Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-10-06
From he Grand GrT .1dreriiser.
DAsNFUI.NEss.

When I was boy. Twas unaccount-
ably bashful in female society. fair
ly roared whenever my mother made
me sh down TO dine with ladies. AZ
grew up, became worse. Il was in
vain my brothers, U had no sisters, J
laughed at me. aud sneeringly told me
that the women would not bite me. /
constantly fled from them however,
whenever and wherever saw them,
and IL heard any Of them contemplate
ing visit to our house. contrived to
be engaged in fishing and hunting at
the time.
rccollect that my father once COM
PEELED me TO walk home with a young
lady. Worlds | would have given for
exemption. But was Obliged TO Weld,
and although we had but sixty rods 10
go, and started together. vet when she
reached home, We were sixty yards
apart.
l often suffered for my excessive
bashfulness. Once | escaped into a
hog pen. where Mr.. Hog used me very
unceremoniously. AT another fine,
seeing some young ladies coming, I
slipped behind the front door, expect
ing them 20 pass. so that could de-
camp; but Miss Galboy must have per.
ceived me, for when she entered, she
jammed against the door and almost
slammed me into a Jelly.
AT the age OF fifteen I was sent 10
college. where / was delighted tina,
there were no women. Here | acquir-
ed the accomplishments of smoking,
chewing. playing cards, and occasional
drinking. Besides. I succeeded in
mastering all the changes Of TYPO, and
forgot English enough to be a scholar.
became acquainted with Jack Han
son, and We were chums and classmates
during our stay. ! really loved him,
he was so good-naiured; and when
our education was complete, I recipro-
Gated . promise Of visiting.
had forgotten, al the time. tina,
Hanson had two sisters, Louisa and
Margaret, although he sometimes spoke
Of them, until / fairly knocked at the
door OF his fathers house to acquit my.
eelf Of my promise.
Jack came and welcomed me in
Alter little chat, his mothers and sis.
tiers descended, and / was introduced
Mr.. Elvin, permit me to introduce
you TO Mrs. Hanson, my mother" and
90 with the rest.
Some observations passed between
Us, but what was said, can no more
remember than ii had been addressed
by the women in the moon. Al length
was seated in corner Of the room.
The sweat rolled from me, was in
such agony. AT last slyly took huge
chow Of tobacco, and was more than
ready TO engage in the manly practice
OF spitling. when Miss Louisa asked me
Q question. / was now in a predica.
ment. could not speak without dis
charging the amber from nv mouth,
end | could not do that upon the splcn-
did gcarpet. Ia short, | unwittingly
swallowed juice, tobacco and all. Now
] was fixed! and I staggered 10 the
door with terrible retchings. o, TO.
baeeoi tobacco!
now found myself in a chambe,
reclining on bed with several persons
around me. and amongst them wa.
louisa. gazed at all around and Il.
nally recollected how got into thu,
seraPe. will cure myselfofmy basbful.
ness, said ! internally. will prove to the
world that /. who would once have ran
from = petticoat flag, arm az brave a. 4
Texisn, and as brazen as the serpent Of
Moses.
l began my reformation in earnest
Tor ! instantly exclaimed, miss Loui.
"a, how the devil did I get here p
The lovely girl thought was deliri.
Gus, and was trying TO think Of suila.
bic reply, when her sister came in. and
stated That ! had been taken suddenly
al, the ovening previous, owing 10 the
confined air Of the room, US she sup.
posed.
No Il wasn't" said I.
They now bad reason 10 believe me
crazy. Nevertheless. they did no, eat
me up. nor even bite NE. And be.
gan, gradually, 20 think women were
not such terrible creaturcs a. had sup.
posed. In fact, in less than fortnight
I was pFomensding in NJ. Hanson,
garden, with Louisa and Margaret on
either arm.
Reader, will you believe IT. wa
On love with them both I adorcd then,
and began 70 think seriously Of n AIRY
tDg. Bot in choosing between them
Jay The difficulty. One day. however.
ventured 20 state case parallel 10
mine. and ask the opinion Of Louisa
and Margaret. They both agreed that
tbe ooly alternative for two young Ia
dies equally favored by a Young geo.
tieman, AID attached 70 him, vas 70
draw siTaws.
On my next Wait, Margaret was very
distant and reserved. while Louisa was
a. playful 81 kitten. supposed that
they had drawn straws sure enough.
sHd bad decided tia, { sbould take The
el'iest, Which va Looisa and there.