2
An Odd Man.
OONCL.UDBD.
ifcTTAME, eh? O, it doesn't matter.
JL i Say (or me, of courso. And look
here j there will be five shillings for you if
the chaise is here in time. Ay, you may
well make ft how ; I told the gentleman it
was too much for you."
"I'm very much obliged to you both,"
said Bam, slyly, " I'm sure, sir ; I'll be off
at cock-crow."
" There, Sam Shoars," said Molly,assoon
as they had the kitchen to themselves
again, " did you ever hear of one of your
now what-d'ye-call-ums ordering a chaise
to go ranting about in, I should like to
know? What have you got to say now ?"
" I say," said Sam, " as ho's a gentle
man, and no mistake."
The evoning passed away very quietly in
the littlo parlor. The favorable Impression
made upon Holton by his guest's manners
and conversation was certainly deepened by
their further intercourse ; hut the position
seemed folt by both parties to be an awk
ward one ; and when his departure early on
the following morning was proposed, Bolton
of course made no effort to detain him.
Both employed most of the evening in
reading ; and one or two remarks made by
the strangor, as he made his selection from
the curates's library, proved at least his ac
quaintance with the works which it con
tained, though nothing escaped him, as he
wiped the dust from some of Harry's pres
entation volumes, which could indicate
either his agreement or disagreement with
the souud divines he was handling, and
his clever criticisms were rather those of
the bibliographer than the theologian.
At last he seemed to bury himself in a vol
ume of old South, and carried it off with
him early to his ehamber.
The morning camo, and eight o'clock
brought breakfast, and half-past eight the
chaise, with Sam Shears fast asleep insido
of it. The curate and his guest parted with
' mutual good-will, and with a short but
warm acknowledgment, on the part of the
latter, of the hospitality he had received.
Sam was not forgotten ; he received the
promised gratuity, with many bows, and
did not put his hat on again until the
chaise had fairly turned the corner.
" Uncommon nice gentleman that, sir, to
be sure," said he to his master, with whom
he seldom missed the chance of a little con
versation, if ho could help it and Bolton
was generally good-natured enough to in
dulge him " uncommon nice gentleman ;
what a thousand pities it is he should be a
Methody 1"
"A what?" inquired the curate, turning
round upon him in ludicrous dismay.
"A Methody preacher, sir," said Bam,
boldly ; for Harry's countenance quite con
firmed his suspicions. O, I know all about
it, sir ; but it ain't of no account with mo,
sir, you know, not none whatever," and
he redoubled his negatives with a confiden
tial mysteriousness which made Harry in
clined to kick him. " I met Joe Haines,
as drives the Regulator, this morning, and
he asked me very particular about you, you
see, sir, and how you got home o' Saturday
night ; and then I told him as how this
gentleman came with you ; and when he
heard he'd been staying here all day yes
terday, how he did laugh, to be sure ; and
then he told me"
" I'll tell you something, Sam, too. You
had much better mind your own business,
and not trouble yourself to talk to Joe
. Haines, or anybody else, about what goes
on in my house."
There was no mistaking the fact that his
master was angry j and as such a thing had
very seldom happened within Sam's expo
rience,it was a mult of which he stood con
siderably in awe ; and he hastened, In some
confusion, to apologize, and to resume
his praises of the " very nice gentlomq,
whatever he was,"" And as you say, sir,
that's no business of mine : I'm. sure I
should be most happy to wait upon him at
any time, sir"
But Bolton bad retired, and shut the
door of his little sitting-room in an unmis
takable manner. So Bam was obliged to
soliloquize the rest of his apologies, which
began to be very sincere, as he consoled
himself by gazing at the two half crowns
which had come into his possession so ea
sily. " Of course ; if so be as he's a gentle
man, what matters ? That's what I say ;
that's what I said to master: that's what I
said to Molly ; halloo? hey? if this here
half crown ain't a smasher t"
'Twajf too true : it rung upon the flag
stone like an unadulterated piece of leajd.
" What's the matter now, Bam ?" said
Mrs. Molly, who heard the sound, and met
his blank face in the passage.
"I told you what be was," said Bam
" look here 1" Molly examined the unfor
tunate coin with every wish to give it the
benefit of a doubt, but was obliged finally
to pronounce against it. She had to listen,
also, to the story which Sam had heard
from Joe Haines ; and though she clung
pertinaciously to her previously-formed
conclusions in the stranger's favor, Sam
bad now decidedly the best of the argu
ment, which be clinched at last with what
he considered an unanswerable proposition
" If you says as he's a parson and a gen.
tlemaa, will you give me two-and-slxpence
for this here half-crown ?"
Weeks passed on, and other events wore
out the interest of the stranger's visit, even
in thoso dull localities. Binn's wife had a
baby ; and another piece of the church
roof fell in, and nearly carried Brooks the
church warden with it, as he was mounted
on a ladder estimating its repairs for there
was an archdeacon's visitation coming on,
and not even the vulcanized conscience of
a parish functionary could be brought to
pronounce, on oath, its present state . of
repair to be good and sufficient. And
Ilarry received an invitation to dine with
the said archdeacon, who was a good kind
of man on the whole that is, his good
qualities would not very well bear taking to
pieces: but he rather patronized the
youngor clergy in his neighborhood, pro
vided that they were young men of tolerable
family, and good address, and not, as he
expressed it, ultra in any way. It so hap
pened, that ho was almost the only ac
quaintance that Harry had made in the
neighborhood. lie had writton to request
his interference in enforcing the repair of
the church ; and as that was a compliment
Boldom paid to his official dignity, the arch
deacon had actually driven over thirteen
miles to inspect the place personally ; and,
arriving quito unexpectedly, had caught
the curate just sallying forth equipped for
fishing an art to which he himsolf occa
sionally condescended for even archdea
cons do unbend. And very soon ascer
taining that there was no tendency to an
objectionable ultra, of any kind, in our hero,
and that he was in fact, rather an eligible
rear-rank man for a dinner-table, he had
made a mental memorandum of the fact,
and, in consequence, had twice favored him
with an invitation, which Harry, according
to his present humor, had declined. On this
occasion,however as a third refusal would
have seemed ungracious he had deter
mined to go ; and, with some compunction
at the expense (he had thought nothing at
Oxford of a hunter, and a "team" to cover,
at about five guineas for the day), ho found
himself in a hired gig at the archdoacon's
door, a little before the dinner hour on tho
day appointed. None of the guests were as
yet assembled. His host, however, mot
him in the drawing-room, and presented
him, with considerable cordiality, to his
lody,and her daughters.
" It was very good indeed of Mr. Bolton
to come so far to see us," said the archdea
con. "Indeed, I am particularly glad you
came to-day," continued ho, with a sort of
pompous kindness, " for I have the bishop
staying here, and I wished you to meet
him."
Harry was interrupted in his acknowl
edgments, by the entrance of two men of
the expected party : the Honorable and
Reverend Mr. Luttridge, a young man, who
eyed his brother curate,onhis introduction,
with what he intended for a critical and
interrogative glance, which had by no
means the effect upon that party which be
intended ; and another archdeacon, or
dean, or some other dignitary, who mode
Bolton a very low bow indeed ; and, turn.
ing his back upon him forthwith, began to
discourse with the other two upon the bu
siness of the last Petit Sessions. A discus
sion upon some point of magisterial law
was interrupted by a burst of shrill and
hearty laughter from the younger of the
Misses Archdeacons a fat merry girl, with
whom narry had struck up an acquaint
ance instantly that was a point he never
failed in; and although the other two gen
tleman looked rather astonished, and turned
round again to resume their argument. The
father she was his favorite daughter, and
ludicrously like him was delighted to see
her amused, and insisted upon knowing
what the fun was between them. Borne
absurd remark of Harry's was repeated as
well as her continued merriment would
allow ber ; and the archdeacon, after
preparatory shaking of his sides, had just
burst into a stentorian " ha-ha," when the
drawing-room door again opened, and the
Bishop of F was most audibly an
nounced.
Every one tried to look deferential, of
course ; and the two gentlemen in front of
Harry separated, and took open order to
receive bis lordship. Everybody recovered
their propriety, in fact, la an Instant, ex.
cept Miss Harriet, to whom a bishop was
no treat at all not to be compared with
an amusing young curate. She kept her
eyes fixed upon Harry Bolton she thought
he was going to faint Could it be possible
O, there was no doubt about it. Schis
matic Doctor Bates, or Bishop of F
there he was 1 there was the man he bad
walked home in the rain with I
Harry's quondam guest walked forward
with an easy grace, which contrasted strik
ingly with the stiff dignity of his subordi
nates. He shook hands politely with Mr.
Luttridge, and returned the greeting of his
companion somewhat more warmly. The
archdeacon was preparing to introduce
Bolton, without noticing his embarrass
ment, when the bishop anticipated the in
troductory speech by saying, as he held out
his hand, "Mr. Bolton and I are old
friends may I not say so?"
- A man of less self-possession ' than our
friend the curate might have been put quite
at ease by the kind tone and manner, and
warm grasp of the hand. "Certainly," was
his reply, "your lordship and myself have
met under rather different clroumstanoes."
The archdeacon's respectable face ex.
pressed considerable astonishment, as well
it might J and the other two gentlemen be
gan to eye his lordship's "old friend" wilh
interested and Inquisitive glances.
" My dear archdoacon," said the bishop,
laughing, " pardon my mystification ; this
is the friend with whom I Bpent a day or
two on my last visit to this neighborhood,
when you really thought you had lost me
altogether ; though, if you had told me I
was to have the pleasure of meeting him at
your table to-day, I. might, perhaps, have
let you into the secret."
" But, my dear Bolton, " said the host-
he had dropped the Mr. at once, and for
ever " why did you not tell me that you
knew his lordship? eh ?"
Harry laughed, and gob a littlo confused
again ; but the bishop answered the ques
tion for him, before he had time to frame
an intolligiblo reply. :
" O, that's a long story ; but it was no
mystery of Mr. Bolton's, be assured. I am
afraid, indeed, it will tell rather better for
him than for mo ; but I promise you the
explanation, some day," continued the
bishop, good-humoredly, " when we have
nothing bettor to talk about." The arch
deacon took the hint, and turned the con
versation. Another guest or two joined
the party; dinner succeeded, and passed off
much as such affairs usually do. The
bishop, although he did not address much
of his conversation directly to Bolton, took
care to make him feol at his ease ; and Mr.
Luttridge, who sat next to him, became re
markably friendly was quite surprised
that he had not heard of him before, being
in fact, quite a near neighbor only nine
miles nothing at all in that part of the
country should ride over to call on him
one of the first days he could spare and, in
fact, said what became him to the bishop's
friend and protege.
Whatever curiosity might have been folt
on the subject by tho rest of the company,
it was not until they had taken their depart
ure that the bishop thought propor to ex.
plain to Bolton and the archdeacon the
circumstances which led to his paying an
incognito visit to the former. He had only
lately been appointed to the dioceso, and
was therefore personally known to but few
of his clergy. The archdeacon and himself
however, were old college acquaintances,
and he had accepted an invitation to spend
a few days with him, at the time of his
casual meeting with Harry Bolton. Being
averse at all times to any kind of ceremony
or etiquette, which he could reasonably
dispense with, it had been arranged that
the archdeacon's carriage should meet him
at B , to which place his own had con.
veyed him. Upon his arrival in the town
somewhat before the hour appointed, he
had, according to his custom, walked out
quietly to make himself acquainted with
the localities, and had unconsciously passed
some hours in exploring some ruins at a
little distanoe.
Meanwhile, tho archdoacon, not so
punctual as his diocesan, drove up to the
hotel door in hot haste, considerably too
late for his appointment, and was saluted
with the pleasant information that his
lordship had beeu there, and was gone on
these two hours for his previous orders
had been duly obeyed, and tho episcopal
equipage, with a portly gentleman inside
who sustained the dignity of his position
as chaplain very carefully, had really
rolled away on its road homeward. The
archdeacon doubted, but 'mine host was
positive ; and strengthened his position by
the assertion' that his lordship had said he
was going to Bircham rectory, a piece of
intelligence picked up from the servants,
with exactly enough truth in it to do mis
chief. Off went the archdeacon again, an
noyed at his own dilatoriness ; and great
was h!c consternation on reaching home to
find no bishop ; and great was the bishop's
surprise, on returning at last to the hotel
to find no archdoacon ; and great the con
fusion throughout the King's Arms ; the
landlord throwing the blame upon the
waiters, and the waiters upon each other.
Post-horses to 8 , which was within a
short three miles of the archdeacon's rec
tory, wore ordered at once. But, alas 1
after many delays and apologies,nono were
to be had ; almost every quadruped in the
town was engaged in taking parties home
from the opening of the Independent col
lege. The bishop was not a man to make
difficulties ; eo, leaving his only remaining
servant to await any remedial measures
which the archdeacon might take when he
discovered his error, and to give us an in
telligible account of his movements, he
himsolf, without mentioning his intention
to any other person, walked down to the
coach office at the Swan, paid his fare, and
became an inside passenger by the Regu
lator.
Of course when the archdeacon discovered
his mistake, no time was lost in procuring
fresh horses and sending back the carriage
to B i in the hope that his lordship
might still be forthcoming ; but it brought
back to the anxious expectants at the rec
tory only a servant and a portmanteau
and as they did not pass the spot where the
accident occurred, and all Inquiries made at
B only resulted In the intelligence that
" there had been an upset, that no one was
hurt, and that the passengers had walked
home," they made up their minds to await
some acourate information as to his lord.
ship's whoreabouts from himself, when he
relieved his friends from their uncomfort
able suspense by making his appearance
personally at breakfast on the Monday
morning ; though, to puuish, as he jokingly
said, the archdeacon, for Joaving him in
such a predicament, ho could tell them
nothing more than that he had. spent the
Sunday vory pleasantly with a friend, y
Much amusement ensued at the bishop's
details of his visit, though ho good-natured
ly nvoidod any allusion that oould be em
barrassing to his late host. Bolton bad
accepted the offer of a bed, and it was late
before they separated for the night. Bo fore
lie took his leave on the following moruing,
the bishop, to his surprise, announced his
intentiou of paying him a second visit. " I
think, Mr. Bolton," said he, "that, having
intruded on you once in disguise, as I may
say, I am bound to come and preach for
you some Sunday, If it be only to clear my
own character in the eyes of your parish
ioners" (for Harry had confessed, to the
exceeding amusement of all partics,his own
and his clerk's suspicions). " So, if you
please, and if my good friend here will ac
company me, we will drive over to you
next Sunday morning ; and I'll try," con
tinued the bishop, slyly, ; "if I cannot get
Mr. Churchwarden Brooks to put your
church a little to rights for you.", ,
The morning arrived, and the arehdeaoon
and the bishop. A proud woman had
Molly been from the moment the announce
ment was' made to her of the intendod
honor; and the luncheon which she had
prepared was, considering her limited re
sources, something extraordinary. But
when his lordship alighted, and, catching
sight of hor eager face in the passage called
to hor by name, and addressed her kindly
and she recognized the features of the
unknown gueBt, whom Sam had so irrever
ently slandered the good old woman, be
tween shame and gratification, was quite
overcome, and wholly unable to reoover
ber self-possossion throughout the day.
During the whole of the service, she looked
at the bishop instead of the prayer-book,
mado responses at random, and was only
saved by the good-natured interference of
his lordship's own man from totally ruining
the luncheon. Of course the church was
crowded ; the sormon was plain and Inv
prossive : and when, after service, the
whole of the rustio congregation, collected
in the churchyard to see as much as they
could of a personage they had never seen
before, formed a lane respectfully, with
their hats off, for him to pass to the gate,
the bishop, taking off his hat and claiming
their attention for a few moments, spoke a
few words, homoly and audible, approving
their behavior during the service, and
representing to them the advantages they
might derive from the residence among
them of an exemplary minister, such as he
believed they had at present, and such as
ho would endeavor to provide them with
in the possible event of bis removal. And
when afterwards he bogged to be introduced
to the churchwarden, and, taking him fa
miliarly by the arm, walked with him round
the building, pointed out indispensable re
pairs, and, without any word of reproof,
explained to him the harm done by injudi
cious patching, and put into his bands a
liberal contribution towards the expenses
it might have seemed quite wonderful to
those who either overrate or underrate
poor human nature, how much more popu
lar a notion, and how much better under
stood a bishop was in that remoto village,
from that time forth.
The landlord of the Crown and TUlstlo
was quite surprised at the change that had
come over Mr. Brooks. He used to be
rather a popular orator on club nights and
other convivial occasions, taking that econo
mical view of church dignitaries and their
salaries which, by an amusing euphemism,
is called "liberal" in politics ; but subse
quently to this occasion he seldom joined
in these discussions, was seen less fre
quently by degrees in the taproom of the
Crown and Thistle, aud more regularly at
church ; and once, when hard pressed for
an opinion by some of his former support
ers, was asserted to have told them that
the Crown and Thistle took more money
out of people's pockets tham ever the bish
ops did.
Harry had anticipated much amusement
from Bam Shear's confusion, wbenbe should
enoounter, in his full canonicals, the bishop
of the diocese in the person of the apochry
phal Dr. Bates ; but whatever that worthy's
secret discomfiture might have been, he
carried it off wonderfully well, and met his
lordship in the vestry with a lurking smile
in his humble obeisance, as if he bad all
along penetrated the mystery of his incog
nito. With Molly in the kitchen, indeed,
he bad for some evenings a hard time of it;
but a threat of abseuting himself altogether
which he ventured in some fear of being
taken at his word, had the effect of moder
ating her tone of triumph. Before the
bishop loft, he called Bam aside, and pre
sented him with substantial token of re
membrance ; when Sam took the opportu
nity of producing, witfc many prefaces of
apology, the eoudemned balf-orowu, which
bad fretted in bis pocket ever since
" Please your lordship's worship and rev
erence,'' said Bam, . " this here aiu't a very
good half-crown 1 1 at least, I can't pass it
noways down here, -1 dare say as - your
lordship's worship might pass it away easy
enough among your friends, but" ,
; "Here, here," said the bishop, laughing
heartily,, "here's another for you, by all
moans, my man ( but pi ay excuse my hav
ing anything more to do with the bad one."
Again the bishop , parted with his enter
tainer with many expressions of regard
and an invitation to spend .some time with
him at his palace, which Bolton did, much
to his satisfaction ; ' and receivod from him
so much valuable advice and paternal kind
ness, that he always considered the snug
living with wbiob, some months afterwards
he was presented, one of, the least of his
obligations.
"And that's how Harry Bolton came to
bo . a 'neighbor of mine," concluded Long
Lumley; ."and a nice place ho has hero,
and a capital neighbor he is."
We discussed the whole story over Lum
lcy's wine after dinner the next day, when
the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Luttridge, who had
since married the bishop's niece, and was
said to have been a disappointed expectant
of the living given to Bolton, made one of
our party. '
" A very odd man, certainly, tho bishop
is," was that gentloman's romark ; "very
strange, you know, to go poking about the
country, in that kind of way.. Scarcely the
thing, in fact, I must say."
" Upon my honor," said Lumley, " you
parsons ought to be better judges of what
is or is not 'the thing' for a bishop, than I
can be; but if the bishop of F is an odd
man, I know, if I had the making of bish
ops, I'd look out for a match for him."
REAL ESTATE
At Private Sale.
The nnderslgned will sell at private sale his val
uable (arm situate In Juniata township, Ferry cn.,
Pa., adjoining lands ot George Xlzell, George
Ickes and others, containing
91 ACRES,
of Bed Slate land, about 75 Acres are cleared, and
In a high state of cultivation. The balance Is
well set with timber.
The Improvements are a good two story Log
and Weatlierboarded
DWELLING HOUSE,
LARGE BANK BARN,
TENANT HOUSE, CARRIAGE HOU8E, NEW
HOG PEN and WOOD HOUSE.
There is also a Well of good water near the
house.
There are also TWO GOOD APPLE ORCH
ARDS on this farm, with a variety of other fruit
trees. This proertv Is near the village of Markle
vllle In a good neighborhood.
Any person desiring to purchase a home, should
see this property before making a final invest
ment. Price 15,000 ; payments, $2,000 on the 1st of
April, 1874, at which time a deed will be delivered,
and possession given . The balance to be paid In
three equal annual payments, with Interest, tube
secured bv iuilument bonds.
-WCallon or address
JACOB KLINE.
Markleville, Terry co., Pa.,
LEWIS POTTER,
New Bloomneld, Perry CO., Pa.
2tf
Professional Cards.
J.
JUNKIN. Attorney-at-Law,
New Bloomtleld. Perrv CO.. Pa.
Office Next door to the residence of Judie
Juukin. ibit
A.M-
MARKEL. Attorney-at-Law,
New lllooinlleld. I'errv county. Pa.
-Mr Office with Chas. A. Burnett. Eso.. Centre
Square, adjoining Mortimer's Store;
T EW18 POTTER,
ATTORNEY AT LA1V,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PERRY CO., PA.
-Claims promptly secured and collected.
Writings aud all legal business carefully attend
ed to.
82 yl
JAMES II. FERGUSON, Attomey-at-Law,
NEWPORT, PA.
-sarOfnce Market Street, near the Square. 35 6
CHARLES II. SMILEY, Attorney at Law.
y New Bloomneld, Perry
Co. Pa.
Homce with C. A. Barnett.
Esq., next door
August 20, 1X72
to Mortimer's store
"TT"M. A. BPON8LER, Attorney-at-Law,
Vy onice adjoining his residence, on East
Main street, New Bloomtleld, Perry co., Pa. 3 2 ly
CHAS. A. BABNETT, Attornoy-at-Law,
New Bloomtleld, Perry CO., Pa.
3OfUce adjoining Mortimer' Store. 32 ly
JBAILY, Attorney at Law,
New Bloomttcld, PerryCo., Pa.
Office opposite the Court House, and two
doors east of the Perry County Bauk.
Refers to B. Mulutire, Esq. June 27,1871.
JOHN G. 8HATTO, Surgeon Dentist.
New Bloomtleld, Perry Co., Pa.
All kinds of Mechanical and Surgical Dentistry
done In the best manner, and at reasonable
prices.
ORIoe at his residence, one door East of the
Robinson House, aud opposite Win. A. Spoiisler's.
Law office. 3 21y
M. BUTCH,
ATTORN KY-AT-LAW,
New Bloomneld'. Perrv eo.. Pa.
MfOtnee Two doors West ol F. Mortimer
Store 3 7 ly
CHAS. J. T, McINTIRE, Attorney-at-Law,
New Bloomtleld, Perry co.. Pa.
W All professional business promptly andfalth
fully attended to. 3 2 lv.
"TTM. N. 8EIBKRT, Attorney-at-Law,
IT New Bloomneld, P
erry co.. Pa.
Bloomtleld, S S3 lv.
T KWI8 POTTER,
kotart public. New Bloom-
Hal.l !-.. fin tin
Deeds, Bonds, Mortgages and Leases carefully
'epared and acknowledgement taken. All
lriiirli of Pension and Hniiutv tiuiiiirit drawn and
certified, will also take depositions to be rend In
any court In tho United States. 7 10 ly
"ITTM. A. MOUltlSOX,
YY JUSTICE OK THE PEACE and GENERAL.
COI.LKOTOR, NswGbhmantown, Perry CO ., Pa.
-HemlttanceswIU be made promptly for all
Collection! made. lull
yyiLLIAM M. BUTCH,
JiiMtlce of the Fence,
AND GENERAL COLLECTOR,
New Bloomfleld, Perry County, Fenn'a
HufHal attention mild to Collections of all
kinds.
eullyn executed.
71llf
Auctioneer. The undersigned gives
notl- that he will ory sales at any point In Perry
or Danpln counties. Orders are solicited and
prompt attention will be given.
. iu Vt W Kl.l.n,
' l" New Buffalo,
i Perry co.,Pa.
TADIE8 AND CHILDREN will find a
j splendid assortment of shoes at the old
price stars of F. Mortimer , ., ,, , ,