Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-06
WHOLE NO. 1876.
STORY OF A FIRST KISS.
EY FREDERlcA BREnER.

Ef FREDER1CA BREMER.
In the university Of Upsala, in Swe-
den, lived young student-a lonely
youth, with great love for studies, bu,
without means of pursuing them. He
was poor and without connection. Still
nc studied on, living In great poverty, but
keeping up cheerful heart, and trying
not to look at the future, which looked
so grimly at him. His good humor and
good qualities made him beloved by his
young comrades. Once he was stand
ing with some of them in the grea,
square of .Upsala, prating away an hour
Of leisure when the attention of the
young men became arrested by a very
young and elegant lady, who, at the side
of an elderly one, walked slowly over
the place. twas the daughter of the
Governor of Upland, residing in the ci.
ty, and the lady with her was her gov
erness. She was generally known for
her beauty and for her goodness and
gentleness of character, and was looked
upon with great admiration by the stu
dents. As the young men now stood
silently gazing at her, as she passed on
like graceful vision, one of them ex-
claimed:
"Well, it would be worth something
TO have kiss from such a mouth!'-
The poor young student, the hero OF
our story, who was looking intenily at
that pure and angelic face, exclaimed, as
if by inspiration, 'Well, think | could
have it," "What!" cried his friends in a
chorus, "are you crazy! Do you know
her!'' &c. Not at ALL" he answered;
s.but think she would kiss me, Just now,
if | asked her." "What! in this place,
before all our eyes!" "In this place, be-
fore your eyes," "Frcely?" Freely
"Well, if she will give you kiss in that
manner, will give you thousand dol
larsr' "And II" sand H. cried three
or four others, for it SO happened that
several rich young men were in the
group, and bets ran high on so improba-
BILE event, and the challenge was made
and received in less time than we take
! to relate il.
Our hero-my authority tells not
whether he was handsome. or plain,-l
have my peculiar reasons for believing
that he was rather plain, but singularly
good looking at the same time-our he
70 walker Oft to meet the young LADY,
He bowed to her and said, "My lady,
(min froleen,) my fortune is in your
hands," She looked at him in astonish,
ment, bnt arrested her steps. He pro.
ceeded to stale his. name and condition,
his aspirations, and related simply and
truly what just had passed between him
and his companions. The young lacy
listened atlentively, and when he had
ceased to speak, she said. blushing, bu,
with great sweetness: "Ifby so little a
thing so much good could be effected, il
would be very foolish in me to refuse
your request, and she kissed the
young man publicly. in the open square.
! Next day the young student was SEM
for by the Governor. He wanted to see
the young man who had dared to ask a
kiss of his daughter in that way, and
whom she had consented to kiss so.-
He received him with severe and scru.
tinizing brow, but, after an hours con,
versation, was so pleased with him tha
he offered him TO dine at his table du
ring the course of his studies in Upsala
Our young man now pursued his stud
les in manner which soon made him
regarded as the most prominent scholar
at the University. Three years wer,
not passed after the day Of the first kiss
when the young man was allowed Il
| give second one to the lovely daughter
of the Governor, as his betrothed bride
i He became, later, one Of the creates
scholars in Sweden, as much respected
for his learning as for his character
His works viii endure forever amons
the works Of science, and from his hap
] py union sprung family well known
in Sweden in the present day, and whose
wealth Of fortune and high position il
society are regarded as Small things, com
pared with its wealth and, goodness o
love.