The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-03-29
A STORY OF LEAP YEAR.
BY JOE. MILLER, JR.


Sam !Smilh sat at home. on New Years
dav. in dlshabille. Ills beard was unsllavcd,
his hair was uncnmbcd, his boots were I'M
BACKED, and he was lcaninng back in PIC
tircsquc attitude, with his heels against the
manllepicce smoking cigar. Samthought
to himself that it was leap year, and how
glorious it would be if the ladies could only
be Induced 10 pop the question. III accord
ancc with their anricnt privileges. AS he
sal watching the smoke which So gracefully
cur!cd, his fancy slowcd with the idea.
How dclisht!uIil would be to have tho dear
creatures fnndng on him, and with tender
rIanccs cndcavnrng to do the agreeable!
As he mcdlatcd his heart soflcncd. and be-
san to feel Il squcamish, womanlsh scnsIblI'
Is dtfusc itself over his feelings. and thought
he would faint with propr!cly the first time
a lady should squeeze his hand.
Rap. rap, rap sounded the door. sam
pccped ,hrnugh the Venetian blinds. 'Mcr-
cv,' exclaimed he. If here isn't Miss Jones,
and all in d;shabiIIc, and looking like fright,
goodness gracious! must 60, right away
and fix myself up
As he left the room Miss Jones entered,
and with composed al, in,imalcd that she
would wait. Miss Susan Jones was firm
believer in woman's rights. and now that the
season was propItious she determined TO
take the advantage thereof, and do little
cour,iuc on her own hook. 1t was only wo-
mans privileges, which had been usurpcd
bv the lyrant, man. and she determined to
assert her rights. in spite of the hollow for
maics of a false system Of society.
Meanwhile, with alptat'ng heart Sam
Smith went through a series OF personal A.
dornmcnrs The last twist was given to his
collar, the last curl to his whISkcrs and, with
white cambrick in hand he descended to the
parlrr. Miss Jones rushed to receive him
and, graspng his hand with Iervor, sad:
Dearest, how beautiful you look accompa-
nvinr her words with glance of undIsgu's-
cd admiration.
Spare the bushes of a modest young
man, said 'ian, applying his cambria to his
face to hide his confusion.
Nav, my love, why so coy? said Susan;
turn not away those love ly eyes, dark as the
let, but sparkling as the diamond. Listen to
jihe vows of the londcst affection. Here let
us rest said she drawing him to a sofa;
.hcrc, with nv arm round thee, will protest
nv true affection
Leave me, oh, leave me- mnrmurcd Sam
think of my youth, my incxpcr'cncc- spare
oh, spare nv pal pitatiug heart.
Leave thee said Susan, pressing hm
closer to her; never, until the story OF rest
less nights, of unqrict days, of aspirations,
fond emotions, and undyng love, is aud be-
fore thee. Know that for years tha'l have
nurscd for thee secret passion. Need tell
how each manly beauty moved me; how
worshlrpcd like sun flower in the lnr'i
liuht of those scarlet trcsscs; how my fond
heart was entrapped in the mcshes OF those
magnificent whisk"rs: how ! was willing
to Weld up to the government oi that 1mpc'
raI:' ,hv manners. so modest, SO delicate. en-
cha antcd me- were Joy to mc-tor thy JOY
was nv I,v. NV heart is thine take II
but first let me snatch one kiss from those
ruby Ilps.'
The ovcr-wronght feelings of the delicate
youth were too strong. and he tainted from
excess of Joy. Meanwhile the cnamorcd
maiden hung londIy over him. and
Sowly the eyes of Samuel Smith open
cd-hc gazcd wildly round hIm-thcn meet;
nu the ardent gaze ofhns 'lovcr,' he buShcd
deeply, and beIIlnd his handkerchief laIn''y
laltered out ASK my pa.'-Rerc'He.
A droll fellow was asked by an old lady
to read the newspaper, and taking it up' be
gan as follows:
Last night Yesterday morning, about two