The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-29
Rom antsc Incident I'm the life
OG President Johnson.


We were sitting in the pleasant parlor,
engaged in quiet and dreamy chat, and
upon the smiling September landscape.
All that AFTERNOON my good friend, John
Simmons, and ] had been Fighting our
battles over again." and recalling recol-
lections of pleasant frierdS | had known
In LaurensVilie before the war, but who
were now forever absent from their once
happy homes. l had not seen Simmons
for several years, and having arrived in
Laurcnsvil!e on the morning of this par
ticular day, on urgent business connected
with that part of South Carolina, | was
profoundly rejoiced to see his frank,
CHEEKY, honest face, and to feel hearty
grip Of his muscular hand when | entered
tue home-like and comfortable tavern of
which he was the hospitable host. | was
much fatigued travelling over these rough
roads, and at once accepted his invitation
to terminate my journey for day or two,
and recruit under his genial treatment =
After dinner, | lay upon the sofa in the
parlor, listening TO Johns quiet, ripping
talk, full of remini scences Of old friends.
aud part of the tims watching the quick
aud graceful action of Mrs. Summons
fingers as they few over the knitting
needles that she was busy with. She was
very pleasant, sweet, low-voiced lady,
| and / had often envied my. friend John
his rare luck in finding SO worthy COM
psoion.
by the way" raid John, turning to
me, after a pause, Il have been for the
past few days recalling a well-aigh for
gotten recollection, but which the events
of the last few months have brought back
fresh and vivid to ny mind Did l ever
tell you of it 2"
"Cannot say you have" / answered,
"as | have 10 idea what you mean"
"Oh well, | mean to say would you
like to hear It 7"
"Certainly I would. Proceed !!
Mr.. Simmons glanced apoiogerically at
his wife, and then lit cigar, first handing
me one, which declined
"Many years ago, when 1 vas a young,
inexperienced fellow, just becinpinc to
| think OF couTtiBg a sweetheart, | made
the acquaintance Of young, energetic.
Talented nan-very quiet and uuassu-
ming. but exceedingly interesting ia his
appearance, even to the iaoet casual gaze
l was at that tima boarding with au cid
friend OF Iay fathers, Archie Bridy. Que
evening, about dusk, just as we were
sitting Gowc 20 supper, the door of the
dining rcom opened aud two young men
entered, both of them travel-s:a aud
weary, having journeycd long way ou
foot. One OF thom was the brother in-law
Of Mr.. Bridy, named james Powers the
other was tie gentleman | have men
toned | felt attracted toward the latter
at the first glance, by the modest aud
gentlelnanly demeanor he manifested -
The brolhcr-;n-law explained the reason
Why they had made SO unexpected visit.
They had been living in Rale:gh, North
Carolina, where they had commenced to
Learn a trade. Their instructor, however,
was q rough, unjust, brutal tyrant, and
his conduct towards them, at all times
extremely bad, became at last SO utterly
unbearable that they were forced TO the
conclusion of leaving him. This was ao.
cordingly done, and there they were, at
Mr.. Bridy's, on that particular evening,
,reary and footsore, but determined and
full ca energy.
with ci.aracteriStic energy, the com
panion of Powers proposed TO Mr.. Bridy
to finish learning their business under his
To this proposition de read
lily consented, aud the next morning they
set to work For some time, Of course,
their lives were not varied by any incident
to break the monotony of their
business. Blu. in a short period the
qualities of the two began to be perceived
IN such manner as to present a most
decided contrast Powers. the brother-in-
law OF Bridy, was, in all respects, very
ordinary man. He was not strictly atten
tive to business, his work was not well
performed iu short, he was OF no partic-
ular account, exceps to fight chickens, and
race horses. In these essentials he was
very good, and do not know any. better