Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-13

dnt pEoulCdlHenl. WdIIeu anu Wdlteu, anu
began to tire of waiting, and still nobody
came. Voices distinctly heard in the dis
tance-merry voices and ringing laughter
greeted me as | sat despondingly contempla-
ting the probably denoucnent of my contre-
temps. The sound of the voices gradually
grew nearer and nearer the laughter became
more audible; now heard the sweet, musical
-EsiOesef Mary; then Franks joyous and hear
ty laugh broke in, lnterspersed with the more
witching and dulcet laughter Of females
How longed to be with them What fear
and anxiety suffered as nearer and nearer
the voices came. Again looked in the d.
rection of thes house, with the hope that
might see some of the male members But
such was not my luck. looked again, stand
ing on tip-toe, and straining my eyes till they
seemed to be fairly bursting from their sock
cts. Hope, this time, dawned in the distance
Charley, my friend Charley, distinctly saw
emerge from the garden into the road.
laughed aloud and danced with joy. saw a
speedy release from my awkward predicament,
and blessed the fate that sent it. But disap-
pointment-and such disappointment soon
stared me in the face, for looking second
time, saw half a dozen girls-Mary, her
sisters and cousins-following, like young
fawns, in the wake of Charley's footsteps
AN agile heetness in their forms,
A tint of morning on their brows,
Their posture full of girish whims'
Down the road they bounded, like drove
of frightened deer, crying out, in shrill tones,
my name.
" here is the runaway!'
Where can he be 2
Frank Frank !! sang out several sweet
voices, among whom | recognized Mary s.
All of sudden, however, these joyous shouts
were changed to different ones.
'We-e-e-e We-e-e-e! We-e-e-e O.
screeched a half dozen feminines
He's drowned He's drowned = cried
some-a conclusion they all seemed to arrive
at when they discovered portion of my
clothes
Two or three tainted, and one or two with
stronger nerves, caressed Ponto, the dog, for
what they deemed his sagacity in making my
sad fate known.
The whole household were speedily alarm
ed, and all came rushing towards the stream,
.and directly to the spot where l had partially
secreted myself behind small clump of trees.
Here was another dilemma. My position was
every moment becoming more critical If |
remained where was, | was certain TO become
exposed.
| looked eagerly around for a place of con-
cealment Oh | felt as if I would have
given kingdom, if ! possessed one, for some
friendly tree, wherein | might take shelter
looked again, and, thank heaven | discovered
one. 1t was but a short distance from me,
and unobserved, and with the agility of a
squirrel, mounted it; and just as l had fair
ly seated myself on an out-stretching branch,
in manner that screened me, half dozen
girls-Mary among the number-arrived on
Can he be drowned = ympathizingly asked
Mary. And then thought heard her sob.
Delighted at this evidence, as | took it, of an
attachment TO me on her part, my curiosity
was excited, and anxious to catch every word
spoken by her, carelessly and noiselessly
stretched my body forward on the limb on
which was reposing. Treacherous limb -
Unlucky movement Just as I did so, with a
report like pistol the limb broke, and down
went, headlong, in the midst of my sympa-
thetic female friends.
What a fall was there, my countrymen !!
/ The sudden and unexpected catastrophe be-
! wildered me for moment, and it was some
seconds before / fairly recovered from the
shock The first recollection | had was be-
ing surrounded by groupof astonished maid
ems, having each one the appearance of mar
BILE statue Mary was nearest to me-
And half in wonder, half in fear,
She gazed with bushes warm
But she gazed for only moment then ut
tering scream, equal in shrillness and loud
ness 10 locomotive whistle, she darted of
like lightning, followed by the rest of the as
tonished crowd. Such futtering of muslin,
such a screeching, and such general stam-
pede, never heard or witnessed. Awaythey
went, like young colts with unlimited pastur-
age, and soon they were out of sight. look
ed round to see if had been entirely deserted,
and discovered, but short distance from me,
my friend Charley, rolling on the grass in a
paroxysm of laughter. With him the thing
was capital joke. and be enjoyed it wonder
fully But it was far different with me-
When thought Of my ludicrous costume, its
scant amount-hat, boots and coat-and mar
'row-tailed coat, too, when | thought of this
and reflected, that thus attired, Ihad been seen
by Mary, her sister and cousins, but particu-
larly Mary, none of the persuations, coaxings
beseechings of my friend Charley, could in
duce me to make my appearance at the break
fast table that morning. No; resolved in
stantly to take my departure for the city, and
did SO as soon as l obtained the requisite ward,
robe. 4 never saw Mary afterwards. She
was soen after married, and is now the happy
mother OF happy and quite numerous family
and-T'rn haobolor