The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-11-04
Story Of an old Bachelor.

| There was a fine old, General once, who hav-
| ing spent must of his life in the field Of Mars.
| knew very little about the camp Of Cupid. He
was one of those rough mud honest spirits often
met with in his gallant profession, innocent as
an infant of almost every thing save high n'cg-
rity and indomtabc bravery. He was nearly
l'fffy yenrs old. and his tolls were over, when
master Dan Cupid brought him acquainted with
n widow Wndmnn, in whose eye he bcenn 10
detect something that mado him uneasy. Hero
was the result If leisure.
During his service he had never seon anv
thing worthy of notice in woman's eye. In
fact, hr would scarcely have observed whether
a woman had three eyes In her head or only one;
for mn matter where his own eyes were, his
thoughts were ever among ''gnns and drums
aud wonnds,'' aud love was thing thst lived
in his memory just as he remembered ONCE rea-
ding visionary story book called the "Arabisn
Nights cntertainincnt," when boy.
Well the General had settled down into an
omiablc, gcntlemany old fellow, living alone,
with comfortable wealth around him, and having
it'c to d., save now ard thon 10 entertain an
old conra6e in uruns, which companionship at
firdcd opportunity 'to fight his battles DER a
gain" Butalas! DER this lm evening Of the
old Gcner7's day deal Of perp.exity was
dooncd to fall. and le soon found himself in
troubled waters, the deph Of which he could
by no means understand He g mnde,cd about
like Gagged rat under pnrhp and such another
fish ont of water never before swallowed the
hook, bsi' aud all. of the angling god Of love.
The poor General. We must give him some
name ar VIC can't tell the Story, and the best
uum. f,r such story !: Uncle Toby. Poor
Gcner, Unclc Toby debated abstractedly about
his new position and never had siege or cam
paign given m such = perpexity before.
Al length. however the blum honesty OF bis
disposition rose uppcrmost among his conflict
log plans. and his course was chosen. AT
school nc had once chosen "Othello's Defence
to recitc ut on exhibition. but made great fail
ure: and he nov recplectcd thnt there
some hing in this defence very much like
wha, he wanicd to say. He go' the book i'm
mediatciy, found the passage, 'lapped On his
hat with determined air. and posted of to
widow Wadnan's with ShakspeAre under his
arm.
"Mndnm" said General Ucrle Toby, open
ing hl> book L. the marked place. with n solem-
nifty Of a special peadcrM the bar-"Mndam-
Crude am in my speech.
And little blessed with TIL set phrase OF speech;
For since these arms OF mine had seven years pth,
Till now sume n'ne IN mths wasted. they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field;
and little "f this great world csn speak.
More than pertains to feats OF broil und baltic;
Therefore'- -
Here the General closed the book, wiped his
forehead. looked with a spasmodic gasp, III
tcdnt 10 get mdryied''
The widow ungheG for ten minutes by the
watch before she could utter syllable, and
then she said, with precious tears ofhurnor roll
ing down her good n'tured cheeks. ''And who
"Fou,. said Uncle Toby Hourshiug his sword
in the AR. and assnming military attitude ot
Of defiance. as if he expected an assault from
the widow immediately.
Twill yon kill me If marry ynu?" said the
widow with a merry twinkle Of her eye.
"No madam" replied Uncle Toby, in most
serious and dcprccating tone. rs il To assure
her that such a thought never entered his head
"Wel, then, guess III marry you, said the
widow.
"Thank you ma am said Unco Toby; "but
one thing am bound to tell you Of, madam, 1
,cear icigr'
The widow started remained sien, momont.
and then went into a l"nger, louder and merrler
laugh than sho had INDUCED in before. at the
eud of which she drew seat nearer the Cen
eral. gravely laid her hand on his head. gently
lifted his wig off and piaced it on The table.
Genera Uncle rrhy, had never known fear
in hot battle but now hc felt a most decisive IN
cinarion to run away. The widow laug cd a
gam. as though she never would stop and the
Gencrol WIS abou, to lay bis ha' on his dennded
head and bot when the iacetious lady la d her
hand upon his arm aud detained him She then
deliberately raised her o'her hand To her own
lirad, with sort of military precision execu
ted rnpid mannvrc with her five fingers pull
ed off her whole head of glossy hair. then pa
cling it upon the 'ab bio by the side of the Geh-
erals remained seated with ludicrons gravity,
in front of her accepted lover. quite batd
As may be expected. Uncle Toby no" lau-
ghed along with the widow and they soon grew
SD merry over the affair that the maid servant
peepcd through the key-hple at the noise. and
saw the old couple dancing jig aud bobbing
their bald pates at each o'her like pair OF Chi
nese mandarins So the two shortly laid "their
head> together on the pillow of matrmouy" 3.
tCunnectcut Courant.
| U;utIo Sfoos A. CnIfforrfn.