original being preserved:--


"COL. SNOWDEN,

"Dear Sir,--Yours received, and you say John is dead. Poor fellow!
I always expected it. Death runs in the family. Dyed suddenly of
appleplexy--eat too many apples. Well, I always thought John would
hurt himself eating apples. I s'pose you had him buried. You said
nothing about funeral expenses. He had a trunk--gold watch in it,
&c. Well, well, what an unexpected legacy! but strange things
happen sometimes. Never thought I should get a gold watch so. And
he had the watch in his trunk, did he? Poor fellow! was always so
particular 'bout his watch and fixings. Had two revolvers. What
is them? I never heard John say anything about them. Well, you
have been so kind as to write to me; just keep all the balance of
the things, you can have them; but the gold watch, send that to me
by express. Send immediately if not sooner."

"Very truly,

"GEO. STREAM.

"P. S. My mother in law says, if you come this way, call. She
likes to know all such good, kind folks."


It is safe to conclude that "Col. Snowden" never accepted the
invitation to call from the hospitable mother-in-law.