Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-04-21
Select Talr.
From Sharpe's Magazine.
THF PARTY OF A BUSINESS MAN
TIE STORY Oh A LONDON FOG

AS the evenings became long and the coun
try dull, my friend Thompson yielded to the
entrcaties of his wife and daughter that they
should give an evening party; and once en-
listed in the undertaking, he determined that
it should be done we'll, for, in pleasure, as in
business, he liked to do the right thing. He
therefore willingly undertook the execution of
a number of commissions in town from CO.
pious list furnished by Mrs L. Thompson
is a London merchant, head of the great in
digo house of Thompson, Son & Co., of Blue
Lane, and too sensible a man to live in the
smoke and dirt of the great city; his neat
and we'll appointed villa. about twele miles
down the North Western line, and within
short drive of a convenient station, is the
very Jeau ideal Of what the residence of
well-to-d do city gentleman ought to be.
On leaving home in the morning of the
day ofthe party, Thompson, of course, rccei-
we'd strict injunctions from his wife, backed
| by the rest of the female portion of his family
to oe sure to come home early, which he read
ily promised to do, if possible; and after ma
king some remarks about the claims of busi-
ness, laughingly bade them not to forget the
standing direction to despatch the vehicle Che
would not allow either himself. or his wife or
daughters, to call his handsome equipage the
carriage') by the turnpike road to meet him,
if by any chance he should not return by the
last train. He fully intended, however, to
be home an hour or two earlier than usual, so
-,,I tho
ira wines, and other requisites for a frst-rate
"sit- down. supper, and to be able to decant
the wine himself, and generally assist Mrs
T. in the fual arrangements before his guests
f should arrive But it so happened that, on
reaching the city, Mr, Thompson found an
unusual mass of things demanding his attcn'
ton. He soon gave UP all idea of getting
e away early, but managed to execute his com
, missions, which he sent off by the train he
t had hoped to go by.
: But even the hour of what he called his
# own train passed before he could get through
n the unexpected pressure of business, and
I \ there was nothing for it but to wait for The
# last-the last. that is that stopped at his sta
y tion-which left London at nine o'clock. -
+ This was annoying. and the waiting woulo
E have been .irksome, but that he occupied hin
+ self in fetching up some arrears OF corI espon
dencc and in other business matters; and ma
ly sending for Hanson cab. he started Il
capital time for Euston Square. not SO muc
yexed at his detention those who are no
= "busincss men, might imagine.
;, The day had been dark and snowy an
e with the night came sharp frost and fog
= !, which latter got thicker and thicker as the,
n drove up Holburn. Atlcngth, just as the
i entered one of the squares, the 'I.ondon pc
: liar" became so dense that it was dihacuit 10
u the driver to take his bearings even by tn
4 aid of the lamps, which had dwindied Int
IS mere specks of light, visible occasionally her
b and there. The Jehu of the high-wheele
81 cab was reduced to a walk, and even at tn;
L cautious pace, made some very unfortuna'
te speculations as to his course. now sra.n
against the ratings of the enclosure IN ti
G. centre of the square, and nov getting on tn
',i si foot pavement.
" ..Push oo, cabby," said Thompson coa'
ingly, during one of the numerous stoppag'
that occurred
..Easy said. SIR replied cabby; "b'
m while my wheel is locked in these here Fal
X ings, don't sec where l can push to, unls
it's down the airy"