The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-25
COUSIN JAMES.
The Good Mission Performed by
a Graceless Vagabond. -

1t has been observed by Mr.. Spencer and
others that the march of the passing years
has a tendency to calm the ardor of youth
and moderate the passions of man, and vet
there are notable exceptions to this rule,
and old age is noticeably querulous about
triies. Here is a case in point.
Mr.. T~heophilus Brown was in a tremen-
dous rage simply because he could not find
his spectacles. 1t was as fine a May morn
ing-it was nearly ten by the clock-as YOU
ever saw in New York City. The sun was
shining very brightly without, and the air
was fresh and vernal. Within Mr.. Browns
library the air was not quite so fresh, but
it was very cozy and Comfortable, not to
mention luxurious, and Mr.. Brown sat in a
velvet-covered chair that might have
soothed a man of war; and yet he turned
and twisted in his chair, pulled out each
successive desk drawer with a Jerk and
closed it with a bang, tumbled over the
papers with reckless disregard of heavens
first law, and then began to look into ali
sorts of impossible places-out of the win
dow, on top of the bookcase, behind the
pictures, and up at the ceiling-as old gem
tlemen will do in such cases, and finally
gave up the search in despair. He was
looking for bis spectacles.
Upon The desk in front of Mr.. Brown Law
. square note, which Mr.. Brown wanted TO
read. He could v read it without his
spectacles with some difficulty, but his
temper having been thoroughly aroused,
he scorned to give in; and SO he sank back
into his chair with a red face, and stared
at the note vindictively and probably
would nave remained thus until he brought
on a fit had he not CHANGED to pass his fin
gers frantically through the scanty fringe
of hair IN the top of his head, and there. of
course, he found his spectacles.
You can imagine in what a frame of
mind ne opened the square note. As he
did SO the door-bell rang-a vigorous, de-
termined ring it was-but Mr.. Brown
heard 1t not, as he was buried in the note.
"THEOPHILUs BROWN, ESQ., nave the
honor TO ask you for the hand of your
each other since children, and you can not
be unaware OF our attachment, which 1 hope
you regard with favor. You are acquainted
waste wordsIin assuring you that her future
is safe in my hands. / will for
an answer. Your a=fs s%1Tse RRephew,n
You remember that the door-bell rang.
The ringer stood upon the upper step, and
whistled while he waited. When the SER
want came to the door he was handed a
very limp and soiled card, embeIlished
crumbs, on which was written in beautiful
script:
James Broom Bartlun,.
Tie servant looked at the card n then
ae the giver. and was plainly ~astonished.
A young man of twenty EIGHT, perhaps,
most decidedly handsome, and most un-
deniably seedy; hair glossy black, and in
need of the shears: a jaunty mustache and
a three days beard on his face; large,
bright, and bold black eyes, and a straight,
slim figure, rather tall. This handsome
young man wore upon his glossy head a
sun burned straw hat with a chewed edge,
on his pack a very tight and shiny Prince
Albert coat, whereof every button was
missing, their place being supplied with
various-sized pins; his legs. were covered
with very baggy and wrinkled trousers Of
were incased in a pair of Congress CATERS
that were SO patched and tied with strings,
and SO run down and over, and burst in so
many places, that it seemed a miracle that
they did not fall to pieces upon being looked
At.
The young man bore the scrutiny Of the