Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-06
The Blacksmith or, MY wife's Cousin


understood that he was in affluent circumstan-
ces, was but little prepared for the condition
in which found him Through information
derived from Philadelphia Directory, l went
to one of those alleys with which that city
abounds, and found his name on signboard,
associated with that of another man, over q
dark and dingy shop The sign purported that
they were locksmiths and bell hangers also
that locks were repaired and keys fitted. With
out ceremony, | walked into the gloomy recess,
where there was a blacksmith's forge, and
where among several muscular looking men,
up to their armpits to work, was, my wife's
cousin" He received me most cordially, and
for moment intermitted filing huge key on
which he was engaged, and the shake of my
own dexter by one of his broad, brawny hands,
can fken to nothing nearer than the shock
of young earthquake.
Take a seat, take seat" he observed,
and just as 5000 as finish this key, we'll
make tracks for home"
l, of course, replied that was in no hurry
and at once became interested in the facile
manner in which he was metamorphosing a
rough casting into finished key. As soon as
it was completed, he washed the worst of the
dirt from his hands, hung up his work apron,
and then putting on his coat and hat remark
cd in cheerful tone
Come, now Cousin Aleck, let's 60 and see
whether wife has got eny tea for US ?"
After we were in the street, our converse
ton inSensibly ran on business, and took occa-
sion TO say to him that had been Of the opin-
ion that be had retired from his trade on
handsome competency. Don't say word
about retirement" he replied, ''it nearly makes
me sick to think of it. People talk of retiring
from business while they are healthy aud able
to work why, l tell you Aeck they don't
know what it means. / didn't know what it
meant until | tried it, but now retirement and
misery sound, to my ears, like words Of about
the same meaning F'
Perceiving that he had struck subject on
which he could easily be communicative looked
inquiringly, when he rejoined, Perhaps you
never heard the particulars Of nv retiring"
On my replying that had not he proceed
ed
" You see, Aleck, il is about three years
ago, that having as you would say, compe-
tency, made up my mind to stop work, and
move into the country. So sold ont my share
of the business 10 my partner, spent year or
more or looking at two or three score OF coun-
try places. and at last found one that my wife
and myself were considerably pleased with.
/ Fine double house four acres beautifully shaded
vegetable garden not to be beat, and soil Of
superior quality The place is still in my pos
session. but before would 90 aud live on il, Ia
give il away; yes, Aleck, I'd sink in the mid
die of the Dead Sea But am getting little
ahead of nv story. For two or three months
matters and things went on well, because Thad
something to attend to iE making few little
improvements about the house, and in furnish
ing a number of the doors with locks of my
own invention bat as the whole premises were
iu excellent repair when bought them. soon
came TO a point where there was nothing 10
look after but the cultivation of the garden. !
was not long though in making the discovery
that had no genius or taste either for digging
around roots. or pulling up weeds, and so as
wife didn't wish the garden TO run to waste, j
employed regular English gardener to carry
the thing handsomely through.
We'll, l don't mind the expenses be pat NE
too in the way of guano, new tangled garden
tools, aud patent watering apparatus for /
had fully expected TO spend money, and thanks
/ TO our previous economy, We had money 20
spend but, Aleck, it was really very amusing
TO see what the fruit and vegetables raised
from the garden stood Us in. Making use OF
. the little arithmetic was master Of | reColiect
that | cyphered up the cost of some of the Ia
ble fxinS, and the result vas-cncGmberS, sew
enteen cents . piece green peas, dollar and
and three quarters for half peck currantS,
fifty cents . quart raSpberrieS, thirty cents
pint beetS fourteen cents each, aud every
thing else In proportion. All this | cared no
thing about but somehow | felt out Of nv
gearing in not having the right kind Of employ
ment Wife did her best TO coax me into gen
tlemsnly WAYS had the old mechanical CRIME
all thoroughly scrubbed out of NV hands
finger nails cleaned oct and rOunded-so IS 20
make il appear that had never done manual
labor
Then We must 90 behind \ couple Of Nor
gan ponies which | had purchased, and to
make fashionable calls in the day time on those
who had called on Us and my wife wanted
me to soften down nv voice snd 10 De partlcu
lar about my grammar, and the subjects l talk
cd on; bot sometimes forgetting myself would
revel in the proud memory OF the locks and
KEYS had handled in happier days aud con-
meace history Of NV exploits IN that hGe,
when nv wife would look as thoagh she was
/ gOiax TO sink throGgh tine ioOr. In fact she
I wished 70 keep perpetual lock on nv hip (So
/ far as our antecedeHts were coReerued( zlsh
/ the KEY in her pocket But sighed for the
1 Shop, and tine hung 50 heavily on nv haHd,
thar an hour spent in stupid hStleSsnesS about
the hOase seemed longer 10 me than DAY did,
/ when bad orders ahead for locks. SHd was
driving hard to get them flushed At certain
tine Ny Youngest brother, who Is college
/ bTed man ard lsSyeT. sent NE, nj nv request
a kne collection Of books % many imaginable
subjects, 80 THAI nv h0Vsry ontsho0e that OF
the parson and Indeed any other man IN ine
place bat f0aRd had no more taste TO 81
doEn an6 read them than had for trimming
eurrant huSAe< Time wzs. after had hHlsaed