comfort, until from about his dwelling
ne has cleared every vestige of green, budding
nature.
west independence forms no exception to
this general rule Approaching the town from
the north, one finds the road crowded in BY a
huge, white, staring mandatory on one side,
aud long range of pig-sties on the other.
With eye, nose, and ears, alike offended, you
enter upon dusty street, bounded on either
hand by struggling habitations. However, pass
with me through the little town, and we will
find something pleasanter. Turning to the
right, at the corner where stands a square
brick building, with sign above the door,
wherton one reads the cabalistic letters Bank"
we follow the narrow street, which, terminating
il, road, leads to a wooded eminence, on which
raposes O. beautiful residence. In and about
this mansion appear every evidence of cultiva
ton and refined taste. The untrimmed forest
tees almost brush against the admirably-tint.
ed walls, and wave their dark foliage above
toe closely shaver lawn, while within the house,
II you do not see the well selected furniture,
you will probably hear a sweet voice, pouring
out food of melody to the accompaniment of
harp or piano, or low,toned conversation, emil
vened BY that unmstakable evidence of cult
vation, musical laugh. Physicians inform
US that the first proof we have of approaching
insanity, is in the voice, which grows harsh
and out of tune And so by laugh pretend
to Judge of ones refinement. There is as much
difference in the laughter of cultivated and
coarse minds, as there is in the matter of their
conversation.
Well, the merry laugh and musical accom-
paniments belong to Ella Johnston; and Ella
Johnston's laughs merry, and songs musical,
together with house, grounds, pony, and dog,
are the property of Clinton Y. Johnston, sup
posed millionaire, and President of the "Bogus
County Banking Company" have not the space
| to give the biography of this distinguished
gentleman. Suffice it to say, he was q widow.
er, something beyond the turning point in life,
| and lived in this pleasant mansion with his
maiden sister, and only child, the daughter be-
fore mentioned, who, at the time of introduc-
ton to the reader, was eighteen years of age.
The inmates, at the moment when the laugh I
speak of was supposed to be heard, were the
| three enumerated, and dark haired youth, a
sort of relative, hsndaome, lively, and accom-.
phshed, who came as q cousin, and, falling
deeply in love, remained as a sutton. His bust,
ness qualities and energy of character pleased
the father, while his handsome person and re-
fined bearing, added to an earnest devotion, won
the daughter; and, although opposed by the
aunt, his stream of true love would have run
lint for ,ox,1k L.