North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-07-11
gelert gtary.
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HIS WITS ABOUT HIM.

head" He had such peculiar ways, and
said such peculiar things and he went
about as if he was in somnambulic state
almost that is, | don't quite mean that
but he never seemed to take the same no
tice of what happened about him that other
men do. And as to his ever being surpris-
ed at any thing, | never knew him to show
surprise on but one occasion in his life
What that occasion was, shall naturally
mention before / am done.
His name was Joseph Harrison, and he
was a student at the Academy iD Sandford
one of the style of academies that seem
to have nearly gone out of date now,where
both sexes were taught under the same
| roof. | attended the Sandford School, The
| Principals house was on the corner across
the way from the academy, and he board
| ed dozen or so of the students. | was one
of these boarders. t. ...-
shall never forget the day Mr.. Harrison
came to the house to board. l was sitting
on the second-foor piazza, studying. 1t
was late in a summer afternoon. AS he
entered the gate ] leaned over to book at
him, and when he was just underneath. |
chanced to drop my book. 1t struck him
on the shoulder, and fell thence to the
ground. He turned and looked at it
quietly, and then poked it aside with his
big cane.
What does he carry that big cane for p
thought |; and why don't he pick up my
book, or look up at me, or do any other
thing that rational being would
He rung the bell. and saw no more of
him till tea time He sat directly opposite
me at the table. Would you believe 1t, he
never Looked at me once-nor, indeed, at
any one else,it seemed-which was the rea-
son, perhaps, why looked at him more
than ever did at any other young man in
nv life-in the same length of time.
After tea, We gath red in the parlor, as
we were in the habi: of doing. and he was
introduced to me. He bowed, and then, for
the first time, looked at me-or rather, he
! looked through me as Ifhe saw something
behind me, and were as transparent as
glass. Then he smiled, and turned away.
confess I Twas provoked at the manner
of the young man. What amused him, /
should like to know. When Belle Harrison
| asked me, ,aferward, how | liked her cousin,
I said didn't like him at all. She only
laughed, and said she believed nobody ev-
er did like him at first.
Somebody asked me to sing. seated
myself at the piano, and gave a song in my
hest manner-which had been taught to
believe was not an inferior manner, by any
means. My voice is good, and had re-
ceived the best musical culture. What
mysterious influence was at work upon me
did not know for, if ever disllked a
person in nv life, / certainly disliked this
Mr.. Harrison but, it IS true, e,notwithstand
ing. that sunq for him ; and when turn
| ed away from the piano, it was with some
special curiosity anticipated his comments.
if he chose to make any, or his manner
and its meaning, if he chose to hold bis
tongue.
IF you will believe 1t, the man was look
ing at painting on the Withholding at it
standing up, with his hands clasped behind
him. and his back to the company. Was
there ever such clown
"What is the name of that beautiful
song 20 asked Orvile Redway, a young
man from the village,who had been invited
to tea. and now sat with us in the parlor.
I told it him.
81 must have it," said he it is exqui-
site" And he took out his lead-pencll to
write on card the name of the p'ecee. He
broke his pencil-lead. "Will some one
lend me knife Z" he asked. Il have left
mine"
Mr.. Harrison heard the question, though
he was still looking at the painting, and
produced large pocket knife, which ne
handed to Mr.. Redway.
dts very sharp" said he "be careful"
The first thing Bedway did was to cut
his hand. The blood spirited ont in jets. He
turned pretty white. but just gathered his
hand in his handkerchief and said it was
ga mere scratch, Of no consequence"
'Beg your pardon, sir" Mr.. Harrison
spoke ats of some consequence. You'll
lose your life, if you don't look out. I'll
fix you" ..i.-
He took his own handkerchief and tied
it loosely around Redway's arm Then be
took his knife, shut it carefully, put it un
der the handkerchief next to the arm, and
began to twist it about. AS the handker-
chief frightened on the arm, the blood ceas-
ed to fow."
"Send for DOCTOR" said Mr.. Harrison.
"a doctor!" uttered Redway. "Isn't
this good deal of fuss over little cut ?"
"a little cut" said Mr.. Harrison, "when
you cut an artery, it is big cut"
DR.. Miner was three doors off, and he
came in few minutes. He expressed
great appreciation of young Harrison's
conduct.
Young Harrison, as unconcerned as a
post, had returned TO his inspection of the
painting he seemed to admire so much.
Mr. Redway soon went off with the doctor.
The knife lay on the table. Out of pure
impldedce, or some similar feeling, took
up this terrible knife, and accidently cut
fha ou1 of oro oe x~x, Eoca.s roo.lu OE 7