The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-02-23


how happy now. could boast Of less l sal
up in great state in the parlors, listening to
the conversation going on between Mrs. Dale
and my mother, about herbs picking. &c
looking as owlish as Mineva = Ellen and
myself would not have exchanged wordpr
glance, for oceans of cake and candy. ii.
nally, Mrs Dale asked me If did not win
TO see her pet rabbits. was very glad o
walk out, and rose TO leave. when my mother
looked first at my brOadcloth, and then at me,
in a very knowing way. which was enough.
l only wished that could have read Greek
as well as my mothers cOuntenance.
/ perambulated the yard until I got my
love-speech BY heart, and returned to the
house. Ellen and then commenced some
sly coquetry, and had become pretty much
at my ease. and was now only waiting ia
vorable opportunity to pop the question"
/ thought that my new suit had made won
derful impression, and of course there could
be no refusal to the offer Of my hand. had
even imagined little farm, with myself for
the master. and Ellen the mistress, to say
nothing Of the appendages had wrought
myself up to high degree Of manliness and
dignity. and was talking in a strain of elO-
quence, the like Of which had never been
heard since the days of Cicero; but Alas !.
pride gOeth before destruction, and naughty
spirit before fall.'-My mother heard un.
mistakable signs Of dinner going on in the
next room, aud my new clothes. and the pres,
eryation thereof, we're remembered, a6d "a
was notified by nod and wink to- follow bel
to the bedroom. / obeyed. and great kings 4
il was to put on an awful bib-apron, which
she had brought in her basket for the occa-
sion. Only think it it had great mutton
leg sleeves. and strings 10 tie behind, and il
came all the way up to my throat! / slight
ly hesitated. but the old lady looked some
what surprised and had Int the courage to
rebel; SO on it went, concealing all my
broadcloth and fine form. / felt humbled to
the dust. To appear before Ellen in such a
garb. Il was too much TO think Of; but |
put on a good face, determined to bear il with
fortitude returned to the parlor with my
mother, very much fearing that the change in
my appearance might effect change in the
heart Of my lady-love; but no. she was to o
polite to laugh at me. and 1 suppose Mrs.
Dale thought it all right, and the gentlemen
did MT notice me, 50 that felt quite reinsta-
ted in my own good opinion.
After dinner / had Che boldness TO ask
Ellen to walk into the garden with me, which
she very cheerfully did; and as soon as we
reached a secluded spot l began my love-
speech She did not seem at all surprised,
but helped me on considerably; and some
how or other, in little while we were en-
gagged to be married-bib-aprOn and ALL
Oh :. the simplicity Of those days!-I thought,
however, to be engaged and to be wearing an
apron, would revcr do. and manfully resolved
to take it off IL got Ellen to unite it--with
one bold effort, dug hole in the ground,
rolled it up. and-buried 1.-THE Declara-
tion Of American Independence was no great
er, in my mind. than that then silently made
by myself, in dOfing the bib-apron, in open
rebellion 10 the laws Of my mother.
Language cannot begin to express my emo
tions as l listened to the vows Of undying
love from the lips of the queen of my SOUL
wore a plain gold ring, which had been
given me as a birthday present; this /
placed on her finger. with the air Of an adept in
the art Of lOye-making, and swore by the moon
and stars, never to love anyone else, so long
as was permitted to live.
aThen we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted,
To sever for years"
My heart was wrung with a grief mex
prcssibIe. as babe her adieu. But took
care to conceal it from my mother, for knew
very well that if she found il out, green
doctor" would have been the remedy used
to dispel the romance and wo betide not
only my heart. but my body also!
went to college, and remained until l
was twenty-One. never having once seen the
fair Ellen. / once dared to write but as my
letter was not answered, / lost the little cour-
age left me. The years that passed, proved
very efectual in chasing away my first dream
Of love. When reached home, 10! and be-
hold, Ellen had been married several years; (;
and while was in my prime, she was looking
quite matronly We laughed heartily over
our engagement. She returned my ring,
and told me to give il to my next afhanced. y
1 have related my history thus far, and
have not conveyed the slightest idea of my
personal appearance. The reader, no doubt,
a