Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-07-09
THE POOR LAWYER.
TIE "KnickcrJochcr 1lagaci@c,"

isu'l" ''''S y
story was well termed by tho editor
"a species of Moun.joyofthe West, 7"
for tho lovers of Ralph Ringwood arc
scarcely less poctical than those OF
Mouutjoy himself Hero is tho first
introduction to the lovely maiden who
was to have so great an influence on
his after life:
| had taken my breakfast and was
waiting for my horse, when, in pass
ing up and down tho piazza, | saw a
young girl seated near tho window,
evidently u visitor. She was very
pretty with auburn hair and blue eyes,
aud was dressed in white. had soen
nothing Of tho kind since | had left
Richmond; at that time | was too
mucl. of u boy to be struck by female
beauty. Sho was so delicate and
dainty looking, so different from tho
bale, buxom brown girls oftho woods
and then her white dress it was
SO dazzling! Never was apoor youth
so taken by surprise, aud suddenly
bcwitchcd. My heart ycarncd to
know her, but how was | to accost
herl l had grown wild in tho woods,
and had none Of tho bcautitudcs Of
polite life. Had she been like Peggy
pugh, or Sally pigman, or any other
of my lca,horn dressed bellies, Of tho
pigeon roost, should have approach
cd her without dread; nay, had she
boon as fair as Shurt's daughters with
their looking-glass lockcts, should
not have hcsitatcd; but that white
dress, and those auburn ringlets, and
blue eyes and delicate looks, quito
dauutcd while they fascinated me. |
don't know what put it into my head,
but thought, all at once, | would
kiss her. It would tako q long &c
quaintuncc to arrive at such boon,
but might soizo upon it by sheer
robbery. Nobody knew mo hcre. !
would just step in and snatch a kiss,
mount my horse and ride of. She
would not DO the worse of it; and
that kiss-oh, should die if did not
get it. =:
I gave no time for thought to cool
but entered the house and stepped
lightly into tho room. She was scat
cd with her back to the door, looking
| out Of tho window, and did not hear
my approach. l tapped her chair,
and as she turned and looked up,
sna,cl,cd as sweet a kiss US ever was
stolen, and vanished in twinkling
The next moment | was on horseback
galloping homoward, my very heart
tinglinga at what | had done.
After variety of amusing advon'
lures, Ringwood attempts tho study
of law, in an obscure settlement ii
Kentucky, where he dc!vcd night anc
day. Ralph pursucs his studies, oc'
casionally argues at debating socic'
ty, and at length becomes quite a &C.
MUS, and lavoritc in the eyes Of The
married ladies Of the village.
I called to take tea ono evening
with one of these ladies, when to my
surprise, and somewhat to my con!u
sion, I found with her tho identica
blue eyed beauty whom | had auda
ciously kissed. | was formally intro
duccd to her, but neither ofus botray'
cd any sign Of previous acquaintance
except by blushing to tho eyes. While
tea was getting ready, tho lady of the
house went out Of tho room to give
some directions aud left US alone
Heavens and earth what n situation!
| would have given all tho pittance
| was worth to have been in the deep.
est dell in the forest. l felt the nc.
ccssity of saying something in excuse
for my former rulcness; | could moi
coniuro up an idea, nor utter word
Every moment matters became worse
| felt at ono ,imo tempted to do as
had done whom / had robbed her o.
tho kiss-bolt from tho room and take
flight; hut was chained to tho spot
for really longcd to gain her goot
| will.
At length l pluckol up courage or
seeing her equally confused, unc
walking desperately up to her, ! on
claimed:
81 have been trying to muster "
| something to say, but | cannot.
feel that | am in horrible scrapc
Do have pity on mo and help mo on,
Of it!'
A smile dimplol about her mouth
and played among tho bushes Of hcl
neck. She looked up with SHY bu
arch glance Of the cyc, that express
cd a volume Of comic rccollcclions
wo both broke into a laugh, md from
that moment I'LL went on we'll.
Passing tho delightful description
WHICH succeeded, wo proceed to tho
dcnoumont of Ringwood's lovo affair
tho marriage and tho settlement.
This very autumn | was admitted
to tho bar. aud month afterwards
was married. We were young
| couplc-shc not much more than six