New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-28
From the Southern Literary Gaze
SAMSON KEEPERS CouRTsHIP
BY PAUL CREYToN


ough by explaining. clearly and satisfactorily.
the reason why Mr.. Samson Keeper remained n
bachelor at two score
The facts OF the case are as follows: Samson
Keeper, Esq, at five and twenty, was looked
upon as prize by all the marriageable young
ladies in Grassborough Possessed of good
looks and an excellent farm, agreeable manners
and large, comfortable house, pair of whis-
kers and two pair of oxen, Samson could have
taken his pick among the maidens of Grass
borough, any one of whom would have been
delighted with his preference He was kind
hearted fellow, too, was Samson Keeper; and
have often heard him described as having a
distinguishing foudness for gooseberry pies, nice
children, fine horses, and ladies in general
AT that delightful age-fve and twenty =
Samson did actually betray an inclination for
connubialhappiness He commenced paying his
addresses to the amiable Miss Lucretia Lane, a
worthy and pretty young lady, who, it was said
by every body-with the execution of a multi
tude Of rival beauties-would make him an ex-
cellent wife
Now Samson waited on Lucretia-s courted
her" as Grassborough gossips termed-for five
years; and it was well known to Samsou's
friends, that more than fifty times during that
period, he was on the point of Offering her his
hand. But Samson did not make such an offer.
for reasons-which Grassborough would be glad
to know.
The Lanes lost patience with the heir Of the
house of Keeper. Lucretia, they said was at
his disposal but they could see no sense in re-
quiring years to make up his hand to marriage.
They threw out certain broad hints, which
offended Samson, and distressed his faithful mis-
tress; hints designed to hasten the approach of
lazy-paced Hymen, but which had the effect of a
chilling shower bath on the ardor of Mr.. Kep-
per. He avoided Lucretias society for month
AT the end OF that time, convinced of the impos-
sibility Of living without her, he called ON her
one Sunday night, as in former days To his
astonishment, he found her occupying the small
parlor in company with Mr.. Brooks, wealthy
widower, of thirtyfve Mr.. Brooks and Lucre-
tia sat together in the chimney corner, and
Samson, with his surtout on, sunk in a seat
opposite.
GO Fine evening"" said Samson, in an unsteady
voice.
Very said Lucretia, changing color rapid
ly, and looking at the back. log.
1t was showing and blowing outside, at a
frightful rate
| The widower settled his chin in his neck-cloth
with a pompous air, and tried to look uncon-
| cerned. Lucretia coughed and blushed, and
moved about in her chair, as if she had eater
something which distressed her while Mr.. Kep.
| per glanced uneasily from his hat to the door
and played with his thumbs, like any timid
young man, who, intending to go to a cham
| paigne supper, might have penetrated the sane
tlmoSous silence OF Quaker meeting, by mis-
take.
SO Hem thought I'd call in, and see how YOU
were, observed Samson, after long pause, turn
ing in his chair, and crossing his legs, with an
attempt to appear at ease.
{" Thank you-hope you-you'll come again. p
faltered Lueretia.
And not another word was spoken for half an
hour
At length Samson, after series of prelimina-
ry g hens y and anxious glanees at his hat,
summoned courage to say
"Guess I'll be going -
With a movement towards the door
Whats your hurry" :" asked Lucretia in q
feeble tone.
Nothing particular-guess though I'd bet
ter be going Good night
g Good night-if yon must GO
Stumbling over chair, in his endeavor to
appear unconcerned and buttoning the right
hand lapel of his surtout to the left hand but
ton of his dres- -coat-an error he did not dis
cover until he had reached the snow banks be-
fore his own door-NIr Keeper toook his de-
parture, leaving Lucretia with the widower, in
regular counting attitude.
No sooner was our hero gone, than Miss Lane
who had kept gradually hitching in her chair
away from the widower, made an errand to the
fire an excuse for hitching back again.
"Nice young man-Mr. Kepper," observed
the widower, glancing at Lucretia over his dcky,
and laying the arm on the back of her chair
Very said Lucretia, stopping to place a
stick on the androns
Mr.. Brooks perceived that the glow of the fire
made her face look very red
:" Used to be pretty neighborly, understand +"
1e-yes-quite!
Lucretia was crimson.
"Nothing but friend, SUPPOSE"
''Oh, no no!''
Hem and if l should-that is, if any one
else should wish to marry you, he wouldn't be
in the way"
''I don't know why he should,'' faltered Lu-
cretia.
The widower's arm slipped from the back oi
the chair, and fell, somehow, around her waist
and the widower being an absent minded person
neglected to putt back again
& And would any thing else be in the way,
my dear 20
''That's according (how the fire did glow
in Luereta's faceD =" according to who the per-
son is''-
The clasp Of the arm about her waist tight.
ened.
s'Ah hem and if-if it was me 2"
SO You ha there's no danger of that, guess, -
said Lucretia, trying to laugh it off
| Another movement Of the ARMAND Lucre-
tia's head lay on the widower's shoulder.
| But I'm in earnest!" exclaimed Mr.. Brooks.
''Oh i didn't suppose-if that's the case -
stammered Lucretia, pretending to struggle a
little.
This afforded the widower an excuse for clasp
| ing her waist still closer. He laid his whiskers
on her burning cheek, to the imminent peril Of
Samson Keepers happiness, and the smoothness
of his own Sunday dickey. Then you might
have heard kiss.
There now say you'll have me-" exclaimed
the widower.
| Lucretia thought of Samson, and hesitated.
She had a lingering affection for that young
gentleman but then he had really exhausted
her patience Samson was certainly desirable
man, but Lucretia was twenty three 1t would
be sweet to become Mrs. Keeper, but it was aw-
full to think Of becoming an old maid. The wild
| overs affections at that moment, struck Lucre.
tia as happy medium-a comfortable certain.
ty, although they promised no uncommon hap
piness and she murmured:
''Iwill'
And this is the manner in which Samson
through habit of too much caution and indie
cision, lost the tairest maiden in Grassborough
after courting her five years.