Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-06-02
Tew Mode of Getting a Wife.

y New pnOue OA GOttAhb !"
One little act Of politeness will sometimes
. uaye the way TO fortune and preferment. The
! allowing sketch, copied from an eastern jour
nnl illustrates this fact
D 4 sailor, roughly garbed, was sauntering
through the streets Of New Orleans, then in
! rather damp condition. from recent rain and
l tbe rise Of the tide Turning the corner Of
9 huch frequented and narrow alley, he OBJ
j. krved yonug lady standing in perplexity.
! apparently measuring the depth Of the muddy
I Mater between her and the opposite sidewalk,
Nth no very satisfied countenance.
! The sailor paused, for he was great adj
hnirer Of beauty and certainly the fair face
d bat pccped out from under the little chip hat
+ Ana the auburn curls hanging glossy and un-
! oonfued over her muslin dress might tempt
y al curious or admiring glance. Perplexed,
2 he lady put forth one little foot, when the
hllaut sailor, with characteristic impulsive-
Z hhss exclaimed "That pretty foot, lady, should
uaut be solled with the filth Of this lane; wait
y fUt a moment, only. and will make you
puth."
SO, springing past her into carpenters
ahop opposite he bargained for plank board
= thht stood in the doorway, and coming back
Z tu the smiling girl, who was just coquetish
enough to accept the services Of the handsome
milor, lie bridged the narrow black stream,
i abd she tripped across with merry THANK
y rbun and a roguish smile, making her eyes
n a dazzling as they could be.
Alas our young sailor was perfectly charm
\, M What else could make him catch up and
2 boulder the plank, and follow the little witch
N Arough the street to her home, she twice per-
\ brming the ceremony Of walking the plank,
\ und each time thanking him with one Of her
y Moquent smiles. Presently our hero saw the
\ oung lady trip up the marble steps Of
h. place Of house, and disappear within its
o. Rscwood enterance; for full minute he
r. bod looking at the door, and then with
r bnderful big sigh he turned away, disposed
h M his drawbridge, and wended his path back
i Nj the ship.
The next day he was astonished with an
r M der Of promotion from the captain Poor
Me- was speechless with amazement; he had
y dreamed Of being exalted to the dignity
M a second mates Office on board one Of the
nlbst splendid ships that sailed out Of the port
n M New Orleans.
On his return from sea- he purchased
bOks and became quite o student; but he
expected years to intervene before his anbi-
n bus hopes would be realized His superior
& nhcers seemed to look upon him with consid-
y Afable leniency, and many fair opportunity
Nh gather maratime knowledge; and in year
, Alh handsome. gentlemanly mate had acquired
WNnsual favor in the eyes Of the portly COM
lander, Capt Hume, who had FIRST taken the
hart little black eyed fellow with his neat
AHhpaulin and tiddy bundle, as cabin boy.
q One night the young man, with all the 9TH
un officers, was invited to an entertainment at
Alle Captains house lie went and to his as
enlistment, mounted the identical steps that
NFo years before, the brightest vision he had
Y rer seen passed over--a vision be had never
rgotten. Thump thump, went his brave
part, as he was ushered into the great parlori
\ "a like sledge hammer it beat again when
v bptain Hume brought forward his blue eyed
/" ughter, and with a pleasing smile, said'
he young lady once indebted to your po-
eness for safe and dry walk home" His
les we're all blaze. and his brown cheeks
hshed holly, as the noble Captain sauntered
Way, leaving Grace Hume at his side And
all that assembly there was not so hand
n me a couple as the gallant sailor and the
N pretty ladie.
II was only a year from that time that the
rond mate trod the quarter deck, second only !