The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 13, No. 80, June, 1864, page 79 by Various Authors
<< Return to Title Details & Download80
, although the manifestations of to-day have been ridiculous enough,--yet--really--when I think of some of those instructive observations of poor Sir Joseph Barley"----
The remark was never concluded, for a sudden rattling and whoaing and bumping of baggage was heard. The interruption came from before the front-door. The "Railroad-Omnibus" had driven up to the house.
"It is, doubtless, my good friend Professor Owlsdarck," said Colonel Prowley,--courteously rebuking an exclamation of astonishment from his sister, who had gone to the window;--"to be sure, we did not expect him to-day, but he is ever a most welcome guest."
"But it is not Professor Owlsdarck!" cried the sister, in shrillest tones of feminine amazement. "That portly figure to which the pencil of the artist has done such feeble justice! the spectacles with the square glasses! the enormous seal of the Sextons!--it can be but one man!"
"What! you don't mean"----
"Yes, but I do mean! Come and see for yourself!"
"A ghost in an omnibus! Why, sister, sister, the Detached--what-you-may-call-it has got into your head,--or, heavens! can it be that our unbelief is punished with this frightful manifestation?"
"It is Sir Joseph Barley himself!" ejaculated Miss Prowley.
"Surrounded by his bank of silver-tunicked attendants?" gasped the Colonel, in desperate interrogation.
"No, no, nothing of the kind," said Dr. Burge, assuringly; "he has not brought even a footman."
And it was Sir Joseph Barley,--in the flesh,--and in a good deal of it, too;--Sir Joseph Barley, full to overflowing with talk and compliments. He had long planned a journey to America, and a surprise to his Fellow-Sexton in Foxden. The trip had been necessarily postponed from week to week, and then from month to month. Always expecting to leave by the next steamer, he had never thought it worth while to write. Had been on shore exactly nine hours, was delighted with the country, and had already written the