Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-06-21
MISCELLANEOUS


only girl l ever loved, and / believe the
only girl that ever loved me,-any how,
she was the only one that ever told me SO.
We were sitting in the piazza of her
fathers house, about quarter Of a milo
from the landing place, waiting for the
bell of the steamboat to warn ME of the
moment that was to part my love and me.
1t came to pass in the course of my history,
that in order to accumulate a little of this
worlds gear that might be the better
prepared to meet the demands of matrimo-
ny, was destined to cross the blue Chesa-
peake, and seek in the, metropolitan city
the Uhere,uithal so much desired. How
many swans have been compeledlike me,
to leave home and the girl they loved, to
wander in search of gold? And-good
gracious how many have been-dis-dis-
appointed? Most of them perhaps, for
though most of them may have obtained
the gold, like me, may be they did not get
as much as they wanted. But to the piaz-
Welll-we were sitting in the piazza,
and as may be supposed, were talking of
our love and separation, and all the ct cete-
ras of our situation. We were waiting for
the most unwelcome sound that ever salu-
ted our ears, namely the steamboat bell.
1t is known to all who know any thing
about steamboats,, that their bells give two
warnings to those who have engaged for a
voyage-the second is the signal for start
Ing.
You may rely on it we talked fast, and
abbreviated our words into rugged senten-
ces, that nobody but ourselves could un-
derstand them. The first bell rang-The
sound rolled over Mr. Harris cornfeld and
watermelon patch TO the piazza, like the
knell of hope, and sprung to my feet,
and trelnbled like an aspen.
20 George, wait till the last bell rings, :
said Helen, as the big bright tears came
over her eyes of blue
DO no stcli thing answered the hoarse
voice of Mr. Harris, as he rose like spec
tire from the cellar, where ho had been
packing away his cider-sDo no such
thing he repeated, and George he con-
continued, carry this advice with you to
the grave-and may It be of service to
you--'.Neuer ,uoit for the last beH"
l was off'Iike chased deer--the last bell
rung as approached the steamboat, and
had scarcely time to get aboard before she
was pushed from the wharf. On my pas
sage had time for reflection, and after a
few f1utterings at my heart, occasioned by
the separation from its IDOL composed
myself TO cool reasoning. and the concu-
sion of the whole matter was, that it was
dangerous to wait for the last bell.
My career in the search of peT has in
degree been successful but verify believe,
had not the old farmer told me never to
wait for the last bell. did it once-it was
the day entered-and lost my dinner.
l have always been ready for the dinner
bell since then, and the first stroke has
found me at the table. l mingled with
mankind, and saw thousands who were
waiting for the last bell. In business they
were slow, and bargains slipped by them.
In the payment of their liabilities they
were backward, and their credit conse-
quently suffered.
For six months was a clerk-it was
short apprenticeship-but my never waiting
for the last bell, that is to say, my doing
every thing had to do in. the right time,
won place for me in the affections of my
employer, and which induced him to offer
me partnership. l accepted-and in
every instance when the bell rung, it found
me ready.
havo been in business and married
nine years, and l have yet to be found
mapping whom the bell rings.
The first love letter | wrote, contained
an approval of the sentiment of farmer
Harris, and Helen was not long in settling
her opinion for our side, when | informed
her that if had waited for the last bell,
she would not have received it by that
boat
l had almost forgotten to tell you that
Helen is my wife, and she, for one, will
never repent the morning | took her father
at his word, and run for lfo over the
watermelon patch and corn-6eld to get to
the boat in time
Now would just beg leave to say few
words to our young men about this thing
of waiting for the last bell. When ar
rived at Baltimore waited on some gem
tlemen to whom had introductory letters,
and they recommended me for situation;
one was soon offered, which was told had
been refused by four young men, to whom
it had been offered before came to the
city The salary was low.--but said I,
sthey are waiting for the lastn bell, and l
was not slow in accepting ofit--and glad
am ofit, for it was the making of me- =