Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-11-20


. Where can he be? gs
: Frank | Frank!" sang out severa
sweet voices among whom recognized
Mary's. All Of sudden, however, tllos,
Joyous shouts were changed to difereni
ones.
F" We-e-e-e! We-e-e-cp screached hal
dozen voices.
He's drowned He's drowned p criee
some-a conclusion they all seemed to ar
rive 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 to be his
sagacity in making my really sad fate
known.
The whole household were speedily
alarmed, and all came rushing toward the
stream, and directly to the spot where
had partially secreted myself behind q
small clump of trees. HeRe was another
dilemma. Ny position was every moment
becoming more critical. If / remained
where was, was certain to become ex
posed.
| looked eagerly around for place OIL
concealment. o. / felt as if I would
have given a kingdom if possessed one
for some friendly tree wherein I 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, | noun
ted it; and just as had fairly seated my
self on an outstretched branch, in man
.ner that perfectly screened me, half q
dozen girls Mary among the number
arrived on the spot, and halted directly
under the tree.
" Can he be drowned ~ sympathizing
ly asked Mary.
And then / thought I heard her sob.-
itefIgi1ted at this evidences1 as / took It
OF an attachment to me on her part, my
curiosity was excited, and anxious tc
catch every word spoken by her, I care
fully and noiselessly stretched my body
forward on the limb on which l was repo
sing. Treacherous limb! Unucky move
ment! just as did so, with a report
like pistol, the limb broke, and down
went, headlong, in the midst of my sym
pathetic friends.
e What fall was there, my countrymen!'
The sudden and unexpected catastrophe
bewildered me for moment, and it was
some seconds before / fairly recovered
from the shock. The first recollection
had was being surrounded by group Of
astonished maidcns, having each one the
appearance of a marble statute. Mary
was nearest nae
And half in wonder, half in fear,
She gazed with bushes warm"
But she gazed for only a moment; Their
uttering scream, equal in. shrillness and
loudness to a locomotive whistle, she dar
ted off like lightning, followed by the resi-
of the astonished crew. Such lutterino
of muslin, such screeching, and such a
a general stampede, / never heard or wit
messed. Away they went like young
colts with unlimited pasturage. and soor
they were out of sight. | looked round
to see if had been entirely deserted. ano
discovered my friend Charley. rolling Oh
the grass in paroxysm of laughter.
With him the thing was capital Joke
and he enjoyed it wonderfully. But il
was far different with me- When
thought ofmy ludicrous costume, its scani
amount-hat, boots, shirt and coat-anG
a narrow-tailed coat. too-when | thought
of this, and reflected that, thus attired,
had been seen by Mary, her sister and
cousins-but particularly Mary-none o.
the persuasion, coaxings and beseechinps
of my friend Charley, could induce me &C
make my appearance at the breakfast ia
Bile that morning. Mol resolved instant
y to take my departure for the city, anc
did SO as soon as | obtained the requisite
wardrobe. | never saw Mary afterward
She was soon after married, and is now
the mother of a happy and quite numer
Gus family, and am bachelor.
!. Yes, I'm down onsdogs-the whole ca
nine race. Don't you think my antipathy
to the brutes justly founded :?