Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-09-22
The Last Bell.

Il was beautiful morning in the
month of Nav, 1926, ! was sitting by
the side of Helen Harris, the only girl
/ ever loved, and believe the only
girl that ever loved me-any how, she
was the only ore that ever told me so.
We were sitting in the piazza of her
fathers house, about quarter OF mile
from the landing place. waiting for the
bell of the steamboat to warn me of the
moment that was to part tt'my love and
me-" 1t came to pass in the course of
my history, that in order to accumu>
late little Of the worlds gear that
might be better prepared to encounter
the demands ofmatrimony. l was des.
tined to cross the blue Chesapeake, and
seek in the metropolitan city the where
withal so much desired. How many
swains have been compelled, like me,
to abandon home and the girl they low
ed, in search of gold! And, good gra-
cious how many have been disaPpoint.
edl But TO the piazza.
Well, we were sitting in the piazza,
talking of love and separation, ETC.
We were waiting for the unwelcome
sound of the steamboat bell, and ) ou
may rely upon it. We talked fast, and
abbreviated our words in such ragged
sentences that nobody but ourselves
could understand them The first bell
rang, and | sprang to my feet, and
trembled like an aspen. "Oh George,
wait till the last bell rings" said Helen,
as the big tears came over her blue
eyes. "Do no such thing" answered
the hoarse voice of Mr.. Harris, as he
arose like a spectre from the cellar,
where he had been packing away his
cider-"George, never wait for the last
bell" l was off like deer, and ar
rived at the steamboat merely in time
20 go on board before she was pushed
ffro,n the wharf.
"sMy career in search of pelf has in
degree been successful; but believe
had not the old farmer told me ''never
wait for the last BELL" that now should
have been as poor as ] was the morn
ing that farewell shivered from my
lips upon the heart of my lovely Helen.
Any person who has lived at hotel
even for day, knows the danger of
waiting for the last belI-I did it once,
and lost my dinner. The first stroke
of the dinner bell always found me at
the table. For six months | was clerk,
and my never waiting for the last bell,
secured for me the affections of my EN-.
ployer, who offered me partnership,
which Iacccpted, and in every instance
when the bell rung, l was ready.
! was almost forgetting to tell you
that Helen Harris is my wife, and she
will never repent the morning | took
her father at his werd, and ran over
the field 10 get to the boat in time.-
When arrived at Baltimore, called
upon some gentlemen to whom had
Introductory letters, and they recon-
mended me for situation; one was Of
fered which had been refused by four
young men who were waiting fer the
last bell, and which ] accepted-it was
the making of me. Haste for the first
bell. accept the first offer, and keep it
till you get better. Life isishort and
he who puts offuntil the last bell, will.
as father Harris predicts, ''come out at
the. little end of the horn"
Young ladies, / have word for you.
In the. street where | live, there is a
lady who has been seven years in
choosing partner for life. She has
had several respectable offers. but she
has been waiting for the 'slast bell,' and
she is now likely to remain to the last
a belle, for she is turned of thirty, and
it is more than probable that she must
bide single blessedness forever be-
seeeh sall of you who may read this !
sketch, whenever you may feel dis.
position to postpone anything which
should be done now, remember the |
words of Farmer Harris, "Never wait
for the last bell" "a 3e.. -...,.a.
"sAnd SO you're going cit 10