The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-04-03

i WAsA - N4CH ~ RAOf[ObAAe
me against this contingency, I car
just turn nv back a moment, anG
amuse myself tracing the alleged re
semblance between yonder portrait
of Napoleon and my grandmother
brindle eow-the one that got chokeC
with double turnip."
81 have my money here, all safe,
Ireplied Philpotts meekly. 81 could
wish there was more of it, he added
with siekly smile, as if he regarded
that as tolerably good joke and the
first one of the season.
eyes," drawled Jeph, as the glass
es were set before them, "it's more
comfortable to have considerable
money where you can get your fDg-
ers on it. One may meet deserv-
ling stranger, introduced by mutual
Ifriend-a stranger who has lost q
Igrandmother-and it is pleasant,
then, to divide
81 assure you l was not aware of
your necessities, Mr., Benedick; but
if my slender purse would contribute
TO their relief it is quite at your ser
vice"
"Thank youg" was the grateful re-
Ijoinder. "That is just the way my
poor lamented grandmother always
talked. Yes" he continued, reflect
| ing, always just the way, up to the
very moment she cut me off with a
shilling, and died of modification
because she hadn't made it a six
Ipence. DIr. Philpotts, I never met a
man who reminded me so strongly
| of my poor grandmother as you do.
Every gesture Of yours brings up all
the old tender memories-so old and
tender l wonder they hold together
so long. You won't think it gross
fattery, Pm sure you understand me
too well for that-but I have been
fancying while sitting here on your
hat, l could detect in your counten-
ance a singular likeness to the old
lady, as she lay in her coffin, with
twin coppers on her eyes, and her
poor jaw restrained of its liberty by
q white cotton bandage. I've been
told l have rather keen eye for re-
Isemblances; does it strike you /
have? l know you wouldn't say /
had unless you belive it; would you,
now? Honest Injun-would you?
But 1 can see you would not. It is
easy enough to perceive when a fel-
low would not, if you will only give
your mind to it-ifyou will focus all
the powers Of a ahealthy intellect upon
the question. And that is what nv
grandmother was always saying, till
she found it more congenial to cuss
the children. 1t would have moved
you to tears, Mr.. Philpotts, to be
cussed by that good old woman.
When she was in dead earnest about
it. Nature held her breath. You
could have heard a gum=drup.' y
s"But you have really told me very
little about your grandmother said
Philpotts. "Was shesblond or bur-
nette?n
81 was expecting that question all
along" said Jeph, thoughtfully;
"and I've been thinking, and think
ing, and thinking. 1 can't say she
was entirely light, nor yet wholly
dark. If she had been darker she
would not have been so much of a
blonde as she would have been q
brunette in case she had been fairer;
and had there been some more of
either color, neither would have had
so great preponderance as the two
of them might have justly aspired
to. As a rule, l think both shades
of complexion were tolerably well
proportioned to the possible absence
of each; and the balance of power
was held by a neutral tint which was
invisible. Do I make myself under
stood, Mr.. Philpotts; or had I bet
ter go over the ground again?"
81 wouldn't said Philpotts, with
a judicious degree of apparent in
terest, sit would confuse you. You
might now pass to some interesting
particulars respecting her attire, and
then"
"There's just where you have got
the better of me, " interrupted Jeph,
toying with his toddy-spoon, ''there's
just where everybody gets the bet
ter Of me. l suppose 1 ought to
have stipulated, in advance, that you
should not make this demand; but
fellow can't think of million things
at once. But you have made the de-
mand, and it has to be met in good
faith. 1t is getting late now, and l
can only say, briefly, that my grand
mother, in all her glory, was not ar
rayed like one of these, -absently
taking bottle out of the cruet stand.
"This is merely negative informa-
ton, confess, but after the first of
next month, if my fancee goes on as
she has been going on, I shall be dis
engaged. If you don't mind telling
me, in strict confidence, where you
live, / can then call at your house,
and while away tedious week or
two by describing to you and the |
children such pecuiarities in the
raiment of my poor grandmother as
were, in any broad sense, character
istic of the woman whom they embel
lish." Mr. Philpott arose, promptly
handed Jeph his card, shook him
cordially by the hand, and babe him
good morning. AS he passed the
table where l was sitting, he mop
ped the perspiration from his fore
head, and leaning over to me said,
in voice husky and choked with
some struggling emotion;
"Devil take your friend! He's the
worst pill in the box~- off he
went, great tears of laughter spatter-
ing silently about his feet.
In a moment Jeph came over to
me and sat down, YEARLY saying, in
the feeble effort Of a man utterly
worn out with some mighty effort:
"Devil take your friendl He's the
worst pill in the boxF'
And to this day you could not pull
them together with team of horses.
A well known Judge of the Su-
preme Court of New York, often re-
Iieved his judicial remarks with
touch of humor. One day, during
Tho triol of q casa Mr. Gnnn nos q !