Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-08
NUMBER Il.

crushed out of him When he looked up
and saw a strange man darkening his door.
he felt that the last blow was about to be
struck
"Come in," he said don't stand upon
any ceremony beg Pun quite prepared
for you"
Are you Z" said the man, curiously.
"Yes, | am" John replied. Il know
your errand as we'll as you do yourself"
"Do you?" said the man. in the same
tone.
"Do you come here to mock me ?" cried
John, angrily, rising and facing the intru-
der to mock me as we'll as to ruin me.r
Mock you ?" said the man.
"Yes, mock me-" John repeated, in the
same angry tone.
II did not come here to mock you far
| from it," the man returned. In fact, my
business is not with you at all. | come to
see Mr. Dodd, who was an old neighbor of
mine"
"I beg your pardon, sir" said John
You'll excuse me, hope but we are
in great distress, and I expected nothing
but bad news"
If | am not mistaken" said the stran-
ger, " it's good news bring you You are
Mr.. Dodd's son-in-law, are you not 2"
81 am, Sir, and wish | were richer
son in-law, for his sake" John replied
Perhaps there will be no need of that,
for his sake" the stranger returned.
What do you mean 2" John asked
"Well, just this" said the stranger "a
few days ago l noticed an advertisement in
the paper addressed to Daniel Dodd, in
forming him that if he applied to Mr. John
son, solicitor, in Bedford Row, he would
hear of something to his advantage. Now,
thinking that the Daniel Dodd wanted
might be my old neighbor, and knowing
Mr. johnson, of Bedford Row, l called upon
that gentleman, and learned that the per-
son wanted is Daniel Dodd, my old neigh
bor, and that under the will of his brother
George who died some time ago in India,
he is entitled to"
Hold hard, sir" said John, grasping
the stranger by the arm, and staring at him
with fixed eyes. you're not having a
lark, cruel lark with us, are you 2"
"God forbid" said the stranger, gravely.
And answer me another thing, sir"
John continued, in the same excited way.
You're not out of your mind are you?'
Certainly not, returned the man.
Every well" said John "you may go
on"
AZ was going to say" the stranger con-
tinued, that under the will of his deceas ID
brother George, who died some time ago in
India, Daniel Dodd is entitled to five thous-
and pounds"
Martha !" cried John to his wife, who
was up stairs cleaning the rooms.
"Yes John. What is it p
Fathers moneys comt back again {!
Fathers moneys come back again! Fathers
moneys come back again !" And he
shouted it over and over again up the
stairs, and slapped the banisters every time
to give it emphasis.
"Are you gone mad, John Z" was Mar
thas reply, when she was allowed to
speak
"You see, sir" said John to his visitor,
" she thinks | must be mad no wonder if
! thought you were mad. But here's Dad
dy he knows you, dare say, and you can
tell him he often talked about his brother
George who went to India but thought
he had been dead long ago"
At that moment Daddy came in from one
of his walks with Benny, and was told of
his fortune.
Dear me-" he said, sinking into his
chair, brother George is dead. Poor boy,
poor boyp
The poor boy had died at the good old
age of threescore and ten, but Daddy still
thought of him as the lad in the blue jack
ct from whom he had parted at Wapping
when they were boys.
Not without many difficulties, long de-
lay, and consider able cost, Daddys claim
to the FIVE thousand pounds was estab-
lished John gave all his time,-utterly
neglected the emporium,-to the prosecu-
tion Of the matter. and oddly enough, In
wooing Fortune in this most audaclous and
presumptuous manner, he proved success
| tul 4: though, previously, when he had hum
bled himself in the dirt to implore her for a
single smile, she had contemptuously pass
ed onward, bespattering him with mud
| from her chariot wheels. And one day
John, knowing Daddy's weakness, brought
home the five thousand pounds all in notes
in the very canvas bag which had been the
old mans bank in the days when he was
we'll to do.
There, father" said Martha, putting the
bag in his hand. "And now what will you
do with it p
| w Hdl VIII w Will IL ooio ehS OiN'
man. "Pll---Tll keep my promise to Benny,
and buy him that gun =
"But there's more than will buy the gun,
father"
"You don't mean thai, Martha 7" said the
old man.
40 yes, father, a heap more"
Then" said Daddy, "Pll give the rest
to John to buy horse and cart"
"But there's more even than that, father
ever so much more"
40, well, you just keep that for yourself
Martha, tor taking care of your old father ,
And Daddy. with no elaborate design
but with the simple innocence of a child,
which is sometimes wiser than the astutt
provisions of law, saved the dangerous for
malities of will-making and the charges fol
legacy duty, by handing to his daughter
Martha the bag containing all his money.
Before John even thought of his horse
and cart-though that was lurking in
corner of his mind, he regained the tenan
cy of Daddy's old house, furnished it witt
as many of the old sticks as he could re
, cover from the brokers' shops, with man
: splendid new ones besides for the drawing
room, and when all was done, led Dadd
back to lis old quarters, and joined hir
. there tn Martha and all the family