Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1841-05-06
THE LAST BELL.

of May, 1925. was sitting by the side
of Helen Harris, the only girl / ever loved:
and,72l 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 a
quarterof mile from the landing place,
waiting for the bell of the steamboat to
warn me Of the moment that was to part
"my love aud me- II came to pass in
the course ofmy history, that, in order to
accumulate a little of this worlds gear,
that might be the better prepared TO en-
counter the demands Of matrimony, ] was
destined to crosst the blue Chesapeake, and
seek, in the Metropolitan city, the where
withal so much desired. How many
swains have been compelled, like me, to
leave home aud the girl they loved, III
search of gold and how many have been
disappointed / Butto the piazza z =
Well, we were sitting in the piazza and
talking of our love, separation, &C.; we
were waiting for the unwelcome sound OF
the steamboat bell, and you may rely on
it we talked fast, and abbreviated our
words into such rugged sentences that no.
body but ourselves could understand them.
The first bell rang, and | spraug to my
fee, and trembled like an aspen. =
ooh, George, wait till the last bell
rings" said Helen, as the big, bright tears
came over her blue eyes.
Do no such thing" answered The
hoarse voice Of Mr.. Harris, as he rose like
a spectre from the celIer, where he had
been packing away his cider. 1" George,
never wait for the last bell J"
was off like deer, and | arrived at
the steamboat merely in time 10 go on
board before she was pushed of from the
wharf.
My career in the search Of pelf has, 10 a
degree, been successful; but believe had
not the old farmer told me, "mever TO wall
for the last BELL" that 1 now should have
been as poor as the morning that farewell
shivered from my lips upon the heart Of
my lovely Helen. Any person who has
lived a, hotel even for single day knows
The danger of waiting for the last bell.
did il once, and lost my dinner. The 6rs'
stroke of the dinner bell since then has al.
ways found me at the table. For six
months | was clerk, and my never wal.
ting for the last bell secured for me the
affections Of my employer, who offered
me partnership, which l accepted, and
in every instance when the bellrang was
ready.
had almost forgotten to tell you thai
HELEN Harris is my wife, and she never
will repent The morning took her father al
his word, and ran over the field TO get 10
the boa, in time. When arrived at Bal
timore called on some gentlemen to whom
| had introductory letters, and they recon-
mended me for a situation; one was soor
offered, which had been refused by ioul
young men who were waiting for the las
bell, aud which accepled-it was The ma
king of me. Haste for The first offer, ane
keep II till you &c, better. Life is short
and be who puts off until the last bell, viii
as farmer Harris predicts, "come out a
the little end Of tine horn."
Young ladies, i have word for you lr
the street Tive there is a lady who ha.
|. been seven years in choosing a partner ioJ
lile. She: has had several respectable :oi:
fers, but she was waiting for The ''last bell,
anj she is now likely TO remain to the las
belle, for she is turned ofthirty, aud it !.
more than probable that she must bide be-
blessedness for ever. Now beseech al
of you who may read this sketch, whenev
er you may feel disposition to postpone
any thing which should be done now TO re-
member The words Of farmer Harris
Never wait for the "last bell."-Albaay
Daily Advertiser.