Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-20
A STORY OF AN OLD BACHELOR.

There fine old General once who, having spent
Of his life in the field Of Mars, knew very little about
the camp Of Cupid He of those rough and honest
spirits often met with in his gallant profession innocent
infant Of almost every thing high integrity and indo
mtaba bravery He nearly fifty years old, and bis
tolls over, when master Dan Cupid brought him
quained with widow Wadman, in whose eye he began to
detect something that made him uneasy Here the
suit of leisure.
During his service be had any thing worthy Of
notice in womans eye In fact, he would scarcely have
observed whether woman had three in her head
only for matter where his own were, his thoughts
among guns and drums and wounds, and love
thing that lived in his memory just he remembered
reading visionary story book called the Arabian
Nights Entertainments" when boy.
Well the General had settled down into amiable, gen.
temaDly old fellow, living alone with comfortable wealth
around him. and having little to do, now and then to-
entertain old comade in arms which companonshp afford
ed opportunity for him to fight his battles DER again.
But alas DER this calm evening of the old Generals day
deal Of perpexy doomed fall and he found
himself in troubled waters the depth of which he could by
understand. He foundered about like Gagged
under pumpaDd such another melancholy fish Of
before swallowed the bait hook and ALL Of the ang
ling god Of love. The poor General. We must give him
can't tell the story, and the best name for such
story is Uncle Toby. Poor General Uncle Toby debated
absactedly about his position and had siege
| campaign given him such perpfexity before.
At length, however, the bxnt honesty Of his disposition
rose uppermost among his conflicting plans land his
chosen AT school he had once studied Oheos De-
fence recite at exhibition, but mode great failures
he recoleced there something this defence
very much like what he wanted to cay He got the 1ook
mnsdia,sly, found the passage, clappsd his hat with
determined s and posted of TO the widow Wadmans, with
Shakespeare under his arm.
MADAM" said GenerahUnce Toby, opening his b,sk
the marked place. with tho solemny Of special plea der
the bar Madam
" Rude am / in my speech,
And little blessed With the set phrase of peace
For since these Of mine had years. pitln,
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have useaH
Their dearest action in the tented field;
And little Of this great world can Iispeak,
More than pertains 10 sats of Sroil and battle;
And therefore"-
Here the General csessd the book, wiped his rehead
looked up at the ceins and sahwith aspasmodic gasp
ssant to get married
The widow laughed for minutes by the watch before
she coud utter syllable, and then she said, With precious
Of humor rolling down hes good natured chess, And
who is it you want 10 marry, Generalf"
You" said Uncle Toby, Aourishing his sword arm in
the air, and assuming military attitude Of defiance no
expected ASSAULT from the widow immediately
i sWil you kh me il marry vow " said hs widows with
. merry twinkle IN her eye.
/ sNo, madam| replied Uncle Toby, in most serious
and deprecang tone, is her that such On idea
khad never entered his head
y "We, thea, guess I'll marry you" said the widow
"Thank you, am, said Uncle Toby but one thing
/ am bound to tell you Of madam ,Ucu q ing =
The widow started, remained silent moment and then
went into longer louder and merIer A1sn oan sne nao
INDUCED in before, The eoi Of which she drew her seat
tho General eavey bid her hand on his head gently
lifted his wig of and placed it on the table.
General Uncle Toby bad known fear in hot bate
but he now felt most decisive inclination TO run away The
widow laughed again. though she never would stop ana
the General was about 10 lay his hat upon his denuded bead
and bolt when the faceious lady placed her hand upon hi
arm and detained him. She then deliberately raised be
other hand to her head with sort OF military precision
rapid mannuvre with her Eve fingers pulled of
her whole bead Of fine glossy hair, and placing upon Thu
table by the side Of the Generals remained seated wh ud
crous gravity in front Of her accepted lover quite bald
As may be expected, Uncle Toby now laughed along witt
the widow and they grew merry the affair thu
the maid peep through the boe at the noise
and saw the old couple dancing jig and bobbing their bal
lpates at eech other Ike pair Of Chinese mandarins.
the worry shortly laid "their heads together upon Ii
ipilow Of msrmony. ~ Connecticut Courrnf.