Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-08
OTTUMWA, IOWA. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1853.

ish, pettish, obstinate, given TO sllks, and
liable at times to wheedle well dispos-
ed man out of his seven senses. In this
belief he had led a wretched life: and
was more afraid of the dear harmless
creatures than of an army with banners.
Behold! he was now thrust by Provi-
dence into the presence of one likely to
overturn his preconceived opinions Of
the better and fairer portion of creation.
She was gentle, bland, easy, yielding,
conversa5le, affable-in short, the very
personifi cation of an ideal which once
infected the Doctors heart. and which
he haG firmly believed was only an illu.
sion peculiar TO youth.
But who is she-who is sher ask ed
the doctor of himself hundred times
that night, as he pitched and tossed upon
his heretofore downy bed. Was she a
wretched spirit. sent to beguile him, aud
lead him into all sorts of difficulties Or
was she tha, good angel, come at last.
for whom, through boy hood, manhood,
and old bachelorhood, he now, upon his
lonely bed. acknowledged he had, in Sc
cret, sighed! He tossed, and reas oned,
and asked strange questions of himself,
until day, in its sober gray, cooled the
fever of his brain.
Without ore wink of sleep, he arose
and consulted his mirror with eager and
unusual anxiety. He shaved. he sigh
ed, he tied his neckcloth and adjusted his
shirt collar. Was ever man so out of
sorts! He had never found himself so
hopelessly ugly. Being Disguised with.
in himself, he, of course, fell into pas
sion with everything around MIN. He
abused Dick, his valet, stormed at old
Sally, stamped and raved in the kitchen,
kicked two hounds, and upset grave
cat; after which he sauntereI about his
grounds. Of course they presented a
pleasing prospect, being covered with ice
and snow. In an obIivious moment he
idly ran his fingers through his hair
Heavens! he encountered bald place a
bout the size of half crown. Horror
stricken, he whirled around and there
stood his fair guest, like Hebe, in the
porch.
Good gracious!' murmured the doc.
tor, as he approached, 'she is as fresh
and blooming as an opening rose this
cold morning. Good morning, madam
said he, drawing near.
The idea of calling that fair, dazzling
creature madam could only have origin,
ted with bachelor. No married man
would have been so ungahant. The la.
dy bowed and smiled. Oh, such one!
It danced upon the doctors heart like
sunshine on brook.
what sweet flowers!' she said, point
ing to some sickly, rickety plants, which
the doctor had cooped up in dismal
green house. 'Isuppose these were cul-
ivated merely as an experiment, to re-
lieve ENNUI!'
'Ha, ha. laughed the gentleman, ner-
vously. Il dare say you think ENNuI
cannot be driven from the premises, but
it's not so dull here as you might think
it was.'
Not dull in cold, snowy weatherr
said the lady, drawing her shawl closer
around her.
No, madam, 'pon nv word. Il
sometimes think old Time almost trots---
he goes so fast, madam
.ile never flies, | am sure, replied the
fair one, turning into the house.
Our hero-for DIR. Hinton is our hero
-humbled and chagrined, followed her.
You are from the city, perhaps, mad
amF he observed, delerentially.
mo, not from the city, she replied, a
strange fire flashing from her eye.
A.oem-you--exten your walk
too far, presume, last evening; and was
surprised to find it so late when | over
took you, dare say, madam!'
No, | had not walked very far. |
knew il was late
What cunning lady was the DOCTORS
guest She had no more idea of letting
him know her name and destination,
than she had of flying to the MOON
The curious host, fairly baffied, asked
her iD to breakfast; and once more the
fair, dashing, brilliant beauty, and the
quaint old bachelor sat yis.a-vis. She
gracefully poured out the coffee. and did
the honors for him. She chatied away,
too, most pleasingly, and made the doc
tor laugh outright at some of her droll-
cries. Behold! in her fairy presence,
Elysium opened unto DIR. Jack Hinton!
Her conversation, like milk and honey.
flowed relreshingly into his ears, and he
leaned back in his chair, and was thank
ful. His coffee was as nectar; and, as
he quaffed the fragrant cup, his eyes ro-
we'd enraptured over face radiant and
beaming with intellect and grace. Such
a breakfast he had never eaten before
He looked back to the past, and found it
all blank compared to this delightful
moment. He looked forward into the
future, and the coming days and years
actually menaced him. He sank back
into the present, and listened to the soft
voice, and looked upon the fresh and
youthful face. and forgot all things be-
side.
A knotty head was, at this iuncture,
protruded in at the door, and strange
voice spoke thus to our eminent practi.
toner Mrs. Higgins says as how the
baby is worse. The physic that you