Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-10-12
A GALLANT HUSBAND;
ON 1HK FATE OF AN OLD BACHELOR.

Of Virginia, an old rusty bachelor becoming
Tired of his situation Of" single blessedness"
--as all old bachelors must do sooner or la
ter took the notion into his head to seek
him out an help-mate, or rather to take un-
to himself wifc to nurse, take care of and
comfort him in his old age. He was veal
thy--had all the good things in this world
that heart could desire, excepting kind
hearted, gentle and afectionate wife. He
was never contented-nor should he have
been--for he had no one to share his for
tune; no one to bless him in sickness; no
one to sympathise with him when he be-
came sorrowful and gloomy. He wanted
not the means to procure him any and eve
ry comfort--he Jared sumptuously every
day;"--5ut the "o one thing needful" he had
not--he had no wife. In his juvenile days
he had no soul for the soft delights of love.
The chase, the race field, his fishing tackle,
his dog and gun were his delights. A rea-
sonabIe indulgence in these things Is no sin;
but our hero was totally engrossed by them.
His associates were men like himself, and
he became SO habituated to this peculiar
course Of life, so welded to his sports that,
like one Of old, he was joined to his idols. ;
But time works changes, and our bache.
lor friend did not escape his whitening touch.
The full, bright locks Of hair which cluster
ed his temples in rich profusion during his
more youthful years had become thin and
grey. The round and rosy cheeks of other
days had withered and began to wear sal
low hue. The corpulent chest the buoy
ant and fantastic step of early years had
declined, and the infrmities of age showed
weakness and hatings in his gait.
"a change came DER the spirit Of bis draami'
and the old withered, wasted bachelor be-
thought himself to take wife. But who
would have himl Who would now join their
fate with one SO old, SO musty, SO uninter-
esting! We are amongst those who do not
We have much to confirm this opinion in the
fact that our old friend was not unsuccess-
ful in his search for wife. He tried this
lady and he tried another; he met with re-
lection after rejection; one frowned on him,
and another laughed at his folly. But he
still persevered.
Finally he found the object of his heart in
the person Of beautiful and highly accom-
plished young lady at the interesting age Of
eighteen. She had taste and disposition
for gaiety--was fond of balls, fashionable
assemblies, travelling, &C.; but uLfortu.
nately she was poor-her father, who had
INDUCED and given her an opportunity for
every accomplishment in his more aff1uent
days, having died bankrupt and left her
without cent.
Our bachelor had nothing about his per-
son particularly fascinating; he was not the
most handsome man, nor the most agreeable
and interesting companion: hut he had gold
-he had a fortune This was the glitter
ing bait-this was the powerful magnet. -
The young lady knew he was wealthy, and
herself poor. She knew another thing
but she was almost ashamed to think Of that
- she knew the " old fellow" would not live
long; and the animating thought of being
an interesting, wealthy young widow, was a
consideration too strong. temptation too
great to be resisted. She yielded: She
accepted the offered hand of the bachelor,
and gave hers ip return. Oh, ye Gods!--
was he not happy man! Again he fanc-
ed himself young, and active, and gay; but
it was only fancy. He thought the spring
time Of life had again come to him; he i'm
agined his path was again strewn with the
buds and blossoms Of early years; but this
alas, was but an idle vision! The old man
had seen better days. His sun had risen
brightly, and it continued beaming anf
glowing more brilliantly, till it had reached
the full blaze of Its meridian splendor. But
it was now fast setting-the evening of his
life was now just approaching night Of
death was at hand.
But he married, and married blooming
bride. She blest him. He was happy
happy as he could be. Naught seemed to
disturb him, save an occasional reflection
which brought IN contrast his own age with
that of hiswife.
Time will not allow us to follow him
through his future career; though, alas, ii
was not long one; for he died in two
years, leaving only his beautiful young wild
ow to inherit his fortune.
Yet we cannot conclude our story, with
out relating one Of his feats Of gallantry
which occurred on the day after his wedding.
He had placed his bride in gig, and sea-
ed himself beside her, with view of visit
ing one of his old acquaintances, who had
pressingly ivited the newly married couple
to dine with him. All was brightness and
sweetness around. The day was fine, and
the weather was calm and delightful. The
party started on their way, and not dream
ing of any accident which might befal them.
In their route, they had to ford small
stresm, some three hundred yards below. a
mill-dsm. Recent rains had swollen the
head waters Of the creek, and just as the
happy pair were in the channel of the ford,
the dam above gave way, from the force
and pressure ofthe current. Down came
the water in torrents, overfowing every
thing in its course; it rose rapidly around
the vehicle containing the bride and BRIDE
groom; the horse became frightened, and
though every effort was made by our hero
to start the animal, he, did not and would
not bulge.
The bride did not shrek, and FAINT away;
but on the contrary, burst into fit Of laugh
| ter. l-.s
"Oh, Mrs. Maloney, me love-" said Mr..
Maloney--for this was our friends name
chow can ye laugh so, whin ye see your
poor husband in such danger fdhrouningl
Mrs. Maloney, how can ye laugh,
say?
| The bride laughed again, and rather more
I