Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-07-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE ROMANCE or A COUNTING
HOUSE. ',1s+t

IT came about in this way. had mar
ried and was going 10 make my fortune,
aud therefore (having that laudable end
in view left a good situation in Yorkshire
to settle down in Liverpool as q merchant
"on my own account" and commence to
make ii without delay. had not much
capital, and SO resolved to economize at
first. In course of time I imagined the
tidy brougham and the country house
across the Mersey would certainly come !;
and one serene September evening, many
years ago, I was walking up and down
st. Georges landing g-stage building castles
in the air, wondering whether rents were
high at New Brighton. and whether Kate
would prefer pony phaeton TO q bEeug-
ham. i am not sorry to add that I still
reside in modest house up Edge Hill
way, and that come to business as Cesar
went to Rome, according to Joe Miller,
"summa diligentia," on the top OF an om-
nibus / was waiting for Mr.. Moss Moses
to return to his office in street hard by,
call it Mersey Street, and for the reason
that Mr.. Moss Moses had q furnished
place to letwhich hisadvertisementc called
two spacious counting rooms, good
ness knows never counted much there
in the shape of coin and 1 did not Ike
the situation nor the narrow, dark stair
case nor the look of the boy of Hebrew
s.extraction who bawled Cub i'd, when
knocked, and told me. Mr.. Bosses would
be i'd at eight o'clock !" but twenty-five
pounds year was very cheap, SO told
my young friend would call at that time,
and look at the q counting rooms"
How well 1 remember that night The
ferry boats from the Cheshire shore glid-
ing along with their lights twinkling like
glow-Worms, the vast hull of the Great
Eastern just visible in the Sloyne, the
squared yards, and all a-tout look OF
seventy. four of the old school, showing
IL - sCks az k1,n do fNd1l
sky, and the lap of the swell against the
under timbers of the stage-I was in
clined to be sentimental; hut Mr.. Moss
Moses claimed my attention, and once
more entered his Office and found him
awaiting me. He was little, fat, good
tempered Jew, who spoke decent Eng
lish; and who, afterward found out, was
constantly affirming in season, and out of
season, that he was no descendant of
Abraham
"Hillo, BruntonI" he cried, jumping
from his chair My lad told me you'd
been; where have you been these two
months and more? Look here, old fellow,
I've advertised your place; but you can
have it on the old terms"
Some mistake, sir, believe; and
handed him card bearing the inscription
g Charles Harker."
He took it and held it to the gaslight,
looked at the back, considered it endways,
and pondered over it upside down. Then
taking the candle his clerk had brought,
held i close to my face.
"f you are not disposed to proceed to
business, I win bid you good night" said
j, greatly annoyed at his manner.
It's him, and it amt him." he said,
aloud; "Carl never could look man in
the face as this one does. And yet don't
see my way through the features"
There is no necessity for you to
trouble yourself about my features P
exclaimed, opening the door-"good
night"
Stop, stop, my good siri and don't be
offended It was q mistake. All Isaac's
mistake, upon my honor"
aAll . bistake," echoed young Isaac.
NV curiosity was excited, and, besides,
i really wanted the Offices and there
fore allowed myself to be persuaded into
mounting the narrow staircase, until we
faced door bearing the name of Brunton
on it in white letters, and having the two
upper panels glazed, more, should
imagine, to supply light to the staircase
than for admission of light to the ofice.
Mr.. Moss produced key and turning to
me with good-natured smile, said, /" I'd
have sworn you were Brunton five minutes
ago, but am sure now that was wrong.
Carl always swore as he came up stairs,
and you haven't. It's Brunton's face all
but the eyes, and I'd swear to the eyesany-
where. That is, to the twinkle of 'em,
you know"
And he unlocked the door and invited
me within.
Walking to table on which he had
placed the light, I took a chair, and pro-
duced my pocket-book.
Before we go further, Mr.. Moss, let us
quite understand each other. have no
wish to derive any benefit from any vir-
tues Mr.. Brunton may possess, and am
going to convince you that 1 am what I
represent myself to be. Be good enough
to read that letter"
1t was one from a merchant in the
north, only received that morning, and
mentioned circumstances which were sum-