The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-01-01
From the Knickerbocker.
A CHAPTER ON PROPOSALS.


five feet ten, with locks black and glossy as the
ravens wing (aas the driven snow is not whittier
now y with fair complexion, checks glowing with
the red tide of youth and health, and possessing
what is considered sufficient good sense and cdu-
cation for all the practical purposes of life, it may
be thought that my experience in matters of the
heart ought to prove an exception to the rule that
"the course oftrue love never did run smooth. -
But alas not so 1t was my fortune to become
acquainted with young lady possessed of so many
charms mental, moral, and personals land. $50 super
eminent in each that it was indeed impossible for
me to avoid falling, as did, desperately in love
with her
AS far glances Of the eye, ,remors of the voice,
and occasional inuendoes, mig ht go, doubt not
that succeeded full well in impartiug to her
knowledge of the state of my heart; and will not
presume upon your patience SO much as to detail
the ecesracy ofjoy with which first discovered
through similar media, II reciprocity of feelings on
the part of the young lady. Let i, suffice to say
that this was the case, and that the time came
when it was incumbent on Inc to make distant
avowal of my love. This, after long and prcp'ex-
ing mental debsteI resolved to do by letter; and AT
ter writing some forty epsIles on as many sheets of
gi!ded satin-paper, finally succeeded in forming
letter, amounting to about six Ines containing, as
l thought, the condensed quintessence Of every
thing that could or ought to be said on the subject
OF this precious morccau, retain now but slight
b,t; ohnunln1 with t.ruI nv
pressive of pure, warm, ardent, glowing, undying,
everlasting and unprecedented Affection have not
the least doubt. But unfortunately, this little spe-
cmen ofepistolary excellence was scarcely finished
when CHANGING to pcru,e some Of the experiences
of predecessor in path Of love, | read that moth
ing was more unwse or dangerous than making an
offer of one 5 hand and heart by means olIpen and
paper.
With the credulity OF a simple mind, at once
gave implicit crcdcncc to his doctrine, and righcn-
ed at the fearful! precpice which had so narrowly
avoided, immediately destroyed my letter, and
resolved to declare myself in person, with my own
lips and voice, and to hear with my own ears the
reply which was to seal my destiny.
Never did an Alexander, Wallace, or a Ma
polcon, feel the in.piriling effect of heroic reso
luton more powerfully than le, the influence of
this. had resolved. Iwould execute ! wal
ked the streets with proud Consciousness of the
heroism of my resolution and in the height of my
pride, fairly feared lest, in the words oihc poet,
should ''strike the stars with my lofty head" But
sensible Of the impcrcctcn oihunan powers, and
conscious that mine, IN particular, were liable to
fail on so delicate an emergency. | resolved at
IT,. --.-''. -"h "r'""';' =" memory my dcclar-
atory of speech. This undignicd and foolish thing
l did. Instead of trusting to the warm oulpoar-
ings on an Ingenious heart, which in some way ut
least would have managed 10 make Itself UNDER
stood aud fen, committed to memory cold for
mua of words, TO be delivered as the school-boy
reces his speech, of which it is tulicient for the
purpose of this little article 10 rccollect The follow
ing sentences "Nli,s .Adams will You allow me
to offer you my hand and heart !"
The fearful honr arrived. The cvcnn. for my
wonted visit approached and found my self sea-
ted by the side of my adorcd in the SIMMER eve
ming twilight. The last rays of the sitting had
gradually disappeared from the rosy clouds that
in the heaven, land one by one the stars become Wis
ibe
7" In such night
Stood Dido with willow in her hand,
Upon the wild sea banks, and waved her love
To come to Carthage"
The opened window by which we sat looked
Of ;,I,
and rare flowers from which there rxued and rose
around us, a delicious fragrance, forming tit at
mosphcrc for such scene. The time the silence,
the scenery, every thing was appropriate; aud She
the beautiful the almost mccarthy, seemed by in
tuition to understand my thoughts and intention, as
with head bent down, she gazed earnestly (and
with slight blush upou the fair cheeks around
which her auburn curls were playing upon moss
rose which she was earnestly engaged in pulling TO
pieces. was employed in the equally serious oc-
cupaIion of opening aud shutting small fancy suit:
box which held in my hand.
Alas where now was the Aevandran or No.
plitan courage that had inspired me ieltmy yaor
"a.,g ""' Of tho plans If my hands Bat at
nun liIt
scaiiod who wishes to die with at least seeming
fortitude,or 10 more iorcibe Illustration, gath
erins together and concentrating, as il were, all
the energies Of my mind, after The manner Of one
about to submit to that mo Il niuman orai earthly
fortunes, the extraction of tooth; say,wh such
energy as this, raised my eyes to those of Isabella,
and in the language of my prepared speech said,
Miss ADAMs!'
The unnecessary and startling emphasis with
which this rather formal commencement, was de-
livercd seriously frightened both parties. The rose
dropped from her fingers, the box from mine; and
was only able to follow up this impressive eyor
dun with some common place remark about the
beauty of the evening aller which we rclapscd into
our former silence
Gathering however energy from dcfeat,I made,
alter slight pause, second attempt:
N.niys Il Inns. - said in n .ol,,,,,