Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-04-04
OriginaI Diapers.
HUMOROUS CHARCOAL SKETCHES.
DraVn for The Spirit Of The Age.
BY MAJOR ORIGINAL.


since l took my pencil in hand to sketch
any character for you or your readers. NV
reasons Tor 90 doing have been, as | think,
81 q reasonable nature. While my canvass
getting ready for Bat Blushwell.' I
wan give them in brief: 1t will be re-
membered BY the readers of the Age that,
some months ago, parcel of young girls,
inez Irving, Flora Flaville, Lora, Matte
May, Minnie, Gimme and Ghe graoious ohly
Knows how many more--a whole regiment
though-undertook to have sociaf circle,
as they called it, and at the first sitting be.
gan to poke fun at me because was a man
aud Major. One said something about
me being one of their number, when, as
true as General Washington was a great
man, / khowed nothing about it,, as eve.
rybody says nowadays. And then one
sand she hoped the Major wouldn't sketch
oil that little affair that took place down
at the pond, just as ifthe Major knew any.
thing about 'the pond" or tho Social Cir
elers that swan in it. would give nv
Mexican epaulettes to know about it, and if
didn't sketch it, Hail Columbia amt a
pretty tune d! And then after being houtcd
over and over again, one of the little witch.
es tossed her head to one side and said
a Jig for the Majorp Now, can stand
the roar of beating drums and bursting
cannon, but to be thus treated is more than
can well brook and if it hadn't been
that thought the fun wouldn't have paid
Tor the powder, should have come up to
Raleigh and demanded the real name of
some OF the shy creatures for purposes best
known to myself Now, you have heard
the cause of my long silence. Am l JUS
tifed2
'' The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent, no more"
Well, | will now sketch character.
Bat Blushwell, as he was called, though
his real name was Bartholomew Blushwell,
and called Bat for short, was as good a
fellow as ever messed with in any camp,
and choice hand in telling good story.
For this latter quality liked him, and be-
came intimate with him.
One night after mess, we were sitting in
the door of our tent smoking and telling
good jokes to while away the time. l shall
not soon forget a little episode from his
own history that he gave, and will rehearse
it as nearly as can in his own words:
Everybody has their besetting defect
Mine always has been bashfulness | grew
up as most boys grow up. I was obliging
and honest but extremely bashful, so that
always ran under bed or crept in the
cellar when a stranger came to our house {;
my eyes never could find a resting place if
an unknown person addressed me; and if
l was compelled to speak to young lady
in her nineteenth year, became frozen to
the spot like statue, speechless and as
stiff as n bayonet.
When IN company, my extremities were
always in the way, and if could have left
them at home, it would have added greatly
to my comfort. l never knew where to
quarter my hands; at one time they would
be in my waistcoat pocket, then in my
brooches pockets, then at the back of my
head indulging in a vigorous scratch where
it did not itch.
| maDaged to march through all difficult
ties sound in limb and unblest by wife
up TO my thirtieth year, at which time my
excellent Aunt, with whom | had lived fol
nearly twenty years, died, leaving me an
estate which placed me in easy and af1luent
circumstances. Soon after her demise,
felt the need of some one to help me on
through the world, and determined to risk
my all on the uncertain sea of matrimony
With these brave intentions, determined
upon bcsiegiug the heart of Rhoda Ruffle
young lady of many qualifications, such
as beauty, virtue, amiability and wealth.
| was well pleased with a review of Rho
da Ruffle, and matters were arranged by
some married friends of mine, and nothing
remained but an introduction, short ac
quaintance, license and a Priest Ac
cordingy | was to meet Rhoda on q Ger.
tain day at her cousins house, an up town
merchant. 1t was all managed according
to rule, and n gilt edge ticket was sent me
to dine.
always had perfect horror of parties
and introductions; never went through
either without my face burning into @
cracking, and almost sweating to DEATH
But felt would be coward if nothing
was risked for pretty Rhoda. So long be-
fore the hour arrived, was rigged out il
my Sunday-go-to meetings pants
patent lcalhCEs duu green coat Win pear
buttons. l was dressed to kill, in a word
When | rang the bell at the Cousin
house my heart was humping like the ran
gers horse after an engagement. fel
assured there was to be some kind of par
ty there, for there was carriage just roll
ing off as l turned the corner, and thel
there would have to be introductions ant
all that, and secretly cursed the man o
the woman that invented introductions
found the cousin in his study with sundr
papers and ledgers before him. you ar
somewhat late, Mr. Blushwell,' said tn
Cousin as | entered. Then l knew ther
was to be a party, that was last and eve
rybody else had gone through the abomina
bic introductions. Oh but l wished m
and Rhoda were married that it might be a
over with. Yes, said |, somewhat late
and bowed and scraped right and left, an
laughed like an idiot, so as to make m
face red for the sight of Rhoda's cousi
made be blush like lobster. What woul
it be when come to be introduced to Rh
da herself l inwardly prayed for courag
The merchant cousin finished his writin