Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-07-08

ment of school-boy's life, and takes his
station in the world-his own lord and
master.
Neither my education, habits, nor taste,
fitted me for fashionable life. Nature had
done still less for me; for while at school,
[ enjoyed the reputation Of being called the
ugiest looking boy in the village. My
mother has often told me that when babe,
| was frightful to look upon, but she then
comiorted herself with the old adage,
that can ugly child changed to handsome
man." But as grew in years, the con-
tracted features ofmy ugliness expanded into
hideouSness, so that when / left my pater-
nal roof, I was considered the eieh h Won
der of the world
At eighteen | obtained situation iii a
retail dry goods store-and with LIGHT heart
and willing hands, engaged with much
assiduity in my new avocatlon. | had
been in b about month, when one
night as I came to my boarding house, a
note was handed me by the servant. The
pink paper, the green sealing wax, and the
general appearance of the note, quite start
led me, and it was several moments ere |
was sufficiently composed TO open it
however, I regained my self possession,
broke the seal, and read
''Nlrs. Kemp requests the pleasure of
Mr.. Michael Snder's company, on We'd
nesdav evening, twentieth instant"
The Kemp family was one Of the most
fashionable in the city. My father became
acquainted with Mr.. K. the winter he was
sent q representative to the General Court,
and is said to have assisted him very mate
rally in passing layorite measure through
the house,
The next morning | held a consultation
with my friends, as TO the propristy Of ac-
ceeting or refusing the invitation. | gave
the note to the oldest clerk and requested
his advice. lie read the billet very care
fully, then measured me with eyes from
head to foot, he burst out into an intulera-
bic fit of laughter.
'IIow like the deuce YOU will look in a
party, Snider why youwill fGghten every
lady out of the room. However, 90 by
all means-you will make an assortment :;
but take care of yourself and | will give
you few lessons before you make your de-
but"
Such was the kind advice of my friend ::
and I was soon persuaded to accept The in
vita,on, and retired to the desk to write an
answer. But here was trouble. | had
never written note in my life for in our
village, when party was. to be given, one
of the house walked round and gave ver-
bal invitation to the guests and made them
say whether they would come or not as
mother said, people wanted to know how
much cake to make, and how MANY walnuts
to crack. However, an answer must be
written. In the first place | took sheet
of foolscap paper, and with my ponknife
cut an exact pattern of the note / had re-
ceived then, ruling four lines with my
thumb-nail, requested one of the clerks
to mend pen for me, and ] went to work.
! ] will not describe the agony ! suffered
during one weary hour in attempting to re-
ply TO this note. A dozen sheets Of paper
! defaced ere I was able to write decent
answer. I either began too near the top OF
the paper-or ] left out word-or in re-
itrring to the dictionary found ! had mis-
PEELED; in fine, l had nearly exhausted all
my paper and patience, when version
struck me which thought proper
began again, and wrote the following
"Dear Madam got your nole last
evening, asking me to your house neXt We'd
nesday; and as father told me to get into
good company if could, 7 guess I'll come
Your friend, MICHAEL SNlpER."
saw no impropriety in this dicjion-sc
] folded the note, sealed it with a wafer anC
having no one TO obey my summons, | wa
obliged to leave it myself on my way hom'
at night.
In dressing for the party, when the nigh
came, my knees began shaking, and m,
whole body suffering under such excite
ment, that one would have supposed that
was under the operation of galranic bat
terry. In the act of shaving, lacerated m,
face in several places; in brushing my teetl
/ used the shaving brush instead OF the pro
, per implement / washed my hands wit
f the tooth-powder-brushed my hair wit
the shoe brush in fine, my wits were s
= disordered, that l was unconscious OF tn
Office was performing.
After various reverSes, succeeded in al
. ranging my dress to my satisfaction; an1
as | viewed myself in the glass, / becam
more composed-ieeling convinced Inevt
e before appeared TO SO much advantage. M
! tailor had indeed exercised to perlectio
y his talent in making, what he called a goo
fit. My coat was of blue broad-cloth, orni
mented with brass buttons of enormous eli
conference. The waist of the coat evir
II ced strong inclination TO take its seat b,
!. tween my shoulders, while the top of th
IS collar formed nearly a dead level with I'll
it crown of my head. The sleeves fitte
II tight to the arm, but whether from mistal
T. !, or fashion, they barely concealed Il
wrist, and left the whole hand exposed
in My vest was of wooden, and had dal
I'd ground, but stripes of red and yellow +
n n lieved its otherwise dull appearance. N
= trousers were af red mixed color, cut aft
n the Turkish fashion; nice pair of viii
u. woollen stockings covered the immen
,g length of my feet made still longer by Il
n prevailing fashion of having the pump
D. inch longer than the foot; so that my boz
appeared as though set upon runners.