Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-03
0ri0inal Sketflr.
For the Bradford Reporter.
4 "REMINISCENCES OF TOWANDA.
BY PAUL PEMBERToN, JR.

Some years ago when business for the
first time called me to Northern Pennsylva-
liza, came by a stage route along the
,usluchanna river. The region was then
wilder than now; in many places where
arabic farms and neat dwellings at present
mark the landscape, were nothing but for
est tracts. Through these silent aisles Of
nature, over mountains and through val
.eyS our Stage-cOach wound its tortuOus
way on a sultry day in July.
There were but three passengers beside
myself; young lady with a child, four
years old, and a scowling old man. | soon
became familiar with the lady by the eE
lNts which were made to amuse her little
residing i'll Philadelphia She had no rec
collection Of her father The death Of her
mother following swift upon that of her
husband, she determined to try and find a
sister who, her mother had informed her
Wien dying, once lived in the vicinity of
lowanda \ mourning habit added to the
sadness which ovcrspread the features of
the young widow But the smile of a soft,
blue eye made the serious face beautiful as
now and then her pretty Mamie answered
IN childish oddness to my questions. Once
said:
Where is grandma, Mamie ?" She re-
Piled: " Grandma got sick and could not
cal 50 she went to Heaven where folks
i've without eating" "Where is grandpa?"
Mamie was thoughtful a moment, then
9ane!ng at the old man who had shrunk
INTO d corner where he sat in stolid silence,
Sue replied" Old men are grandpas, that
Is my grandpa
The old man looked up, suddenly affixed
AIS eyes icrccly upon the child, then glared
al the mother and relapsed into sullen ST..
@Ace The thought struck me that he was
Ucal and had perhaps been aroused by Nam
Ac hand which had been laid upon his
arm turned to him and said in quite a
loud tone, this dear little girl thinks you
"r her grandfather" He looked at me
Win trown and | caught his eye it was
@soit blue spite Of his i'll humor repea-
'ea my sentence but elected no response.
lie day passed slowly; at length we
arrived, Just as the shadows of night were
5SIlAermg over, at the top of Browntown
"". At the same time a thunder storm
winch had been threatning all the after
H. burst turiOusly upon us. We stopped,
~'g widow and myself alighted and entered
small house by the roadside, the old man
.G'AaInmg in the coach. | pleaded with
-4e driver not to descend the dangerous
mountain side until the storm should abate,
y'' he was firm, the mail must be got
trough at all risks The night was ter
..,,1'y black, save when the lurid lightning
animated the earth. To add to our dan
'cT the oil i'll the coach lamp was dried
ogs and the driver had lost his chain with
@Acn he usually locked the wheels in a
o"[P descent, Nothing that would aid us
souLa be borrowed but lantern. Finding
-! demonstrations vain, | rolled up my
FanlS and taking the lantern, started in
'oH' OF the horses, assuring the lady that
'Iu2aSht Ir} we should go down safely.
ME stood at the coach door / obser-
II 'yT lnat the rain was beating in upon tle
r,u mans feet " | shall walk few miles
9n 9o,"IIuIather," n said l, better put your feet
n9 'ue opposite cushion, there" and | dis.
Poseu his long coat around him to keep his
- ufy Thank you, young man." came