Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-27
TOWANDA:
Thursday Morning, October ~, 1859.
(From Blackwood's MagaEinel
COUSIN JOHNS PROPERTY.

Bless my lie, Oaliy, Salu NJ OinpsohI
almost choking himself with his muffin, "here s
cousin John dead !"
Mr.. Simpson had the Times for au hour eV-
ery morning (at six pence per week and that
hour being his breakfast allowance also, he read
aud ate against time, taking bite of muffin,
q sip of tea, and glance at the paper alter
nately and as he was very short GIFTED, and
always in a hurry, there seemed imminent risk
sometimes of his putting the paper into his
mouth instead of his muffin.
" You don't mean to say so, Simpson" said
the lady on the other side of the little fire
place. Cousin John dead Why, he was
to be in town next month-t'S Impossible !
Where do it say so Z"
And she made an attempt to reach across
for the paper; but it was long stretch, and
Mrs Simpson was stout, and hardly made due
allowance for that fact in her instructions to
her stay maker so Mr.. Simpson found himself
master of the position, aud proceeded to read
the announcement again, with proper serse
of Importance. Miss Augusta Simpson. and
her brother, Master Samuel, who occupied the
seats at the other side OF the family breakfast
table, had risen from theil places, aud with
their mouths and eyes open, Gn1 Master Sam
uel's knife arrested in a threatening position,
formed rather a striking ta6eau.
Then that Surrey property comes to US,
Mr.. S." exclaimed the lady, as she left her
armchair, and made good her hold on one side
of the Times, OF which her husband still per-
tinaciousIy retained possession.
1t comes to me, my dear, as next heir, by
uncle Sans will-uo doubt of it," 1t MIR.
Simpson intended little gentle Sef-asSertlon
in his speech, it was SO unusual with him, that
Mrs Simpson was good enough not to notice
1t.
Its worth two or three thousand a year,
Simpson, isn't it :"
About one thousand, or fourteen hundred
at most, my dear, us | have told you before, /"
replied the husband. It's a very uice prop
erty Dear me poor John only to think |!
that be should never have come home to enjoy
it !" and the good natured Mr.. Simpson gave
an honest sigh to the memory of his departed
cousin, and for g moment forgot his own ac-
cession of fortune.
Well, well life's uncertain with all of US.
| never thought you'd outliyed him, Simpson ;
be was ten years younger than you. If be were
a day. | did think it might have been our
Samuel's in days to come, suppoSing he died
without children, as was always likely from
what heard of him. often did say hoped
Sammy might be gentleman"
Samuel wiped his lips in preparation for that
crisis He had been eating second egg sur
reptitiously aud hastily. Ouly u mothers eyes
could have detected the future gentleman un-
der the pinafore at that moment. There's
the bus, father" he shouted, jumping up with
the view of effecting diversion from his own
seat of operations; there's the bus coming
round ?"
Mr.. Simpson rose mechanically and dropped
the Times. The habits OF twenty years were
not to be shaken even by the sudden prospect
of a thousand a year But his daughter, with
the spirit of a true British maiden in the hours
of fortune, showed herself equal to the occa-
sion.
WHO wants the 'bus p said she, with an
indignant shove to Samuel, ." Pa aint going
by buses now
Like all truly great speeches, it was short,
and TO the purpose As such, it was long re-
membered 10 the family. 1t awoke them at
once to the duties and the pleasures of their
new position. That useful public vehicle did
not take Mr.. Simpson 10 Aldermanbury thar
morning. The conductor looked at the we'll
known door in vain ; the civil driver even let his
horses Hnger little ere he tHrned The corner !;
and both turned a long and last nquriug gaze
in the direction of Portland Terrace, No 4.
What's come O. the Governor this morning,
Bill? Are we arter or alore our time p
Not above two minutes arter he've never
been aud gone by the Royal Blue ?
Don't think he'd be so meal as that sum
mats amiSs, holrerern And with this compli-
meut to Mr. Simpsons business habits, the
omnibus numbered on without him. Great was
the surprise, and as the morning wore on, even
the anxiety. in the little dark Offices in Alder
maubury Such thing as Mr. Simpsons ab-
SeUce, without due cause assigned, was un-
known hitherto in that most punctual and re-
spectacle establishment aud Mr. Styles, the
Old clerk, who had a sincere, If hot demon
Stratiye affection for his principal was scarcely
prevented, by a sense of what was due 10 the
dignity of both parties, from taking his pas
sage down 10 Noting Hill TO inquire.
But indeed, even had Mr. Simpson made
his usual appearance st his place OF business
that morning, it would have beeu too much to
expect from human nature that he should have
devoted himself with his old attention TO ledg-
er and invoices When he did arrive there
towards the afternoon, the youngest CLERK saw
there was something I" on the governor mind .
He scarcely staid half an hour !; aud il his un-
blemiShed commercial repute were any longer
valuable TO him, it would have been undoubt-
edly better if he had not looked in at all for
he left the impression on the minds of the sub
ordlnates, that even the small and cautious
house of Simpson & Son had not escaped 10
the last great commercial whirlpool and the
errand-bOy, who was well up 10 that depart.
ment of newspaper literature, gave it as bis
private opinion to bis mother at home, that it
Vas Paul & Bates case
n: Nr. Simpson was thinking l;:,!e Of his