Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-05-16
MisleIlaneulls,
Written for tic Z af,snan's Journal
KISSING ~ TIE DARK.

Il W
..t.,i-ay "a s-. f LILY sS0oRs, .5, -.5s-.-
The other day while chatting with a friend
ffon, an adjoining County, whose good nature
and rich fund of anecdote make him very
pleasant companion, our conversation happen
ed to turn upon the sportive adventures of our
soutliful7days in general, aud our courting ex-
perience in particular. After recounting some
exploits, humble ones of course, IN which we
had participated, our old friend said i5ls 3
Jim, Iii tell yon one Of ny courtins adj
ventures, which know you'll acknowledge
eclipses any of yours.'i Feos 5gsd sa .sijai
We admittedwe had no doubt ofthe truth ofhis
assertion, although at one time we were con
sidered some in that line, and requested him
70 oproceedwith his story which VIC will endear-
or to lay before the reader in his own words
81 came to this country from Germany,
said he, e'when l was about eleven years old,
and shortly after my. arrival was apprenticedto
gentleman in -, to learn the tanning bus-
ness. by master was as kind to me as could
dasire, much more SO than | deserved /; and
when l arrived at the age Of eighteen, was
considered, almost, as one Of the family,-gas
genteclly clad, and looked upon by the COM
munity as quite a smart active, and promising
youth; in which opinion, I, OF course, fully
concurred.
'sAcross the way, and nearly opposite our
residence, lived an elderly gentleman, whose
family consisted Of wife and an only daugh-
ter, named Julia, who was about two years my
junior. had contracted an acquaintancewith
Miss Julia by occasionally meeting her at the
gatherings of young people, to which we were
invited, and from which was some times per-
mitted to escort her to her residence and on
such occasions she would, from motives Of
pure ciyility invite me TO enter. The old folks
being in toEerably good circumstances, their
arristocratic feelings would not brook the idea
of their daughter being escorted by 4 tanner's
apprentice, and they accordingly very much
to the regret Of thS fair Julia, and the indig-
nation OF myself, forbid me the freedom ofthc.
premises, intmating in addition, that my pre-
Sence on any future occasion might lead to
disagrecablc Consequences.
GAS is usually the result in such cases, we
considered ourselves very harshly treated, and
like disappointed lovers, (Which this interdict
made US, if we were not before,) we commenc-
ed plotting to elude the vigilance of the incen-
sed parents, in which we succeeded so far as
to be able to see each other occasionally. One
afternoon as Miss Julia was passing our house,
she made the usual telegraphic signal, Garry
ing white handkerchief negligently in her
left hand } for me to meet her at the neighber-
ing pump, where she was going to ':draw'' wa
ter, as the damsels OF old used 10 do, but in this
instance, with a very different result. l accor-
dinghy repaired to.the trysting place, when my
Dulcinea informed me that her parents intend
ed leaving home that afternoon, to be absent
until the next day, which would afford me an
excellent opportunity of spending the eTenng
with her at her own house. 7 on may imagine
that was overjoyed at the intelligence, and
promised to avail, myself of such piece OF
good fortune without fail, Having waited with
the greatest impatience, for the appointed hour
(about duskin the'evening,) Il betook myself
to the dwelling of my Duicinea. l an a little
near sighted You know, and, although tho
shadows OF evening wsrc closing around, and
the bowers my Julia was ,enveloped in the lux
priants foliage Of some fine shade trees which
surinounted it; and it is possible, although l
cannot declare with certainty, as moro impor
tant matters continued 20 occupy nay undiyi-
ded attention from my entrance until the mo-
ment of my departure, the blinds may have
been closed, yet the candles had not been
lighted; and as l entered the apartment, which
did very softly, could discern only the dim
outlines of a female form at the farther end OF
it, whom, under the impression that all the
rest of the family were absent, very natural
ly concluded could be no other than the fair
object Of my alteration, and wishing TO give
her an agreeable, surprise, ahem! stepped
quietly on tptoe to where she stood with her
face turned in the opposite direction. l eau
tiously, and unpercciyed, stole my one arm d.
round her waist keeping the other in posi-
ton to be brought up as sScoiPs de Tcserre
in case of more desperate resistance than |
I inclined my head forward and
leaning over kissed--not my charming Ju-
liza, but, (begging that young lady's pardon,)
her old vixen of mother! The surprise was
as complete on her part as il was on mine; and
as She sprang with scream from my, now 'ytn-
willing embrace, (for her features had been re-
vealcd to me at about the interesting moment
when my lips came in contact with hers,) she
was as perfect specimen Of the exsperated
and indignant matron, perhaps, as was ever be-
held. Her first impulse was to rush for the
smop handle,' that most effective of all weap-
ons when welded by a woman, (the tongue cx
cepted,) which stood in distant part of the
room, and if had obeyed my first impulse, it
wonld have been to beat a precipitate retreat
from so dangerous proximity, but my terror