, 1844-11-23

must KNOW, dear madam-IS a better
arIlhmetIclan; taught as he is by
butcher and baker. Love in a cot.
lage Is pretty enough for girls and
boys; but men and women like a lar
ger mansion, with 4 coach house and
stabling.
You may urge against ME, that !
have membranes. By no means.
My daughter having married a beg.
gar, has ceased TO have any natural
claim upon me. If | am civil to her,
it is solely from a certain weakness
OF heart that cannot wholly con.
quer; and something too, moreover,
10 keep up appearances with med
ding world. have told her that she
is never toexpect Q farthing from me.
and should oespise myself not to be
a nan of my word.
have, TOO, a son; but when | tell
you that | have ono paid his debts.
incurred in his wild minority. YOU
will allow that, except my blessing,
and, at tunes. my parental advice, he
can expect nothing more. | know
the duties of q father, and will never
satisfy The cravings Of q profligate.
Nevertheless, he is my own son; and
whatever may be his need. nv bless
lng AID my counsel he shall never
want.
My health, madam, has never been
excellent. ! have worn like rock.-
] have heard OF such things as nerves.
but believe ii my fate to have been
Corn without any such weakness. |
speak thus plainly of essentials, as
you and |, madam, are now too wise
10 think consumption pretty-to tie
ourselves to iIl-health, believing it
vastly interesting. can ride forty
miles a day, and take a rhedge with
any fellow OF FIVE and twenty. lsav
speak OF these things that you may
know me as | am. Moreover, | as
sure you ! eat with my own teeth,
and grow my own hair. Besides this,
| am only two-and-f fifty.
What do you say. madam? As Tor
vices, as | am an honest man, | do not
think can lay any to my charge.
may have my human weakness
Snch, indeed, as | have touched upon
above; but, madam, it has ever been
my duty through life TO be respecta-
bic. have the handsomest pew in
the church, and don't owe any man IA
shilling.
Well, my dear madam, ii is getting
late, and | must conclude. ! hate 10
be out OF bed -fter eleventh is now
past twelve. Hence you must per-
ceive how very much | am interested
in this business. In another ten min
ules shall be asleep, and dreaming
of you. May ! wake to find my
dream-for ! know what it will be
d reality.
If our solicitors are mutually salts
fed, will you name the day? ] am
superstitious about days-sav, then,
say Thursday week, and believe me
your devoted lover, till death.
NICHOLAS BLAcKTuoRN.
P. S.--May | see you tomorrow
THE WIDOWS ANSWER.
Sir-Your favor of last night has, |
own, surprised me. What! after n
meeting, and that at a card-party, to
make such an offer! Well, 10 be sure,
you men are strange creatures!-
What, indeed, could you have seen in
nv conduct to think | could look over
such holiness?
As far the rational point of life you
speak of, must confess | know not
when that exactly occurs; do you
think il--at least with women--at
two-and-thirty; or if not, may | beg
TO know what age you consider me?
Perhaps, though, my early and ire
parable loss may have brought a look
of premature age upon me. 1t is
very possible-lor what a man he
wasi
As for what you say about hearts,
sir, | know but little; | only know
the one | have lost. If ! did pluck it
green, like the apples in my store
room, it grew ripper and ripper in my
care.
You say your wife's portrait smiled
While you wrote. His dear NINA
ture is now before me; | think see
the tears starting through the ivory
as | look upon the precious features.
If he ever could have frowned, sure
" he would frown now, TO think
but | will not pursue the theme.
As to your means, sir, am happy
to hear they are sufficient. Although
1 can by no possibility have an int
rest in them, nevertheless ! myself
too well know the blessings Of com
petence not to congratulate you.-