The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-05-29

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the dressing mirror Of ber own apartment
/ two hours later, when Minnie ran IN with
countenance comically divided between
dismay and delight.
"My dear Minnie, what has happened!
exclaimed the elder sister, dropping her
hair brush and letting all her raven tresses
ripple down unheeded over her shoulders.
sI've won the diamond sleeve buttons,
Olive But ali I did Mt mean to. What
would papa say if be only knew it-and
cousin Jack, too y
"Sit. down, you wild little elf,' said
Olive, gently forcing hersister into chair,
"and explain to me this mysterious riddle" "
"Well, you know papa left me to look
over his letter to Mr.. Thorn, and was de-
tanned longer than I expected, almost an
hour in fact, and I couldn't help amusing
myself BY writing parody on the letter "
IA parody Z"
"Yes-you remember somebody was
telling US what beautiful daughter Mr..
! Thorne had, so I wrote that Jack was IN
search of wife, and had heard of Miss
/ Thorne. and wanted to settle in life, and
all that sort of thing. In Short wherever
pap had written land or estate, | wrote
wife. Wasn't it fun z" calculated the
| little maiden, her eyes dancing with dt-
able, ie. "But you know | never once
thought of sending the letter. | only
wanted to read 1t to Jack VIXEN I went
down stairs. Well I signed it with a
great flourish of trumpets, and just then
who should come in but papa and the
stranger. OF course I fed-and when |
came back the letter was sealed,and safe
in Jacks pocket, and, Olive. it was the
wrong letter p
"The wrong letter ?"
"It was rather a dim light, and papa's
eyes are not as keen as they were wont to
be- and my impertinent missiTc has gene
while the real, bona file letter lay there,
among a heap of discarded papers. Aud
hadn't the courage to confess my misde-
meanors-papa is SO opposed to my inno-
cent iokes-and Jack is off with tha: in
discribabe letter.. | shall certainly win
the sleeve buttons, Olive, but what tor
nado there will be when my mischief
leaks out"
And Minnie looked so bewitchingly
lovely, in her alternate paroxysms of ter
ror and laughter, that Olive, grave elder
sister as she was, had not the heart to
lecture her as roundly as she deserved.
The crimson sunset Of the very next
evening shone radiently into the special
sauctun of the worthy old Jabcz Thorne,
of Thornvil.e, Justice of the Peace, and
chairman of all the agricultural meetings
for ten miles round. | was no scholarly
looking library, like that of his ancient
comrade Chester, but square light room
with four uncurtained windows, and orna-
mented with numerous black framed en-
cravings of prize cattle aud giant turnips,
lie was seated in the leather cushioned
armed chair, looking over file of agri-
cultural journals, to find some coveted in
formation on the subject of "phosphates"
and "super-phosphates," when a servant
brought him card and letter.
"The gentleman is iu the parlor, sir.
Jabez Thorne laid aside his newspaper,
and glanced at the card which bore the
simple inscription of "John Lacy"-then
at the letter which purported to be intro
ductory to that Individual.
Naturalization my old college chum,
Chester, as I 1--we. Remarkable change
in bis hand writing, but time alters US all.
Hayn't heard from him for twenty years
and, halo! what is this A pretty
cool request upon my wovd-Dephew
wants a wife, e,and has heard that possess
a dsughter-has lots of money-wants
me to aid him with my well known expe- /
rience in such matters. What does the
old rascal mean 2" calculated Jabez the
fringe of gray hair that surrounded bis
bald head standing absolutely erect with
Indignation. I'll send Jeffers to kick |
the impudant young scamp out of the
house"
But with a moments refec ion came
calmness.
"Well, after all, I don't see what there
is in the matter to make me so foollshly
angry. Guess I'll see what Mary says.
An excellent family those Chesters-and
this letter is jnst like Zebedse Chester
he was always singular in bis notions
Rather unlike the ordinary method Of
coming TO an understanding in such mat
tiers, but there's nothing like dash Of
in this world, aud If the boy
is rich, aud Mary don't object-at all
events I'll see him on the subject.
And Jalez Thorne thrust the letter
into his pocket and strobe determinedly
into the parlor where young Lacy was
quietly awaiting his appearance. The
Old gentloman's face was scarlet with en-
barrassment; be was half disposed to be
angry at his guests cool self-possession.
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