The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-06-20
coUDERsPoRT COUNTY, PA, THURSDAY JUNE TO- 1861

when the house was furnished, we
shouldn't have been asked. | shouldn t
care much for going, since there's no sup
per ner dancing, and nothing but to look
at pictures which [ don't care a snap
about, if it wasn't compliment to our
taste, and nice to have been there.
You guess it was you who procured
the tickets this time? Indeed! Aud
how F? You've been ordering two or three
pieces to be painted by some of our first
artists? You were introduced to some
of them, and they were such good fellows
you couldn't help it. Well, | expect it's
all right. For my part, | admire the
frames more than | do the paintings but
other people of our set seem to have got
up mania about such things, and we
must follow the lead
I've a mind to give an Artists Recep-
ton myself, after theirs is over. FINN
merry says that it's the duty Of wealthy
people without genius to encourage au-
thors and artists; to scatter, as he said,
golden showers upon the dusty pathway
trod by the aspiring foot Of genius, He
said that even money earned by the whole
sale pork business might be haIlowed and
exalted by being literally given out for a
charming picture or glowing book. Of
course [ saw through it all, but it's true
as preaching, nevertheless. If I've an
ambition for anything, it's for being con-
sidered patteron of the fine arts. My
own particular taste runs to worsted work,
and those cunning little dogs and things
in Berlin wool, and next to that admire
mono, chromaties, but we must do as our
set does.
Speaking of one thing reminds me of
another. | wonder where that Signor
Fingerari is that used to give the girls
music lessons before they went away to
boarding school. Am | thinking of TAX
ing lessons myself, at this late day? I
am not, Mr.. Rasher; though why you
should consider lne too old to learn, if |
was mind to, dou't see; am only for.
ty-two, come April. The fact is, | had
hard work to coax Rosine to stay, after
that time you gave her warning ! had
to raise her wages, and make her a present
Of one Of my best second best silk dress
es, and now she's taken fancy that she's
a natural talent for music. She thinks
she'd like teaching music better than
waiting on ladies, or at least it would help
her to pass away her spare time pleasant
| ly, if she knew how to play the piano,
and I've thought some of gratifying her,
for the sake of keeping her.
Now, Rasher, that's just the way you
always do when you're out of patience
about rething, as you always are-Hying
about the room like mad hen, making
yourself ridiculous. I'm sure you needn't
interfere with my management of my own
servants-aboge all, my own lady, maid
There . there! there you needn't speak !;
if you do, you'll be sure to stutter; con-
troll your temper, my dearest, for when a
man shutters he's sure to get the worst of
it. You see you can't talk half as fast as
|, nor half as well, and you might better
not begin. Pig headed2 Look out, my
love, and don't provoke me, OF you'll get
your ears boxed soundly. NE pig head
ed me, indeed! And who but person
with natural liking for pigs would be
engs ged in the pork business If Ihad
married as l might have married. and
as I've often regretted [ didn't, [ might
have had my choice of doctor OF law
yer, and been more congeniaily united
than have been, instead of being tor
mented all my days with the smell of ba-
con, and feeling myself bound by chains
of steel to the destiny of pork merchant
But it s too late to mourn over early in-
discretion. | might have been- Whats
that, Rasher? You haven't forgot the
tailor you cut out? Served him the same
trick he served your clothes There's
the bell for dinner. Put On your cravat,
my dear, aud hurry. Preferred pig to
goose, after ali Come, come, the soup'll
be cold, and it's your favorite kind You
fatter yourself you saved me from cab
bage, if not from pork? Oh, quit your
nonsense! &Aeo3' nonsense? Well, if
you want cold soup, 1 don't, and I'm go
ing. What's that he's hollcring through
the keyhole about my first suit-her p
He d have been fitting companion"
Quit your Stiffness, for IN down stairs,
and | can't hear you. "Did he press las
s~it ?" Oh, get QUIT Here you come,
down three stairs at time; and now
you've got rid of half dozen miserable
puns, [ s'pose you'll be good natured, and
want to hug me, right in the dining room.
Why were your puns so miserable? Be
cause they generally are, | guess. Be-
cause they were only sew-sew2 Do oplease
be quiet before we get in where the wal
ter is and, dear, do try and remember
not to pat your kuife in your mouth
] tell you what it is, if we do have an