Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-17
r From the National Era.
- ARUN ON THE BANK;
Or, The Bogus Country Bank Panic.
BIZ MRS. BELL SMITH.


We determined on all sides that il was time
for Uncle John to get up some new stories The
old ones were quite threadbare. Ne-not that,
indeed-but his household audience was too
much exercised. With every fresh arrival at
the Plains, we had the old stories repeated; and
at the dinner-table sat corps Of well-trained
clsquers, listening to the Introduction, growing
interested in the details Frightening up as the
narrator approached the denoueme mt, and burst
ing into hearty roar at the right point. Aunt
Josephine was the only one who protested at the
proposed innovation. She regarded the enter
tainment of guests as a science, and. so viewing
Uncle's efforts, said we should sacrifice our own
feelings for the purpose Of sustaining our Pro-
fessOr. Tho new stories she argued may no.
be 50 good, and it will be some time before we
can come IN gracefully TO their support. As
the prosperity of Jest lies in the ear, she de-
clsred it our duty TO assist in making all the
old ones prosperous. But Lucy said that it was
imPOssible-her laugh had grown so hollow and
unnatural she was ashamed Of it. while Carrie
asserted that all frankness and honesty were
shocked at her deceptiOM Besides. she con-
tinued. that when sne heard for the first time
how Father Puinn had been pounded by his own
friends, the story was 80 absurd she could not
belp laughing, and thus could excuse her forget
fulneSs of plOus respect; but now that with cool
deliberatiOn they were called upon again and
again to assist in this exhibition of priestly SUI
We had clear majority, and 30 determined
that our beauK at the Lodge should be treated
70 n new get Of anecdotes. The matter was laid
delicately 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 5. and Edward I.
visited US, s,estensibly for a few days shooting
Ii is true that gaming purposes did not require
guitar and flute, which instruments were
smusgied into what We called the outpost, be-
ing little lodge off from the honse, where we
colonized the beaux. This discovery was made
by and by. after the gentlemen had INDUCED in
hard day tramp over the fields and swamps
in search of snipe, when they stole out at mid
night to ast0nish us by a serenade. Carrie
could not refrain from saying that, if the game
had any ear for music, the exc u.ion Of that
flute and guitar would be greater than guns
FuZZringtum our hOuse-dOg, was monstrOusly
offended at the strange noise and ran bOo-hoo-
ing At the musicians just as George S. lifted up
MS voice TO sing, = On whisper what thou feel
est, and was forced to break his guitar over
the head Of the stupid brute; while Mr.: Edward,
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 As with the - Oft-toId tale vex-
ing the ears of drowsy man" Ihad my plan
OF q cure. 1 would reduce his stories to print
/ determined to publish to the world this choice
collection Ifear that Uncle John will suffer by
the process not only by the loss of his little his
tories. but in the cold print will disappear the
quaint, quiet humor OF conversation. which in
select circles has made him celebrated How
ever, we are driven to this, and so for the frat
specimen.
Western village is not a pleasant thing to
contemplate. The dirty, unpaved streets. the
white or red houses drying in the sun, suggest
ing heavy bread, sour milk and warm water
ynI
speaks OF poisonous drinks, featheTbe1s and
Vermln. the noise Of the tin shop OF smithy, all
combine To make a Western village most abomi-
nable to eye and ear. A very little labor and
no additional expense would change it all.
few forest trees, beautiful, graceful, and abun-
dant as they are, planted along the sidewalks
would change the dismal streets into cool, re-
freshins avenues But a western man proper
hates a tree. His progenitOr, the pioneer
found the forest his greatest enemy next TO the
Indian, and the child received the prejudice
cOnsttutionslly at his birth, as the French in
fant takes 4 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 eption to this
general rule. Approaching the town from tho
north, one finds the road crowded in by huge
white, staring manufactory on one side and a
-.
nsse, and ears, alike offended, you enter upon
adusty street, bounded on either hand by strag-
CLING habitatiOns. However, pass with me
through the little town. and we will find some-
thing pieasanter. Turning to the right, at the
corner where stands square brick building,
with sign above the door, whereOn one reads
the cabaiistic letters Bank" we follow the
narrow street, which, terminating in a road
leads 10 n wooded cminenee. on which reposes
. beautiful residence. In and about this man
sion appear every evidence of cultivation and
refined taste. The untrimmed forest trees
almost brush against the admirably tinted
waits. and wsive their dark foliage above the
closely -shaycn lawn, while within the house, If
VOC do not see the welI-seIected furniture YOU
Will probably hear a sweet voice pouring out a
hood of melody to the accompaniment Of harp
or piano, or low-toned conversation, enliYened
by that unmis taxable evidence of cultivation
a musical laugh. Physician. inform US that
Is In the voice. which grows harsh and out OF
tune And 50 by laugh pretend to judge Of
one refinement. There is a 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-
Panlmonts belong to Ella Johnston; and Ella
JohnstOns laughs merry, and songs musical
toSetner 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
'Pt;o 10 give the biography Of this distinguish
edgentieman Sufhce it to say, he was a 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
speak OF was supposed TO be heard, were the
three enumerated, and dark-haired youth, a
sort Of relative, handsome, lively and accom-
pllshed, who came a cousin, and, falling
deeply In love. remained as a suitOr. His busi-
ness qualities and energy Of character pleased
the father, while his handsome person and re-
fined bearing, added 20 an earnest devotion,
won the daughter; and, although opposed by the
aunt his stream of true love would have run
smooth enough. but for one difficulty. The
yOung gentleman, Edward Barnett by name
had nothing bu, his own efforts 10 look to, and
Mr.. Clinton Il. Johnston was in fair way of
being ruined