Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-12-05
Don't Propose in the Dark,

although giving by far the closest picture OF
the place, does, it must be confessed, look
rather Irishl and where the aforesaid brook
winds away by another lane, until it spreads
into river like dignity, as it meanders through
the sunny plain Of Hartly common, and finally
disappears amidst the green Fscesses OF Perge
wood-that pretty Sqnare farm house, half
hidden by the tall elms in the flower court be-
fore it, which with the spacious garden and
orchard behind, and the extensive barn, yards
and ontbuildlngs, SO completely occupies one
of the angles formed by the crossing of the
lane aud the stream-that pretty farm house
contains one Of the most bappicst aud most
prosperous families il Abzg!sigh-the large
| aud thriving ia ziv 0t FaFmer Ega"s.
Whether from skill OF from good fortune
or, as is most probable. f.om very lucky mix
ture of both-every thing goes right on his
/ great farm Hi crops are the best in the
! parish his hay is never spoiled bis cattle
never die his servants never theye his child
ren are never i'll. He bays chea? and sells
/ dear money gathers upon him like snow
/ ball--and yet, in spite Cf all this provoking
and Intolerable prosperity, every Iody loves
/ Farmer Evans He is SO hospltabie, so good
! uatured, so generous aud so hOmeIy.
! There, after all, hes the charm. Riches have
not only not spoiit the man, Uut they have not
altered him. He Is just the same in look, and
| word aud way that be Was thirty years ago,
/ when he aud his wife, with their two sorry
/ horses cow and three pigs. began the world
! at Dean Gate little bargain Of twenty miles
4 off. Ay, aud bis wife Is the same wOman-the
same frugal, tidy, Industrious, good natured
! Mrs EganS-SO noted for her activity OF t0uggs
and limb, her good looks aud plain dressing
/ as frugal, as good uatuCed as active, as plain
/ dressing is Mrs Evans a forty five she was
at nineteen, aud in different way, almost as
/ good looking.
! The children six boys" as Farmer Evans
! promiScuoH>ly calls them, whose ages vary from
/ eight 10 twenty, and three girls, two grown uP,
! aud one the Youngest o: the famlly-are just
/ what We might expect from parents who are
50 simple aud 50 good. Tue young men, in
| teligeut aud we'll conducted the boss, dOciie
/ and promising and the little girl. as pretty
| little curly headed, rosy checked pOppet as ever
vas the pet aud p.aything OF a large family
[ II Is, LOweTer with the eldest daughters We
/ have to do.
| Jane and Patty Egaus we're as much alike
as hath ever hrfalea any tao sisters not born
at one time ; for in the matter OF twin child
ren that has been a series OF puzzles ever since
| the days Of the D-omois. Nearly Of an age.
: b liege al this moment both are turned Hue
[ teen, aud neither has reached twenty exact
| II of stature. so high that Frederick the
Great would have coveted them for his tall
regiment wl'h hazel eyes. large mouths full
I iips, white teeth, brown hair, clear. healthy
complexion, and that sort OF nose which i
neither Greek nor Roman, nor aqlalue, nor
e pgslt Tst T0uSSs, that some persons prefer %
I them oil, tut a nose which, moderately pro-
miuenf. and sufficiently well shaped, i yet
i4r a. | know, au0uyD0Is, although Ii De per
( Aaps s. common and q well looking g feature
as is TO be seen On an English iace Al,o-etH-
er, they were pair OF tall and c0melg maid,
Z eHS and being constantly attjEed IN garments
I If The same color and fashion, LOOKED at all
times 50 much alike, that no stranger ever
dreamed Of knowing them apart, aud even
their 8cqHliutauces were rather accuSt0m,d 10
speak ana think Of them generally IL the
Evauses." than 2s the separate individuals
( Jane aud Patty. Even those who did pretend
10 distinguish the one from the other, were not
exempt frcm mistakes. which the SisirrS-Pat-
" especially who delighted in the fun 50 often
produced by the unusual reseublauce-wyrr
apt TO favor By changing places ia FaIS, or
slipping froi one side t. the other al country
tea. party, or playing hundred iarocrnt tricks
to occasion al olce a grave tlu.Ler aud d
merry laugh.
Old Diuah Goodwin, for ius' auce-Rho,
being "a her parlIni was jealous OF being Su>-
pected Of seeing less clearly than her uy;sb
ho.S. aud bad d.fizi even The ETauses 10 puz-
zt- her ilsceromcar-ses k.ugia vain o. P4,'y',
ha-& lie Car fa-er V iica s.e had dressed O.
James a>crIoed IUcrrdiu.- cure % Der ORu in.
comparable Salve aud cegii hardly be uud--
osiyed, even by the pulling Of Of James glove
and the exhibition Cf tie lscsral-G dlyjtsl
sewed r0uud by her o8n bauda-e Young
George Kelly, too, the greatest btaG in the
parish, having bet AZ 8 Cbri>iu4l party. that
lie would dance with every pretty g.ri in the
loom, lost uiS wager which Patty had over
beard, by that saucy dsmSei's sllppjDg luto her
sisters place, aud perSgaGIng her 10 Join her
Osn unconscious partner 50 that George
danced twice with Patty and not at sIl with
Jane. A banterUg piece Of malice which
proved, q the young gentleman, a rustic ex
Quislte OF the first water vas pleased 10 as
Strt, thai Miss Patty was not d!SpleaSed With
her partner. How little does VAN man kuoH
Of woman kind II she had liked hin, she
woald not have played the trek for the mines
Of Golconds In short, from their school DAYS,
when Jane vas cbidden foE PatIy's bad work.
aud Patty slapped for Jane'> spinning. doNH
. to this their prime Of w,manbood. there bad
been 10 end 10 the confusion prOiaeed By tbs
remarkable instance o: family Likeness
And vet narure--vho sets some mark Z in
diEida4lliy upon even b-r m-aBess Productions
making some unuOled ference between tb-
lambs dropped from one eve. the robins hrrd
in one best, the flowers growing on one stock,