Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-02-22
Dodge,s Elopement.--By Falconbridge.

~ DODGE the eccentric and unequalled delineator or
a tbo ladies call him. "the incomparably ugly man.
&,neared 'on change again last week; ana the next
&enng after his appearance, Mihken's tasmonaOie
acknowledges head quarters, was at an carry hour
eceutlv crowded with the members OF the order, 10
sen to the rb-tickng account of the many incidents
fyer to be met with in the life of Concert Singer
MANY a time and oft, have shaken our sides with
hnconrollabe laughter, the tormenting sentences
hi drv and spontaneous wit fell from the lips OF the
Aoker as unconserned and careless drops ol spray
from the overhanging cliffs at Niagara
But few. however, of the many rich things relaIed
bv him in our have left the laughter IN US Ike
Mahe folownp but in order to be fully appreciated the
leader should see Dodge tell the story
H4Dodge some years ago-about the time he quit
fachine the art of wax-ruit and flower making, and
#ttunateIv took up that of concerting at which pro-
cssion he has, according to repue, amassed an nde-
56adent for.une-made break across the mountains,
and fine morning found himself in the city OF On
cinnati.
Here he took passage in, the afterward unlucky
kteamer the b s., bound down to Memphis,
Vcksburg, Natchez and New Orleans.
The boat was densey crowded, being slowed full on
deck with agricultural implements, horses cord-wood
Dutch emigrants and other hardware while the CABIN
overhead filled up with trunks, band-boXes. carpet
bags umbrellas, gals and boys, men and women ana
such like punder.
The boat showed off, fred her swivel, and away she
headed down stream while her old pipes breathed forth
cook cook, cook, which fairly caused the surround
inc hills to echo again.
anpr simmer DODGE having by letter of introduction,
made the acquaintance of very useful parsonage the
captain of the boat, they and arm took peep IN
to the ladies' saloon; it was quite tuii ana one OF e
ladies was PLAYING the piano elegantly While some
others having greater taste for vocal than instrument
tai music were hummng few of the late lash,
ionabe productions of Balfe Dempster, Glover, and
other composers
s. The CAPTAIN and Dodge stood for some time in re-
spectuI silence when the lady at the piano very po-
eIv requested aid to assist her il that glorious soul
exhlaratng, never-dying old duet the Canadan Ooa'
song" ~
This was Dodge's cuc he very readily stepped for
ward and begged permission to lead Off
"If YOU please SIR said the lady, whose angelierous
voice Dodge avows nearly took away his breath
Onr hero pitched into the ..Boatman' like load OF
coal and saws that, united with the angelic voice OF
8 the Mississippi nightingale he fairly made "Rome
how'll
operas lately published, and the night now being ia
advanced to wind up, Dodge was obliged to favor the
ladies with trip to the Niagara Falls
s.Od fellow said the Captain, meeting Dodge in thu
social hall about midnight, ''you got along swimming
" among the lades-why, you sing like bird"
80 YES. sing a lttle,' said Dodge
aAnd egad YOU thumbed that ady's guitar into fits!
"Well | ra-ather guess did tortue some, Tephe
Dodge: ''but tell Captain who IS that lady dresse
in black that sings like nightingale and plays wit
the finish and perfection of professor :!
The Captain being a noted wag, and the terror
all iokers the Mississippi river suddenly conceive
the idea of selling the Yankee with joke which shout
come "high' among the New Englanders' III ages
come, a model "sell
THAT lady, my dear fellow, is-a-wdoW.1
"You don't say so.' said Dodge.
"Yes but | do, though, and, more than that she
rich, rich as mud sir-rch mud! worth seventy-h'
thousand dollars: young and beautiful into the bargal
"a good chance for Yankee boy Just commencil
in life like you, sir!"
81 eReautiful as an angel said the Captain
"a very fine musician, too said Dodge
"Unequalled on the river rejoined the CaP1alh' :
she sings like a seraph!' -
"How long has she been widow !! inquired Doo!
ga little over year now, since her Captain was P
ced under the sod" ,
SAYS Dodge.
Eyes he was Captain, but he got blowed up, p
fellow. This steam boating is risky basiness 10
~ man that anything about life, SIR risky Duslhe
but then if you get the widow, and you can do IT,
like knife, if you only cotton up strong enough
~ she likes you already; / saw it in her eye-you
~ retire large plantation and spend
IN rest of your days in indscrbable luxury
&A .Weil, Captain, hang me- if aint a mind to spr
myself for the young widow, and try my hand at Co
\ ing for the first time in my life
asCo it. nv boy, I'll back you with al! my lntiuef
aIf wasn't ALREADY. married man, I'd surely 90 IN
that charming woman; but you'll wln-young-e
lookng!"
"Dont DON'T if you please, Captain
..Hang it, Dodge, don't be modest!''
aBut, Captain gas, soap, putty-think of my
ings!"
aThen you sing and play like book; the wi
loves music She loves music to distraction and
nv boy, strike while the iron is hot Why, sir,
could sing and lead the guitar equal to you, "a
"Hold on Captain, hold on; | understand all a
that. hut now tell me all about the young and be
f,l widow. rive me her name, age and residence
Her name,o replied the Captain, 'Armar'
Bronson. age about twenty-four residence New
leans, and as we shall probably be about ten days
ning down. you'll have fine chance to exert you
g now take my advice, and make the best use oi
tine"
Z will" says Dodge, and he didn't do anything
for always having eye open, his suspicious
aroused by the Captains attempt at fiattery, al
seeming dlsinterested endeaycr to bring about
ay9# loi 10y eior the young and accomplished ane
ty 'Reh4lul lady So, setting his wiers to wo
lost pni little time in discovering that the Captal
been pnder the delightful chains of Hymen, but
two Weeks and the pesudo widow was more NJ
than the identical, Charming idolized wife of the
tain
"Now them" says Dodge to himself. s.as the C
has planned joke be shan't be disappointed: |
ly change, or slightly alter the plot, and if dc
the end, give him a regular seye opener, then h
have the pleasure of telling his friends how he
the Yankee brown
Dodge had semething like week previous $
his bills and advertisement to the editors at N;