Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-15
! "A KISSING HOLIDAY.

SDglsD correspondent OF the N.
\ emmercial Adsmflser Eiyes the FOL.
zo4Dg description of one Of the Easter
Il olidays. which he passed at small
teHn in the heart Of Slaffordshire
On descending 10 the little parlor Of The
inn, on Monday morning. perceived that
all the household wers in their gayess at
y tire, and that no one entertained any se-
4 rious notions Of work o. business ~ had
despatched my solitary breakfast u ham
and eggs, and other country dalnliUsr and
was looking out with mixed feelii1s Of
/ delight and envy upon the prospect before
i me. when the door of my room was sud-
denly flung open, and six rosy checked,
ringlet.ed young women entered. tittering
very much, and looking very foolish at
each other and then at me.
F. am not vain-but TO give the devil his
due. | am rather handsome fellow-my
mother has told me 80 thousand times;
so. upon the whole, l was rather gra,i6ed
by this piece of admiring attention. But
to be lef! alone in little parlor, with half
dozen girls, requires some nerve. and |
confess l began TO feel rather qualmish. l
am rather bashful besides-very bashful-
and therefore had a mortal repugnance to
being thus exhibited gratis. and so to put
an end TO the scene, said in as careless
tone as could command, whats the
matter, Mary!' well, sir she answer
ed, j Gee you don't understand our ways,
but you mus' sit in this chair if you please
And she indicated a chair which had not
perceived, in the back slaves Of which
were en,wined laurel, ivy and flowers.
Anxious to conciliate them, l complied
with her request, resigning myself to my
fate with desperate forlilude. Scarcely
had taken my seat when they lifted me
up in the chair, as high as they could,
three or four times, laughing most out.
rageously at my looks of bewildered ter.
ror. l gave myself up for lost; an unfor-
tunate young man, who had strayed into
rustic wilderness, far from his home and
his friends, en.rapped, ensnared, and for
chilly carried away by six violently pretty
girls; but if Twas horror struck at this
proceeding, Judge what was my constern-
alton, when the leader of the assailants,
that very Mary who had brought my
breakfas. half an hour before, and leered
upon me as only charmingly wicked
waiting woman can leer, advanced, seized
me round the neck, and impressed upon
my half parted lips ferocous kiss This
was the climax. l de6ed destiny from
that instant, and resolved to meet my fate
like martyr. La, sir said Mary, 4
declare you are quite alarmed; must have
another, jus. to bring you to your senses
How soon one gets used TO kissing! All
my terror had vanished a. the salute of the
third damsel, and repaid the Clip service
Of the sixth with interest. l got so fond
of the sport, that even wanted to repea.
the performance, and would not have car
ed to employ the whole day in such pas
time.
Now, SIR said Mary, you must know
that this is our 'heaving days to-day the
yonng girls 'heaves' the young men, who
ever they can catch, gentle or simple; and
to- morrow the young men heaves we, if
they can catch us, and them as don't get
kiss, man or woman, pays forfeit |
was also informed that it was customary
10 give some triAing gratuity to the ladies',
as a keepsake, practice to which con-
formed, by giving them trifle of money,
which they did not keep long, and they
left me we'll pleased with the success Of
their exploit, while was no less SO.
rode in mail coach to within about
two miles of my friends house, and walk.
ed the remaining distance. My road lay
through narrow lanes, and across fields,
until came upon small village. Hith-
| erlo had not met soul; blu. was walking
merrily on, wbisting or singing, in love
wi,heal the world, not emitting the most
important item in tho aggregate-myself.
But Is entered the struggling village, l
could perceive gowns and many colored
caps. fitting backward and forward, and
had an intuitive consciousness Of womae.
resolved on heaving achievements, lying
in ambush behind impervious hedges,
which filled me with strange trepidation.
proceeded, however, calling up look Of
magnificent stand of ,or-r ll-bite-you ex-
| preston; thinking in the innocence Of my
| head, 10 check too familiar advances by an
assumed haussur.
Twas miserably deceived, for strong
built young lady, in state Of most bar.
barous health, came forward 10 meet me,
with an artful carelessness of manner. ev-
identity wishing to persuade me that ! was
unnoticed, and that she was only going to
the spring for pail Of water; but when
she arrived within graphing distance, she
flung the pail away clasped me rudely
around the waist, and before could say
.alas.' she lifted me from my feet and kiss
ed me with violence. She offered no a.