The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-05-16
From Chambers Journal,
ON A DELICATE SUBJECT.

mnsing, too. are some of the minor details
which take place among semicvilized people
upon the important occasion and socmniza
ton of the bond of union between the srxet
which laws the foundation of new household
But we are not aware that any very practical
and therefore reliable writer. has ever favored
the world with tho means of arriving AT a dis
tinct idea nf tho process by which that perfect
agreement is established between the parties
most interested, which. in country like ou'
own, at least, must bo established by some
means or other before the marriage takes place
We never hear tho bans put mp as II Is called
in tho parish church. or listen to the merry
poals of the marriag go morning bolls, without
wondering, in our secret heart. how the deli
cnte but tremendously decisive contract bo-
tween bachelor and spinster was deinitely set
tied before such demonstrations were thought
Of We know. of course, that the writers ol
romantic end love stories of all descriptions
settle the business easily cnough bu: theirs
is nothing better than q sort OF guess-work.
when it is not something worse-a mere stcr-
cotype formula established for the general con-
venience of scribblers.
Everybody knows how Coleridgc's minstrel
won his Geneveve. and how Lnngfellow's he
ro i'm Hyperion endeavored to achieve similar
success by similar means, and yet made "A la
meniable failure Of il. Blu, the world is not
peopled exclusively by poots and poetesses:
and therefore the method of popping the
question, covertly recommended by the au-
thors above named. however excellent in its
proper place. can have accomplished but little
towards filling the parish register. Honest
John Dumple and Sally Gubbs, who 81. ned the
conjugal record with his and her x, we may
be sure, did not 90 such a roundabout way in
1t: 4 r. -,
question whether among what arc called the
res ppctable classes, tho species of poetica cir
cumlocution is much more in vogue
Tho whole business. however. lies involved
in mystery, which we. being only bachelor
and hat neither of arts nor Of hearts-mus
confess our inability to fathon: still. we can
do something towards tho genera! cnlghten-
ment nv the rerort of one or two individual ca
ses not to be found in The books. but which has
como within our knowledge. and which may
serve to show how the affair Is managed among
certain plain tolks. with plain understandings
who. having difficulty 10 surnonnt, bring TO
the task such a courage as they may chance to
possess.
Gideon Robin was farm lahorer in west
town of small note. where the abors
of tho inhabitants were divided between the
cultivation of the land and the weavug of a
particular kind of cloth for tho London mar
ket. Gideon could either plough field. roap
a crop of corr. shear sheep or weave cloth at
The lnom. aud, besides all this. bore on excel
lent character for industry and snbr ETY.. He
was q man of fewest words in the whole parish
aud iudecd opened his mouth so seldom that
had all his utteranccs been reported rerJntm
bv n penny-a-lincr. and pnid for nt the cstab-
lished rate. it is very certain tha, they would
not have provided that worthy with shoe-lcntl-
or. The man was not merely modest. hut
bashfnl beyond all recorded preccdrn'-shru-
king from the und of his own voice as though
it were something oppressively terrible.
Dumb Gideon. however, as he was callod
was not proof against tho shafts of Cupid, and.
rs fate would have it, fell in love with the nnly
daughter of Tom Spinner. The girl was plump
we'll favored lass. who wrought in her fathers
fields and dairv by dav. and wove at the loom
N the evening, and, like Gideon h;mso'f had
/, talent though bv no means so striking q o C.
fbr tacilcrnitv. Gideon betrayed his first ri,ing
regard frr The damsel by silently but Suddenly
'eiznr her pail Of milk as II stond fro'hing with
Brindles creamy treasure. and lUegiag il off
ogcther with the milking stool, 10 her fathers
,ottsge. As this freedom was not resented.
he redoubled bis attentions, and was ever at
land when his strong arm could be OF service
O tho maiden.
Damc Spinner having respect for the
'oung MACS character, invited him on one oc-
.asinn into the house and from that time forth
iiieon spent his evenings in tho cottage. aud
ook his scat in the inge.nnok. where he re-
naincd for hours. az dumb and almost motion
ess as the fitch of bacon which daneled abnye
lis head. rarely finding courage to speak ten
words. aud sometimes not speaking at all du
ing the whole evening. Ho sat feastihg his
yes upon Polly MS she piled The shuttle. and his
art was TO attend to the wants of tho fire as il
rackpled on the hoarth in fro Of him. On
sundays and holidays he was seen by the side |
Z his beloved. exhibiting at all times eviden-
es of tho trurst deviation. Still, he never
poke word, either TO her or her parents on
he subject nearest 10 his heart. Tbs silen,
omage went on for two years. II the cstimn-
ion of all tho neghb rhood. tho rair were
noked man and wife: and as there was no
npcdment To their uion, people wondered
INV IL had not come of long ago
Whether ny kind aud consideraie soul gave
iidcon hint to take COURAGE and speak up.
'e cannnt pretend to saw hut it is certain 'ha,
: lcnglh he found resolution to pop the ques-
on. The grad erent took place in the fol-
wing way. and rs we were indebted Cor the
ccount Of il from tho mother of the bride,
o cannot BIO mistaken on the subject: Gideon
lme into the cottage on Chritmas eve. little
ustcred, from his masters house, by merry
hristmas from the whole family. Dame Spin
er saw an unsual manfnl expression OH his
and half expected what was go
'g to happen. Father. mother and daughter
ere assembled around the 6re, having laid a
de their work TO eniuy few hours holiday
yer cup of elder-wine Gideon took his seat
J the chimney corner and sat quietly for a
Nv minutes with significant smile upon his
'untenance; then hc rose suddenly to his full
eight, and with his head half WY up the
limney little more than his corduroy coniin
atoms heing visible To the company. delivered
mself of the following mysterious declara-
on:
'.If somebody loved somebody ne well as
'mebody loves somebody, somebody would
,vo somebody" 1t is most p obahlo that n ,
'claration Of love was never made in such {
rm before Gideon remained az mute rs =
n, ute, his head concealed in the chimney. for :
me minu es after the prodigions effort he had !
ade. NJ hen, ut length. IL compliance with I
Q request of the damscl's mother. he brought |
s broad face into the light. il was the color Of
live coal. and was turned In any direction =
IT towards her who was tho cause of his con- |
Ar...x Id IL a Il