Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-05-27

sheer hypocrisy, and all that the little Jade
wanted was TO examine the said overcoat for
slit which she had cut into the lining TO serve
as secret pouch for letters from Elliott; thus
10 be made the bearer of communications at the
expense of his own love, was slight that he
could scarcely have forgiven had he not
lived to this day in blissful ignorance of the
affair. s1l II" 'D7. si H.t'14 'ssfE
The singing school had nearly passed through
It's iirst quarter, when it was proposed by the
pupils to celebrate their progress in the science
BY having public concert, in which two 9TH
er schools that Keener had in charge would
join, the whole to be popularized by barba-
cue got up by subscription. The thing took
well and the day was set apart for the same
Corn had been harvested, the weather was cool
and bracing, squirrels and coons were fat
what could be more fortunate than the season,
for young men to provide meats for the barba-
cue, or young ladies to eat them. Jerusha,
with all hec giddiness, had learned several
tunes to her fathers satisfaction and her low
er's; she was therefore set 10 conspicuous
part in the treble, and it was hoped that her
sweet voice would carry the rest. Snap had
no time to eat or sleep for studying the base in
Heavenly Vision,' an arrangement quite as
difficult to learn as parcel of numerals would
be, set without order or regularity.
The programme of the concert, as written
ont, embraced ffty-seven pieces, mostly on the
minor key, style mnch fancied in the west.
The whole was to occupy four hours in sing
ing, commencing at ten o'clock, and winding up
with the barbecue aforesaid. Fiddles were
promised, clarionette hoped for, bass viol
expected
Three days Immediately preceding the con-
templated concert were devoted to incessant
practice, procedure that improved the base if
nothing else, for it was evident that there was
an increasing huskiness each day that told
powerfully in 'Chesnut' and the 'Prodigal Son. ,
Keener emptied his vial of 'tinct. lob daily,
which produced considerable paleness and nau-
sea.
All this excitement of preparation, however,
was entirely lost upon Jerusha and her friend
Elliott, who had arranged between themselves,
that instead of singing at the concert, as ex-
pected to do, they would be vending their way
that very hour to another State, to seek for a
license and priest. The letter containing all
the final arrangements had been snugly slowed
in the old coat, which old coat had afterwards
been carefully drawn upon Keener's back, pre-
paratory TO taking short walk over 10 Squire
Odnm's. Arrived there, he was met as usual
by his Deliah, TO whose anxious request for his
overcOat he gave the unusual response that he
believed the evening cool he would
keep it on. .-... ...--.f
The fact is, he had placed his scanty stock
of linen in the wash, and buttoned the overcoat
TO his chin, TO conceal the defect. Here was a
perplexitY which all her wit could not solve
sShe sat by his side, puzzling her little brains,
while, her father in his dull dreamy manner,
descanted lengthily of tobacco crops aud tobac-
co hogshead, and told every incident relative to
his last journey 10 New Orleans with minute
ness peculiar to dull people. Erastus listening
with his mouth, while his mind was in the
contemplation of the pretty little mink who sat
by him. .....-....-,. .., ..-,
o Thus it continued for several hours, the old
gentleman talking until he got tired, and went
10 bed, the lard lamp burning low, the fire 60
ing out, Keener admiring Jerusha, and Jeru-
sha contriviog how to get at that coat pocket.
To all her propositions of mending it, pressing
it, airing it, or putting new collar 10 it, he
turned deaf ear, knowing too well what ex-
posures of his wardrobe would follow any such
movements. At last irritable with the disap-
pointment she rose and went 10 the window 10
conceal her modification.
Love sharpens the eyesight, and hers, spite
of the briny drops, were keen enough TO be-
hold the shadow of Mr.. Elliot under large
oak near the gate, evidently waiting 10 speak
TO her. But how to communicate with him
was the difficulty, the servants being enjoined
to report any meeting between the lovers, and
keener wide awake TO any suspicious move.
ments on night works. 1t was enough to try
the wits of Cupid himself, and doubtless, Gu
pid being hard by, and fondly invoked, favored
hers in scheme. rtlr I'd sru7- at
The idea was no sooner conceived than i
was executed she ran to the book case, go
down the Missouri Harmony, selected piece
and invited Mr.. Keener TO join her in practic-
ing The Prodigal Son. No war-horse evel
pricked up his ears more sharply than the
vocalist at this invitation. With preliminary
taW that shook the dishes on the shelf, hs
struck into the tenor, on an absurdly high key
while Jernsha, with her sweet upper tones
sustains the second admirably. This sigma
was so well understood by her lover at th'
gate, that he at once changed his position, ant
the young lady had the satisfaction to see hi
face peeping in at the window, and observing
her motions. 1t was not difficult matter 70
her now to write few lines expressing the
difficulty, nor was the trick of holding the lar
lamp at the window long enough for him L
read them, under pretence of trimming and fill
ing it, at all wonderful for lover with sharp
ened wits afE1 la s1 aiaii5I @ch Il
3 This short communication enabled Mr.. Eli
Oft to see how the land lay, and to provide TO
this new contingency, which he readily did b
scribbling note on the top of his hat to the ei
feet that he would be found at eleven o'cloc