Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-08
THURSDAY MORNING., JULY 8, Is4I.


in existence. The change was observed
and was complimented on my elastic
spirits and cheerful looks. How incapa.
BILE Of judging the motives Of actions are
those best acquainted with human nature
1t is solemnly true, that one day when
had been canvassing the easiest method
of suicide. was publicly envied for my
utter disregard for my worldly trouble
! soon left the gay and intellectual so.
ciety ofths station, to return again to my
native city. Two more years had elapsed
in frvolities, and had quite forgotten my
unrequited passion, and also my regard
for the many fine young officers, who did
me the honor to regret that their duty
would not allow them to escort me home /;
when my father growing tired of the trou.
blcs Of life Of business, purchased farm
and retired to the country. My leisure
hours, instead Of being passed in fashion.
able society, we're obliged to be spent in
reading novels, and | was compelled to love
in imagination, since there was no reality
near. I
Every one knows how utterly destitute
are our small villages at the North, of
young men Of gentilty. The tide of EN-.
lgration sets to the West and the South !;
nearly every youth of education ard en-.
terprise leaving hundreds to bewail the
rowing habits of the rising generation, and
TO sigh in almost hopeless celibacy. Ii is
only by accident tina. such villages are ia.
vored with the society Of any young men.
| have resided IN the place for nearly
six months, with very few companions
save my books, for the young ladies' were
not fashionable. returned the calls of
a few, and for these Of course was oblig.
ed to profess great friendship; to drink
their tea, and be worried to death by their
insipid conversation. At length theo.
logical student came to town to complete
his studies with divine OF considerable
eminence. All the young ladies were on
the very toe-nail of curiosity. We could
hear nothing Of him, except that his name
was Arnold M'Lellan. A pretty name is to
me as good letter Recommendation as a
good face. We soon after learned, more
over, that he was graduate oil Yale, and
very promising young man. For many
an evening our village bellies sat in their
parlors, glittering in the finest of fnery,
in anxious expectation of knock at the
door. Centre tables were loaded with all
kinds Of books tina, could be scraped to-
gether from mus,y garrets and dirty
shelves; the leaves Of Shakespeare, Mil
ton, and Young, were run over with
electric rapidly. For days and weeks
the ladies made no evening calls, but each
remained at home, it being as yet a mat.
ter Of doubt who would be honored with
the first visit. But Notwithstanding all
these Preparations, the student came not.
He seemed quite Indifferent to all their
eagerly exposed charms; and even in
church never took more than passing
glance at any one of the fair damsels, al
though he could not but know that he was
the cynosure of all the female eyes in the
house, which were criticising his person
to the minutest particular. 1t was voted
after church that he was very plain. fea-
tured, and in fact had no expression OF
great intelligence, unless a certain twink
lie at the corner of his mouth might be SO
construed.
1t was one day rumored that the stu
dent had requested Miss Disgins "a maiden
lady, the walking newspaper Of the vii.
lage, who had some how or other scraped
a street acquaintance with HIM. to intro
duce him to the Mss Higgins, and tina,
the said Miss Diggins had concluded &c
comply with his request that very evening
Can words describe the JOY Of the Miss Hig'
gins And though the Misses Brown
Mason and Dobbs were secretly bursting
with rage, they determined to stne it all
and make one universal accidental call or
the Misses Higgins that very evening
For myself, was too proud to stoop to sc
low an artifce. | had in fact by thi.
time concluded that if the student coulC
discern nothing attractive in me, he mus
be a simpleton indeed, from whose &C
quaintance could derive little advantage
| felt convinced also that young man o
two-and.twenty, who could take delig:.
in nothing but cobb webbed and sheep
skin tones, even though he was intended
to become minister, must be incapable
Of love, OF even respect FOR the sex.
Well, evening came, and the parlors o
the Higgins were crowded yet she
came not and though the ladies extend
ed their call to the late hour Of nine, a
which time their staid old parents were
all safely IN bed, they were iain at last t
go away disappointed and sick at heart
The next day il was rumored that Mis-
Dlggins with the student had approache,
the house, entered the front gate. and ever
unattached il; but that observing through
the window the long line Of physiogno
mists within, had at once beat a retreat
On hearing this, was Immediately con
WINGED that he was one of those unfortu.
nate and always but half.bred beings, {
bashful man; and imagined myself hi
person Of all the world best calculated tG
relieve him of his load of difiidence, ant
place him at ease, in my company at least
therefore wrote note, with my compli
ments, informing him that should be a
home on Wednesday evening. By my
messenger received an answer of accept
ance, written in terms of perfect etiquette
Why, he certainly is no; boor,
thought |, on reading his answer.
was quite surprised at the easy all
with which he entered the parlor, and sa.
luted me then offered his arm with re.