Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-03-14
MY BROTHER JACK,
AND
HIS RICH WIFE.
BY MRS. E. C. LEWIS.

Harry" eaid my mother, 'there must be
always enc gentleman in family. / have
remarked it, some one to keep Up its dignity
and transmit their name to posteri,y. You,
though my eldest son, are rough by nature
Peter is too plain ; but John, my pretty bOy,"'
said mother, patting his curly head, you
shall 60 10 college, and be a gentleman"
Now my good mother was the reliet of a
grocer, who, dying, left her {" well to do in
the world )" and having worn for thrse long
years "weeds of the deepest hue," she wiped
the last tear from her cheek, and unpinning
the Grape collar from her neck, laid it by,
feeling, in her inmost heart, that she had full
filled her duty to the utmost and had been
afflicted beyond most mortals. 1t was the
merning other emancipation from these sym-
bols of woe, that we were called around her
las l have stated above) in order to portion
out our several destinies.
/, as the eldest Of the family, ventursd to
say:
And Susie, mother what will she be-a
lady p"
Nonsense, Harry rejeined my mother.
" She is mere child yet; but what binders
her from being the Presidents lady? strang.
er things have happened"
"Well mother, make Jack what you please
shall be a sailor and when Susie's bus
band is President, I'll come back and live
with her,"
To China l went, not as q sailor, but as
captains clerk. On my arrival there, left
the vessel, and was SO lucky as to get situ-
alton in a mercantile house. My boss took
fancy to me, and, after few years, 1 be-
came his principal clerk, and from that arose
to be junior partner in the firm. l heard
from home occasionally, but finally the cor
respondsncs dropped off. Now and then a
letter from my mother reached me; and the
last announced my brother Jacks marriage
to an heiress, and Spsie's engagement to q
Southern planter.
Then years elapsed. and / heard no more.
My letters remained unanswered; and be-
coming vexsd at the apparent Indifference ei
my family, determined to write no more
| had now smsssed an enormous fortune, but
had paid the penalty OF life of luxury, with
diseased liver. Not having formed any
ties to bind me here, yearning for home
created such restlessness of mind and body,
that it amounted almost to mona mania.
So transmitting the bulk of my property to
the United States, took passage in the ship
Dolphin, and pleasant voyage Of five months.
Jour vessel being slew sailor,) arrived at
New York, and trod the streets Of my native
city, as a stranger. left home boy of sew
enteen-I returned man of fifty years.
How longed to see sister Susie and my aged
mother. and my brothers. While eating my
solitary breakfast at the hotel, | INDUCED in
thousand fancies as 10 their appearance. In
John, was to see man of polished man-
ners, of fine, portly bearing, and pleasant
eountenancs. Peter-good, plain Peter /; he,
! was sure, could not alter /; sni pretty Susie
was to be every thing lovely, With that fasci-
mating DOLCE far hente," SO facinating in a
Southern woman's manners. a sudden
Mhin seized me to visit them under fcti-
HoHs name Acting on the spur of the mo
mssnt, 7 called for Directory and found my
brolheT JACK was the resident Of . modern
paslssecss. in what vas formerly The suburbs Of
ths city, roY the nucleus Of sll that was