Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-07-07
ScUDDLNG UNDER B.fRE POLLS.

aid honest spirits often met with in his
gallant profession, innocent as an infant,
in almost every thing. save high integrl-
~, and indomitable bravery. He was
nearly fifty years ola. and his tolis were
aver, when master Dan Cupid brought
him acquainted with Widow Wadman.
in whose eve he had began to detect
something that made him uneasy. Here
was the result Of leisure.
During his service ia the army, he had
never seen any thing worthy of partlcu-
lar notice in woman's eye. In fact, ne
would scarcely have observed whether a
woman had three ewes in her head, or on
" one for no matter where his own
eyes were, his thoughts were ever among
''guns and drums and wounds" and love
Was thing that lived in his memory just
as he rendered once reading visionary
story book called the IS Arabian Nights
Entertainments" when boy.
Well, the General had settled down
into @entlemanlv old fellow, living al
one with comfortable wealth. around
him, and having little to do, SAKE now
and then to entertain All old c0mrade in
arms, which companlonship afforded OPP
portunity for him to .'ight his battles o.
er again" But, alas! over this calm
evening of the old Generals day, deal
of perp!exiy was doomed to FALL, and he
soon found himself in troubled waters.
the depth of which he could by no-means
understand. He floundered about like a
Gagged rat under pump, and such ano-
Their melancholy fish out of water never
before swallowed the bait, hook and all,
Of the angling God of love. The psor
General I'VE must give him name, or
we can't tell the story, and the best
name for such story, to be found in tale
or history. is " Uncle Toby" Poor Gen
eral Uncle Toby. debated abstraotedIy
in great distraction about his new posi-
ton and never had siege or camgaign
given him perplexty before.
At length, however, the blunt homes
ty Of his disposition rose uppermost a
mong his.conlicting plans, and his course
was chosen. At school he had once
studied "Othello's Defence'' to recite at
an exhibition, but made great failure !;
and he now recolIected that there was
something in this ''Defence" like what
he wanted to say. He got the book i'm
mediate y. found the passage, clapped on
his hat with determined air. and post
ed Oft to the Widow Windman, with
Shakespeare under his arm.
/" Madam" said General Uncle Toby,
opening his book at the marked place,
with the solemnity of special pleader
at the bar-"Madam-
"Rude am in my speech,
And little blessed with the set phrase Of
peace,
For since these arms of M ne had seven
years. pith,
Till now, some nine moons wasted, thew
have used
Their dearest action in the tented field |;
And little of this great world can speak
More than pertains to feats OF ibrol and
and battle;
And therefore"-
Here the General closed the book,
wiped his forehead, looked up at the cell
ing. and said, with spasmodic gasp
e. 1Uaat to get married 20
The widow laughed for ten minutes by
the watch. before she could utter sylla-
BILE, and then she said. with precious
tears of good humor rolling down her
good natured cheeks" And who is it
that you want to marry, General 20
I" You % said Uncle Toby, flourish
in his sword-arm 10 the air, and assum-
ing military attitude of defiance, as if
he expected an assault from the widow
Immediately.
" VIII you kill me il marry you ?''
said the widow, with merry twinkle in
her eye.
mo, madam!!" replied Uncle Toby,
in most serious and deprecating tone
rs II 10 assure her. that such an idea had
never entered his head.
g: Well, then, 1 guess I'll marry you,''
said the widow.
Thank you, ma'am,' said Uncle To.
by ;-''but one thing | am bound to tell
YOU Of, madam Il wear uig %
The widow started. renamed silent A
moment. and then went off into long
or. louder, merrier laugh than she had in.
dulged IN before at the end of which
she drew her hand upon his head, gently
Lifted his wig off, and placed it upon the
table
General Uncle Toby. had neverknowp
fear in hot battle. but he now felt a most
decisive inclination to run away. The
widow laughed again, as though she ney-
er would stop, and the General was lust
about 10 clap his hat upon his demuded
head and bolt. when the facetious lady
placed her hand upon his arm, and detair-
ell him. She then deliberately raised
her other hand to her own head. with a
sort Of military precision, executed ra-
pid man9uvre with her'five fingers. pull
ed oil her whole head of fine. glossy hair,
and placed it upon the table beside the
Generals, remaining seated with ludlc-
rous gravity in front Of her accepted low
er. quite bald
AS may be expected, Uncle Toby now
laughed along with the widow, they soon
grew SO merry over The affair. that the
A